Jordan Spieth Links Rowdier Golf Crowds to Sports Betting, Calls for Industry Action

Professional golfer Jordan Spieth has voiced his concerns regarding the escalating boisterousness of crowds at golf events, attributing a significant portion of this trend to the proliferation of sports betting. Speaking ahead of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Illinois, Spieth was questioned about whether fan conduct was becoming more unruly, particularly following the reception Wyndham Clark encountered at the U.S. Open.

Spieth Addresses Growing Crowd Concerns

Spieth, without prompting, emphasized the urgency of the situation. "I do think that betting in golf is something that's going to have to be tackled here soon," he stated. He elaborated on how the dynamics of betting, such as wagering on "the field" against a specific player like Clark on a Sunday in a state where sports betting is legal, could potentially motivate fans to influence the game's outcome.

He pondered the potential connection: "I don't know how much of, say, the Wyndham scenario was the fact that it was enticing to bet the field versus Wyndham on Sunday in a legalized betting state, and you could have had people out there that are essentially, you know, have $100 to $10,000, depending on who it is, on the field versus somebody else."

The Unique Vulnerability of Golf

Spieth highlighted golf's distinct vulnerability compared to other sports. "In golf it's tricky because you could actually impact the outcome if you wanted to," he explained, acknowledging that while such an action might be short-lived, the potential remains. "It may not last very long, but you could impact a shot if you wanted to. I don't know of another sport that you could impact as a fan like you can golf. So I don't know how much that's having to do with it, if it's different than it used to be."

While acknowledging that fan vitriol isn't an entirely new phenomenon, Spieth asserted that a considerable part of the current issue "has to do with betting, and that is in the last five years." It is noteworthy that Spieth previously served as an ambassador for FanDuel, a prominent sports betting company.

The jeers directed at Clark occurred at Shinnecock Hills in the Hamptons, a location approximately 60 miles from Bethpage Black, which gained notoriety for fan behavior during the Ryder Cup. Following that incident, Eamon Lynch of Golf Channel famously labeled Long Island fans a "stain" on the sport, suggesting they did not merit hosting another major golf event in the region.

The Rise of Legalized Sports Betting

The landscape of sports gambling has changed dramatically in recent years. Since 2018, sports betting has been legalized in 39 U.S. states; prior to this period, only Nevada permitted it. Among these states, 32, including Illinois where Spieth was speaking, also allow online betting, further expanding accessibility to wagering on sports events.