Fitzpatrick Speaks Out on Gambling-Related Abuse at Golf Events
Matt Fitzpatrick has become one of the latest professional golfers to publicly raise concerns about the darker side of sports betting, speaking to reporters ahead of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, which runs from 16 to 20 July.
The Sheffield-born 2022 US Open champion was characteristically candid during his pre-tournament media session, describing the rise in gambling-fuelled abuse directed at players as something that had crossed a clear line. “It’s definitely becoming a problem,” Fitzpatrick said, according to Casino.org, adding that golf is especially exposed because it is “very easy to influence a bet” — whether through shouting during a player’s backswing or mid-putting stroke.
Fitzpatrick went further, making clear the issue is not limited to players who are unpopular or competing away from home. He suggested that any golfer, regardless of reputation or form, is a potential target. His advice to anyone doubting the scale of the problem was simple: search a player’s name on social media after a disappointing round and see what comes up.
The 31-year-old is no stranger to hostile crowds. He noted that during his Ryder Cup appearances for Team Europe, American galleries have made their feelings known — most recently at the RBC Heritage in April, where chants of “USA” rang out during his final-round pairing with world number one Scottie Scheffler.
Fitzpatrick is not alone in raising the alarm. Earlier this month, three-time major winner Jordan Spieth called for action against abusive bettors, though those remarks drew scrutiny given his long-standing brand ambassador role with a major US sportsbook.
For UK golf fans following The Open, it is worth noting that these concerns reflect a broader debate about how the rapid growth of sports betting is changing the atmosphere at live sporting events — a conversation equally relevant on this side of the Atlantic.
You can keep up with all the latest developments in our casino news section, and if you’re new to sports betting, our guides are a good place to start understanding how it all works.
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