US Open 'bird-fan' won't face charges

Published Jun. 19, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

San Francisco police have decided not to file charges against a British man who walked onto the 18th green and began squawking like a bird while NBC was interviewing US Open champion Webb Simpson.

The man was identified as Andrew James Dudley, 40, of Wallasey, England, who is reportedly a deforestation activist and calls himself "Jungle Bird."

He was taken into custody Sunday after being yanked off the green by a USGA official. Police say they held him in custody until he sobered up, but they concluded Dudley had not broken any laws.

"There is no trespassing, since he had a ticket to be there," police spokesman Albie Esparza told the San Francisco Chronicle on Tuesday.

"All he did was go on the green of the 18th hole and make a bird noise."

Reporter Bob Costas was taken aback when he realized Dudley was standing right in front of the camera as he interviewed Simpson, who had just won his first major by finishing one-over par at the difficult Olympic Club.

The 26-year-old North Carolina native laughed off the stunt, joking to Costas, "Enjoy the jail cell, pal."