“Needs to be fixed” – Jordan Spieth speaks up about a big problem hurting golf’s integrity
Jordan Spieth has talked about how betting might be behind some of the recent bad behavior we’ve seen from fans in golf. Lately, there have been several tense moments between players and the crowd. For example, at the US Open, Wyndham Clark faced a really unfriendly crowd that cheered every time he made a mistake.
Clark, who’s 32, said some of the crowd’s anger made sense because of things he did in the past, like damaging a locker room. Some fans who were rude to him were even asked to leave. Fan behavior was also a big problem at last year’s Ryder Cup, where extra security was needed after some fans crossed the line with mean and offensive comments.
While fans being rough isn’t new in golf, it does seem to be happening more often. Golf is one of the few sports where fans can get really close to players, and Spieth thinks betting might be part of the reason. He explained that people might bet on what happens during a hole and then try to mess with players to influence the outcome.
“I think betting in golf is something we need to look at soon,” Spieth said at a press event. “For example, at the US Open with Wyndham, there were bets on different players on Sunday, especially in places where betting is legal. Some people might have had anywhere from $100 to $10,000 on the line. In golf, it’s different because a fan could actually affect a shot if they wanted to, even if only for a moment.
“I don’t know any other sport where a fan can impact the game like this. I’m not sure if this is a new problem or if it’s just more noticeable now. I’ve also played with guys who weren’t treated well 10 or 15 years ago, so it’s not totally new,” he added.
Spieth also mentioned that at the Bethpage Ryder Cup, the tension might have been linked to fan rivalries, like Americans versus Europeans. He brought up a few players to help explain but said he wasn’t involved in those events himself. “From what I’ve seen, betting has become a bigger factor in the last five years,” he said. “We’ll have to wait and see what happens.”