Brian Harman criticised after controversial moment sparks backlash at DP World Tour

On the fifth, after taking a look at his tee shot, Harman reacted by slamming his club into the ground. It seemed an odd response given how things played out.

The ball had finished just seven feet from the hole, giving him a good look at birdie. Not many players would be upset with that result, but his frustration was clear.

One fan reacted to this on social media by saying: “Excuse me?” while another added: “God knows what he would have done if he had missed the green.”

Harman is not typically known for being quick on the course, so others pointed out how fast he showed his frustration. One viewer noted: “Fastest I’ve seen him move in a long time.”

Another comment read: “Surprised he didn’t waggle 17 times and look at the ground before the smash.” Someone else added: “He channeled the anger that everyone watching him club waggle for 45 seconds before his swing feels.”

Some fans have grown tired of these kinds of reactions. One of them wrote: “Too many pro golfers acting like children lately… not setting a good example.” Another posted: “He needs to control his anger. No place for this anywhere in golf.”

A fan even suggested a new rule: ‘if you throw a tantrum immediately after your swing, yet the resulting shot finishes on the green, the player must retrieve the ball and drop it 20 paces away from the putting surface’.

Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka also faced similar scrutiny in 2025

In India, Harman finished tied with Rory McIlroy, who also has drawn criticism this year, notably for throwing clubs and breaking tee markers at the US Open.

Brooks Koepka faced similar criticism after an outburst at LIV Golf Dallas earlier this season. He ended up withdrawing from the event due to illness but had already shown his frustration before pulling out.

This kind of behaviour is not new, but it feels like we are seeing more club tosses and breakages than we used to.

What makes Harman’s reaction stand out is how little reason there was for it. He nearly shanked a bunker shot into the bushes on the first hole and had to take a drop – that would have been understandable frustration. But what happened on the fifth was harder to justify.

He made par on that hole every round, so it was not causing him any real trouble during the week.

If there is anything positive to take away, it is that Harman clearly cares about his game. But his reaction did not do him any favours with those watching on Sunday.