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Spieth Blames Legal Betting for Hostile PGA Crowds

7/1/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Jordan Spieth warned that legal sports betting is fueling hostile crowds at PGA Tour events.
He said the June 21 heckling of U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark at Shinnecock Hills may be tied to bets of $100-$10,000.
Spieth explained that close-range galleries let fans shout during a backswing, a risk not found in most sports.
The PGA Tour issued new gambling-harassment reporting guidelines and trained volunteers to watch crowds.

History

Historical Context

Britain’s Betting and Gaming Act of 1960 first legalized off-course bookmakers, and the Gambling Act 2005 created the Gambling Commission and opened online wagering, expanding the market to an estimated £650 million by 2012. A 7-fold rise in TV gambling ads followed, prompting concerns about fan aggression that Jordan Spieth now cites at Shinnecock Hills.

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Story summary

Jordan Spieth warned that legal sports betting is fueling hostile crowds at PGA Tour events.
He said the June 21 heckling of U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark at Shinnecock Hills may be tied to bets of $100-$10,000.
Spieth explained that close-range galleries let fans shout during a backswing, a risk not found in most sports.
The PGA Tour issued new gambling-harassment reporting guidelines and trained volunteers to watch crowds.

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