Two weeks after Jordan Spieth said that gambling in golf needs to be “tackled here soon” by the PGA Tour, fellow pro Matt Fitzpatrick agreed that it’s becoming a serious problem.
Fitzpatrick’s comments came during his pre-tournament press conference ahead of this week’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
“It’s definitely becoming a problem, and the issue is, particularly in golf, it would be very easy to influence a bet, whether it’s you’re shouting on someone’s backswing, shouting on a putting stroke,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s really easy. Obviously, that is really hard to monitor, but it is definitely an issue.”
He added, “I’ve had my fair share. I would say every golfer that’s played a professional tournament has had a message of abuse from someone that is related to gambling. I mean, you could see it this week.”
R&A’s New Code of Conduct
The R&A issued a new code of conduct ahead of this year’s Open Championship, featuring “on-course signs reminding fans to respect the players, the venue, each other, and enjoy the event responsibly.”
“The atmosphere at The Open is unlike any other major sporting event and one of the things that makes it so unique,” Mark Darbon, chief executive of the R&A said. “It is built on a shared respect for the players, the course, fellow fans, and the traditions of the Championship.”
Related: Jordan Spieth’s Right to Discuss Betting’s Dark Side, Even if FanDuel Pays Him
Fitzpatrick Endured Fan Abuse at The Players Championship
Fitzpatrick and Cameron Young dueled down the stretch at The Players Championship. US fans were pulling for Young and “actively rooted against” Fitzpatrick.
Young secured the victory, but Fitzpatrick got his revenge against US-based fans a month later by beating Scottie Scheffler in a playoff to win the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town.
Fitzpatrick is in the midst of his finest season, having already claimed three victories. The Englishman is among the favorites to win the Open Championship, which marks the final major of the season.
Simultaneously, England could win its first World Cup since 1966 after The Open concludes on Sunday.
“It’s difficult because I’ve had 20 quid on England to win the World Cup, but at the same time, if it doesn’t come in, I’m not going to send a message to Harry Kane and be like, ‘Why did you play rubbish?’” Fitzpatrick said. “There’s obviously individuals that have that problem.”
Fitzpatrick is a fan of events like the WM Phoenix Open and Ryder Cup, which are more boisterous than typical PGA Tour events.
“[The] Ryder Cup, playing away from home, succeeding in those atmospheres, there’s not a much better feeling,” he said. “I’m all for an atmosphere. Obviously, I don’t want it to cross a line.”
He concluded, “When you’re getting personally attacked, it’s just ridiculous.”
