Matt Every Reveals PGA Tour Fines and Epic Club Throwing Stories
Professional golf demands not just exceptional skill but also emotional control and adherence to strict conduct standards. Few players have tested those boundaries quite like Matt Every, whose fiery temperament on the course led to multiple fines and one of the most memorable club tosses in recent PGA Tour history.
In a revealing interview on GOLF’s Subpar podcast, Every pulled back the curtain on his disciplinary record, discussing the financial costs of his on-course outbursts and how he’s channeled that same passion into a successful second career as a golf analyst.
The Price of Passion: Every's Fine History
When co-host Colt Knost asked the question golf fans have wondered about for years—”How many times were you fined on the PGA Tour, and how much total?”—Every paused to consider the full scope of his disciplinary record.
“I don’t know the exact total number of fines, or the dollar amount,” Every admitted. “I know my biggest one was I think I got 20 [thousand] twice. And then like a couple, handful of 5s.”
When pressed about what warranted the maximum $20,000 penalties, Every’s response drew laughs: “Not listening to the 5s.” In other words, his failure to curb his behavior after receiving smaller fines led to increasingly severe financial penalties—a cautionary tale about the importance of learning from mistakes on tour.
A Career of Highs and Emotional Lows
Context matters when discussing Every’s conduct issues. This wasn’t a player struggling to make cuts and lashing out in frustration. Every compiled an impressive resume over his career, competing in 279 PGA Tour events and capturing two victories—both at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, won back-to-back in 2014 and 2015. He earned over $10 million in career prize money, establishing himself as a legitimate tour professional.
However, Every’s fiery on-course demeanor often overshadowed his accomplishments. His intensity and visible frustration became defining characteristics, creating a reputation that followed him throughout his competitive career. The fines weren’t just about club throws—tournament volunteers reported him on multiple occasions, and rules officials seemed to anticipate his outbursts.
The Epic Trinity Forest Club Toss
Every’s most famous moment of frustration came at the AT&T Byron Nelson at Trinity Forest in 2019, an incident that perfectly captures both the pressure of professional golf and the consequences of losing composure.
He was playing exceptional golf that week, posting a low score during his second round when disaster struck on the par-5 14th hole. Every’s drive appeared to clear a middle bunker, which would have left him just a 6-iron for his second shot—a perfect setup for birdie or even eagle on a reachable par-5.
Instead, the ball buried in the bunker lip, transforming a potential scoring opportunity into a nightmare scenario.
“I didn’t know how to handle it at the time,” Every recalled. “I hacked this thing out, and like 10 yards was the most I could get out of it, and just blacked out for a second.”
What happened next became instant golf lore. Every hurled his club with such force and arc that Getty Images photographers captured an entire sequence of images documenting the toss. The photos show the club spinning high into the air in what might be the most photographically documented club throw in professional golf history.
The incident resulted in one of Every’s bigger fines and serves as a visual reminder of how quickly frustration can override professional judgment, even for experienced tour players.
The PGA Tour's Disciplinary System
Every’s experiences provide insight into how the PGA Tour handles conduct violations. The system operates on escalating penalties, starting with smaller fines for initial infractions and increasing significantly for repeated violations. The structure aims to modify behavior through financial deterrence while maintaining the tour’s professional standards.
According to PGA Tour regulations, fines can be levied for various infractions including club abuse, using language that’s audible to spectators, and conduct unbecoming a professional. The tour takes these violations seriously, recognizing that television broadcasts and gallery attendance expose behavior to millions of viewers and thousands of on-site fans.
The Rules Official in the Trees
One of Every’s most entertaining revelations involved his relationship with PGA Tour rules official Stephen Cox. Every joked that Cox would “put camo on and wait in the trees” for him to slip up, suggesting the official was always nearby when Every’s frustration peaked.
“There would be times where like I’d miss a putt or I’d pull an iron shot and I’d look and I’d see Steven up on the hill and he’s watching me like 20 seconds after this ball already left the face,” Every explained. “And I would yell at him and be like, ‘You want me to throw it? Or you waiting for me to do this? Cause I will do it. I’m crazy enough to do this right now.'”
The story illustrates the cat-and-mouse dynamic that can develop between players known for emotional outbursts and the officials tasked with maintaining tour standards. While told with humor in retrospect, it reveals the constant pressure Every felt knowing his actions were being monitored.
