Heckler With Gun Is Arrested

A fan heckling Tiger Woods at the Phoenix Open on Sunday was arrested after police discovered a handgun concealed in his fanny pack.

The man, Brian K. Murphy, 40, of Phoenix, followed the final threesome, which included Woods, tournament winner Rocco Mediate and Harrison Frazar, for four holes of the final round, Sgt. Doug Dirren said.

He said Murphy was yelling at Woods and using abusive language near the sixth tee area when officer Rob Rucker, who was assigned to follow Woods and was wearing a modified uniform to blend with the crowd, told him to be quiet.

Murphy, who had been drinking, became belligerent and persisted, even though Rucker identified himself as an officer, Dirren said.

“The last time, the guy turned toward him [Rucker] again and started using abusive language, and then lunged at the officer,” Dirren said. “The guy was yelling, ‘What are you going to do? Arrest me?’ and the officer had to subdue him by putting him on the ground.”

Murphy had a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

He was booked on suspicion of aggravated assault, a felony, and misdemeanor disorderly conduct, then released on his own recognizance pending submission of the charges to the Maricopa County attorney’s office.

Woods and Mediate were not aware Murphy was armed until after the event ended.

“I just kept walking,” Woods said. “Rocco and I were walking down the fairway and just kind of talking about it.”