Jordan Spieth suggested that legalized betting may have contributed to hostile crowd behavior toward Wyndham Clark at the U.S. Open. The comments came during the buildup to the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois.
Spieth pointed to the final round at Shinnecock Hills, where Clark entered with a six-shot lead and won the tournament. He noted that bettors in a legalized state could wager on the field against Clark, potentially creating incentives for interference.
"In golf it’s tricky because you could actually impact the outcome if you wanted to," Spieth said. He added that no other sport allows fans to affect play as directly.
Spieth, a FanDuel spokesman, also referenced earlier incidents involving Matt Fitzpatrick and said poor fan conduct over the past five years has often stemmed from betting. The PGA Tour maintains protocols for reporting gambling-related harassment and trains volunteers to monitor crowds.
Scottie Scheffler, who played the final round with Clark, described New York crowds as tough but praised Clark’s handling of the situation.
