US superstar Jordan Spieth risks rap from golf chiefs as he makes a tee-line for photographers in a controversial clash at the Open
World No3 faces claims he told caddie to confront snapper
JORDAN SPIETH risks an R&A rap for snapping at photographers as his Open dream crumbled.
A cameraman has lodged a formal complaint against the frustrated superstar after his latest run-in with the media.
Lensman Stuart Nicol claims the American’s caddie Michael Greller confronted him at the 12th tee, under orders from Spieth, demanding he stop taking pictures on the greens.
Golf etiquette allows snappers to take shots up to the moment a player addresses his ball and then after it has been struck.
Freelance Nicol said: “I was standing by a tree on the 12th. Spieth teed off, then his caddy made straight for me and said I wasn’t to take any pictures of Jordan when he’s on the green.
“When I answered, ‘The rules say we can’, his caddy said, ‘Well, these are the rules we want’.
“There have been problems all week and this is enough. All the other players are fine with us.”
Yesterday’s flashpoint happened moments after Spieth, 22, double- bogeyed the treacherous 11th Railway hole with a six to undo much of his earlier fine form.
The former US Open champion skipped round the front nine in just 33 — three under par — only to see his hopes of climbing the leaderboard dashed.
He ended up with a disappointing one-over-par 72 to sit five over for the tournament.
Golf chiefs will now be keeping a close eye on world No 3 Spieth and will be ready to step in if there is any more aggro.
An R&A spokesman said: “We are aware of the complaint. We’ll have a media liaison officer out there with him tomorrow to see if anything else happens.”
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Ex-world No 1 Spieth admitted the conditions at Troon were driving him to drink after battling driving wind and rain on Friday.
He was also involved in clashes with cameramen in the build-up to the tournament.
One snapper even claims tetchy Spieth demanded respect for his privacy when he stopped to eat a bar of chocolate during practice. Spieth admitted: “I feel I’ve been a little more frustrated off the golf course than normal.”