Jordan Spieth says the PGA Tour has a big issue that needs to be ‘tackled soon’

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Jordan Spieth will be attempting to win for the first time since April 2022 this week at the John Deere Classic.

Spieth is a huge fan favorite everywhere he goes, especially at TPC Deere Run.

Throughout his career, the 32-year-old from Dallas, Texas, always gets really strong support from the galleries wherever he plays.

However, not every professional golfer is as lucky as Jordan Spieth in that department.

Over the past year or so, we have witnessed some appalling behavior from golf fans, including the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black and the awful treatment of Wyndham Clark during the US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

Now Spieth has offered a really interesting theory on why poor fan behavior is a growing issue on the PGA Tour and, indeed, in professional golf in general.

Jordan Spieth says the PGA Tour has a big issue that needs to be tackled

Spieth addressed the media on Tuesday in Silvis, Illinois, ahead of the start of the John Deere Classic later this week.

The three-time major champion was asked to give his opinion on some of the poor behavior from golf fans during events recently.

And the American offered some fascinating insight behind why he believes treatment of golfers is getting worse.

“I think if you could figure that out, I think we’d rather have it running each country around the world versus worried about golf tournaments. Yeah, I’m not sure that’s controllable,“ Spieth admitted.

“When you are in the Midwest, you know you’re in the Midwest. It’s always felt that way here.

“I think you had some unique circumstances there. I don’t know. I mean, I think the one thing that I’ll point out is I do think that betting in golf is something that’s going to have to be tackled here soon, because I don’t know how much of, say, the Wyndham scenario was the fact that it was enticing to bet the field versus Wyndham on Sunday in a legalized betting state, and you could have had people out there that are essentially, you know, have $100 to $10,000, depending on who it is, on the field versus somebody else.

“In golf it’s tricky because you could actually impact the outcome if you wanted to. It may not last very long, but you could impact a shot if you wanted to. I don’t know of another sport that you could impact as a fan like you can golf. So I don’t know how much that’s having to do with it, if it’s different than it used to be.

“I’ve also played rounds with guys who were not treated well 10, 15 years ago. I don’t think it’s a crazy new thing. I do think the Bethpage Ryder Cup was, from what I understand, maybe a lingering effect from that with an American versus a European. You know, Cam Young, Fitzpatrick, THE PLAYERS. I’m trying to single them out for you, but I wasn’t a part of either one of them, but I will say that from what I’ve seen, a lot of times it has to do with betting, and that is in the last five years.

“We’ll see what happens with that.“

Spieth’s point is a really interesting one.

However, it is worth pointing out that golf betting isn’t a new phenomenon.

Golf demographics and behaviors are changing before our eyes

Golf fans have gambled on the sport for decades now. However, the galleries that followed the world’s best players were definitely of an older persuasion.

The game of golf has been hit by an influx of youth over the past five years or so, and that is obviously a very good thing.

However, as with anything in life, there are always pros and cons.

There is no way that the powers that be will be able to stop fans from betting on certain players to win.

However, what they can do is come down harder on those who flout the rules and display unacceptable behavior.

Immediate removal from the property and lifetime bans should be put in place for any fans who are caught abusing players during a tournament.

This should happen whenever something unsavory is shouted in the direction of the players. This may need more security on every hole, but if that’s the price the PGA Tour must pay to address the ever-growing fan behavior issue, then so be it.