HONOLULU, Hawaii – The larger PGA TOUR community was part of a short state of chaos in Hawaii after a ballistic missile alarm was inadvertently sent out to those in the state. In Hawaii for the Sony Open this week, TOUR players, families, fans and officials were part of the larger community who received an alarm on their phones stating “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.â€� An alert also went across local television screens describing how a missile threat was detected that “may impact on land or sea within minutes.” It caused a sense of panic and uncertainty with a second alert not being sent out for 38 minutes to reveal it was a false alarm. Multiple TOUR players were caught up in the commotion. JJ Spaun tweeted from a basement under his hotel. “In a basement under hotel. Barely any service. Can you send confirmed message over radio or tv,â€� he asked. John Peterson, who is tied for second at Waialae Country Club through 36 holes, has his new three-month old baby with him and was understandably fearful. “Under mattresses in the bathtub with my wife, baby and in laws. Please lord let this bomb threat not be real.â€� Steve Wheatcroft tweeted about the panic. “So…….this can’t be good. Everyone is freaking out in the hotel,â€� he tweeted. Seamus Power was another hoping it was a mistake but also in a state of confusion. “Not your normal emergency warning. Really hope it’s just a drill.â€� Michelle Wie, a native Hawaiian from the LPGA, was understandably concerned. Thankfully it turned out to be a mistake. “To all that just received the warning along with me this morning… apparently it was a “mistakeâ€� hell of a mistake!! Haha glad to know we’ll all be safe,â€� defending Sony Open champion Justin Thomas tweeted. Recent TOUR winner Austin Cook added: “Well this may be one of the scariest alerts I have ever received. Luckily it was a mistake. This is no small mistake. I hope it doesn’t happen again.â€� Stewart Cink’s caddy Taylor Ford was hiking the Diamond Head crater during the alert. “Hiked a mountain and had a ballistic missile threat launch alert all before 8:30am. Indescribable feeling. The 3rd round this afternoon should be a cake walk.,â€� he posted on Instagram. Round 3 of the Sony Open is due to get underway at 11:05 a.m. local time
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