During a recent press conference, Jordan Spieth, a popular American PGA Tour golfer and three-time major winner, claimed that measures have to be taken to protect players from abuse by sports bettors. However, considering he is being paid millions in sponsorships from FanDuel, some have called the player a hypocrite.
Spieth Criticizes Bettors Who Harass Players
Spieth’s comments were prompted after attendees at the press conference asked him about how Wyndham Clark was treated on Sunday at the US Open. At the event, Clark, the world No. 9, was met with loud jeers from the crowd whenever he missed a putt or hit an errant shot. Several spectators were ultimately ejected after their behavior crossed the line.
According to Spieth, much of this harassment has been linked to sports betting, claiming that it could have negative impacts on the integrity of the sport. He said that golf presents a unique challenge because spectators can potentially influence the outcome if they choose to. While any disruption may be brief, he noted that it can still affect a player’s shot.
While Spieth criticized bettors for their behavior, it seems that this has had some unintentional consequences, as some have pointed out the player’s apparent hypocrisy, given his partnership with FanDuel. Spieth became the first PGA Tour player to partner with FanDuel in August 2021 and has an active role in promoting the company’s products. In fact, a lot of his most recent posts on X all promote FanDuel.
Furthermore, Spieth also seemed quite positive about the deal at the time, saying that it would be “foolish” not to get involved with it. In fact, the player even claimed that this partnership would make the PGA Tour better, as it would generate more interest. That being said, Spieth also thought that FanDuel could make players feel more comfortable and make them feel safe when they play.
Critics, however, said that Spieth’s recent comments aren’t “the smartest thing” coming from someone being sponsored by FanDuel. Meanwhile, another commenter said that FanDuel isn’t going to stop people from betting on golf; therefore, he is unsure what the company could even do to remove bettors who are harassing players during games.