Patrick Cantlay should be issued with a 'huge fine' for not doing more to warn fans of his wayward shot on the 18th hole after benefitting from the ball bouncing back towards the green, according to a former European Tour star.
The Riviera plays host to some of the biggest names in golf this week with Tiger Woods making his comeback on an official PGA Tour event.
Woods attracted most of the attention with fans curious to see how the 15-time major champion would fare on his return.
But Cantlay stole the show on Thursday with some brilliant all-round play, particularly with his putting.
Patrick Cantlay hit two wayward shots towards the crowd on the 18th hole
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It nearly fell apart on the 18th hole though after a wayward tee shot hit a marshal with the ball nestling in the thick rough.
That left Cantlay with an awkward approach shot with the ball below his feet but he managed to make a strong connection.
But his shot ended up being pushed to the right of the green with the crowd heard screaming when they realised the ball was heading straight for them.
Cantlay's warning to the patrons came late and his ball ended up hitting someone, which ended up working in the world No 7's favour as it bounced back onto the fringe of the putting surface.
That gave Cantlay a 30-foot look at birdie, but he came up short before ending with a par and finish with a round of 64.
However, Cantlay's actions on the 18th hole angered six-time European Tour winner Tony Johnstone.
He questioned why Cantlay didn't make a loud shout to warn spectators about his two wayward shots.
Johnstone wrote on X: "Back-to-back shots and Cantlay hits a ball-spotter and then spectators around the green.
"Would a shout of 'fore' be out of the question?"
Johnstone then agreed with a person who replied to him and pointed out how Cantlay may not have benefitted like he did on his approach shot had he shouted fore loudly.
Patrick Cantlay ended the first round on top of the leaderboard
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Johnstone added: "Correct. Should be nailed with a huge fine."
Cantlay has attracted criticism in the past, largely due to his perceived slow play on tour.
Brooks Koepka famously hit out at his compatriot after The Masters having been behind him in the final round last year.
The final pairing of Koepka and Jon Rahm took close to five hours to complete their round and they were forced to wait on nearly every hole.
Patrick Cantlay has attracted criticism from players in the past
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Cantlay was seen as largely responsible for the slow play, but he hit back at the time insisting it was "slow for everyone".
"We finished the first hole, and the group in front of us was on the second tee when we walked up to the second tee, and we waited all day on pretty much every shot," he said.
"We waited in 15 fairway, we waited in 18 fairway. I imagine it was slow for everyone.
"When you play a golf course like Augusta National where all the hole locations are on lots of slope and the greens are really fast, it's just going to take longer and longer to hole out."
