Most golfers get a little upset when a rowdy fan causes them to miss a putt – especially if that missed putt costs them a chance to play in one of golf’s four majors.
But former Pittston Area and Temple star Brandon Matthews had a much different reaction when he learned the man who yelled in the back swing of his putt on the fourth extra hole of the Argentine Open had Down syndrome.
When Matthews, whose mother managed group homes for Goodwill, learned of the situation, according to Golfworld.com, he had an usher take him back out on the course to meet the man. He gave the fan a hug, an autographed glove and ball, and chatted with him for a few minutes.
“I wanted to make sure he didn’t feel badly about the situation,” Matthews told Golfworld.com. “I grew up around people with special needs because of what my mom did when I was kid and have a soft spot in my heart (for people with special needs).”
The missed putt left Matthews the runner-up in the PGA Tour Latinoamerica event, his best finish since winning the 2017 Molino Canuelas. A victory would have put him in next year’s British Open.
“It’s going to sting and there are times where I’m going to think about it,” Matthews told Golfworld.com. “But at the end of the day, I’m 25 years old and have a long career ahead of me.”