Volunteer Reports and Tour Oversight
Every acknowledged that some of his fines resulted from tournament volunteer reports rather than direct official observation. This aspect of tour discipline often surprises casual fans—volunteers working the course have the authority to report player misconduct, and the tour takes these reports seriously.
The system ensures comprehensive oversight even when officials can’t personally witness every player interaction. For Every, it meant his behavior was under scrutiny not just from rules officials but from the dozens of volunteers working each event.
The Transformation: From Player to Analyst
Perhaps the most encouraging part of Every’s story is his successful transition from tour competitor to golf media personality. He now hosts “The Drop” on Golf Channel and works as a golf analyst for both the PGA Tour and ESPN, bringing his insider perspective and unfiltered personality to broadcast coverage.
Every insists his club-throwing days are behind him. The memorable toss from the Byron Nelson appears to be his last, marking a turning point in his relationship with the game. The maturity that came with age and career transition has allowed him to channel his passion for golf into analysis and commentary rather than on-course frustration.
“Never been in a drama class in my life,” Every jokes when discussing his media work, but his natural personality and willingness to share honest opinions have made him a valuable addition to golf broadcasting. His credibility comes from lived experience—he knows what it feels like to face pressure on tour, to struggle with composure, and to learn difficult lessons about conduct and consequences.
Lessons for Amateur Golfers
Every’s story offers important lessons for golfers at all levels about emotional control and conduct on the course:
- Frustration is natural, but actions have consequences: Every’s fines totaling tens of thousands of dollars illustrate how expensive poor emotional control can become.
- Patterns matter: Repeated violations lead to escalating penalties, making it crucial to address behavioral issues early.
- Professional standards exist for a reason: The PGA Tour’s conduct rules maintain the game’s integrity and protect its public image.
- Growth is possible: Every’s successful transition to broadcasting shows that learning from past mistakes can open new opportunities.
- Channel passion positively: The same intensity that led to fines now fuels Every’s engaging media presence.
The Psychology of Golf Frustration
Understanding why professional golfers like Every struggle with emotional control requires examining golf’s unique psychological demands. Unlike team sports where frustration can be directed at opponents or shared with teammates, golf is an individual battle against the course, conditions, and one’s own mind.
The game’s pace allows time for frustration to build between shots. A bad break or poor execution can simmer during the walk to the next shot, potentially affecting decision-making and composure. For players with competitive fire like Every, this mental challenge can be as difficult as the physical demands of the game itself.
The Financial Reality of Tour Fines
While Every earned over $10 million in his career, the accumulated fines still represent a significant sum. Two $20,000 penalties plus “a couple, handful of 5s” could easily total $50,000 or more—money that could have been invested, saved, or used for other purposes.
For tour players, these fines come directly from tournament earnings, making them particularly painful. They serve as constant reminders that conduct matters, and that the privilege of competing at golf’s highest level carries responsibilities beyond scoring well.
The Broader Impact on Tour Culture
Players like Every who push behavioral boundaries inadvertently influence tour culture and policy. Their actions lead to refinements in conduct rules, increased official oversight, and precedents for how violations are handled. In this way, Every’s experiences have contributed to the current framework that governs player behavior on tour.
The PGA Tour’s disciplinary system has evolved to balance maintaining professional standards with recognizing that players are human beings who occasionally struggle with emotional control under intense pressure. Every’s case exemplifies why these systems exist and how they can ultimately lead to positive personal growth.
Conclusion
Matt Every’s candid discussion of his PGA Tour fines provides a rare insider look at the consequences of on-course conduct violations and the personal growth that can follow. His journey from hot-headed competitor accumulating tens of thousands in fines to respected golf analyst demonstrates that past mistakes don’t define future potential.
The iconic club toss at Trinity Forest will remain part of golf lore—a visual representation of frustration taken to its extreme. But Every’s story is ultimately about more than club throws and fines. It’s about learning, growth, and finding new ways to contribute to a sport he clearly loves, even when his competitive fire sometimes burned too hot.
For current tour players and amateur golfers alike, Every’s experiences serve as both cautionary tale and inspiration. The path to emotional control in golf isn’t always smooth, but the destination—whether it’s fewer penalty strokes, saved money on fines, or simply more enjoyment of the game—makes the journey worthwhile.