Augusta welcomes thousands of visitors each year to the Masters tournament. But some of them wear out their welcome with criminal behavior.
MORE: Augusta National Trespasser Says He Came on Golf Club Because He was ‘Bored’
Here are the five wildest Masters arrests in the last 20 years:
Adam Scott’s Father? (2014)
Fresh off his release from jail for allegedly crashing the gates of Augusta National on Saturday, April 3, 2014, Pennsylvania resident Joseph Murphy tried again that next Monday morning.
But an alert deputy recognized the man and he was jailed without bond until the tournament ended.
Authorities say the 50-year-old golf fan showed up at 9:12 a.m. Monday at the main entrance, driving a rented Mercedes-Benz and claiming to be the father of former Masters champ Adam Scott.
“He stated he was Adam Scott’s father, and he was meeting him to play golf,” a deputy’s report said. “Adam Scott is a PGA pro competing in the Masters golf tournament and is in no way related to Mr. Murphy.”
Two days before that, police said he walked up to the club’s main gate at 8:40 p.m. After being told that only members were allowed inside, Murphy returned in his car 10 minutes later and bypassed security. He was quickly stopped and arrested for trespassing.
[adrotate banner=”25″]
Both cases were dropped a year later. Authorities say the suspects family believed he had mental issues. They say he even claimed to have had a private meeting with Bobby Jones.
Street Preacher Arrested (2013)
A street preacher from Tennessee was arrested on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, outside Augusta National Golf Club, accused of trespassing on club property after being told to leave.
Larry Craft, a controversial street preacher who traveled the country with his family, was arrested for trespassing and obstruction.
Authorities say they ordered the 52-year-old preacher not to enter Augusta National “due to his aggressive behavior towards patrons” and comments on “how the patrons were dressed.”
But three hours later, Craft entered the golf property on Berckmans Road and told deputies he was “not going to leave,” Sgt. Shane McDaniel said. He was then arrested.
Later that year, a six-member jury watched the video of deputies arresting Craft and found him not guilty of trespassing and obstruction of an officer.
Sand Souvenir (2012)
After flying into Augusta on a private jet with his client for Masters Sunday 2012, Oklahoma salesman Clay Baker ended up hearing the results of the tournament from jailers at the Richmond County Detention Center.
He was jailed on a charge of disorderly conduct after he tried grabbing a handful of sand from a bunker at Augusta National Golf Club.
Baker later told reporters that his attempt to score some souvenir sand should not have led to him being roughed up and hauled away to jail.
“I didn’t think grabbing a handful of sand would be that big of deal,” he said.
Baker said he attended the 2011 World Series at Ranger Ballpark in Texas and sat in the front row. Before he left, he grabbed some dirt from the field and was not arrested.
Authorities said that Baker was not arrested for the sand, but for being drunk and crossing a rope barrier that clearly prohibited patrons from walking on the course.
The charge was dismissed after Baker agreed to forfeit the $285 in bond that he posted to be released from jail.
[adrotate banner=”26″]
Lake Jumper (2010)
A Canadian golf fan was “highly intoxicated” when he wrapped up Masters Sunday in 2010 by jumping into the pond on the 16th hole at Augusta National.
Eric Blue-Sky Sweet, 37, was arrested for disorderly conduct after his dip into the small body of water on the Par-3 hole.
Authorities say the restricted area was clearly marked by rope.
Tiger’s Biggest Fan (2005)
On Masters Sunday in 2005, Tiger Woods defeated Chris DiMarco in a thrilling playoff win to clinch his fourth Masters victory. Moments later, 24-year-old Arun Arora of Martinez flew through Gate 1 in his 2001 Acura and refused to stop despite an officer yelling and signaling for him to stop.
When he finally stopped in front of the shuttle pick-up near the Par 3 course, Aurora told an officer “he just wanted to meet Tiger and that he was a big fan of the Masters,” a report stated.
Authorities were a little concerned when they found two half-filled gas cans in the trunk, which Mr. Aurora said were there in case his car ran out of gas. The man said he didn’t have tickets for the 2005 event. A supervisor for Augusta National Security ordered the man to be escorted from the property and banned from ever returning. He later pleaded guilty and received probation and heavy court fees.
MORE: Police on Alert for Possible Sex Trafficking During Masters Week
It seems foolishness at Augusta National can cost you more than your badge.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report Contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com.
[adrotate banner=”25″]
