John Daly will escape official action after throwing a camera belonging to a spectator at a tree after a frustrating start to the Australian Open. The player was making preparations for an important shot after hitting a poor shot on the ninth.

Whilst standing near some trees, a keen golfing fan, Brad Clegg, started to take photos of the two-time major winner. This did not go down too well with Daly to say the least. Whilst we are not surprised to see golf players mouthing off after a poor shot or interference from the crowd, Daly’s actions did prove to be fairly shocking.

He grabbed the camera away from Clegg and smashed it against a nearby tree. Verbal complaints were not absent either, with the player complaining about Clegg’s actions rather loudly.

The player was annoyed that the flash made his eyes burn and was irritated that a member of the viewing public felt it appropriate to invade his personal space by putting “a camera that close”. Whilst throwing the camera against the tree, the enraged golf player sarcastically stated that he would buy Clegg a new camera if he really wanted it back.

The day did not get much better for Daly, who stormed away from the golf course in a rather rude manner after signing his card. He bogeyed the ninth hole and finished with a six-over-par, whilst Clegg was left searching frantically for his camera.

Clegg took the action in good humour, revealing that he would not be asking for compensation from Daly, since he is “a big bloke”! Clegg did believe that his actions were not “unreasonable” but conceded that they were slightly “bold”.

Daly has been involved in similar incidents during his career. He was fined six years ago whilst in Australia after throwing his equipment in a lake and subsequently refusing to sign his scorecard.