The Open 2026: Gambling contributes to abuse of golfers – Matt Fitzpatrick

Sports betting is becoming a problem among golf fans and contributing to personal abuse of players, says Matt Fitzpatrick.

The 2022 US Open champion was part of the European team that was barricaded by hostile US fans at Bethpage Black last September. In the Ryder Cup.

England’s Fitzpatrick also suffered pantomime boos from partisan fans when he lost to Cameron Young at the PGA Tour’s flagship Players Championship in March.

“I would say that every golfer who has played a professional tournament has had a message of abuse from someone related to gambling,” said Fitzpatrick.

“You go and type in the name of a player who maybe isn’t playing well, maybe someone who likes to play well, you type in the name on Twitter (now known as X) and you see their name followed by abuse after abuse.

“For me, it’s definitely becoming a problem and the problem is, especially in golf, it would be very easy to influence a bet, to yell at someone’s backswing, to yell at the putting stroke.

“It’s really simple. Obviously it’s really hard to monitor, but it’s definitely a problem.”

As fans at this week’s 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale are asked to abide by a new code of conduct brought in by the R&A, local favorite Tommy Fleetwood insists striking the right balance is key to providing the best feel around the course.

“Crowds are a huge part of golf, and it’s hard to get everyone to behave the way you want them to behave while wanting the atmosphere to be as big and as good as possible,” he said.

“I’ve always felt that the atmosphere was great. I’ve had the support for me 99% of the time, but I’ve also had the odd time against me.

“Sometimes those were my most enjoyable environments when the crowd is a little bit more against you and gives you that little bit extra.”