Matt Fitzpatrick, a leading contender at The Open, has expressed concern that gamblers may attempt to influence golf tournaments by heckling players during play. This issue arises as the sport grapples with unsavory crowd behavior witnessed at recent events like the Ryder Cup and the U.S. Open.
Fitzpatrick highlighted that golf presents unique vulnerabilities to such manipulation. "For me, 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," he stated. "It's really easy. Obviously that is hard to monitor, but it is definitely an issue."
The golfer noted that abuse related to gambling is increasingly prevalent across professional sports, affecting athletes in football, tennis, and golf. He shared personal experiences, observing that "every golfer that's played a professional tournament has had a message of abuse from someone that is related to gambling."
Fitzpatrick drew a parallel to personal betting habits, acknowledging that while he himself might place bets, he would not resort to abusive messages if his bets did not win. "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?' There's obviously individuals that have that problem."
In related news, Joe Dean, a former Morrisons delivery driver, has qualified for The Open through an R&A last-chance shootout. Dean's journey to professional golf has seen him face financial challenges, including sleeping in his car while pursuing his career.