Bob MacIntyre Faces Heckling from Rowdy Fan Amid Golf Gambling Concerns
Date: 2023-09-15 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: SPORTS BETTING, PEOPLE
In a shocking turn of events at the BMW PGA Championship, Scottish golfer Bob MacIntyre found himself on the receiving end of a barrage of insults from an irate spectator. This incident highlights the increasing concern surrounding gambling issues in the world of golf.
As MacIntyre progressed through the final stages of his second round, he was subjected to verbal abuse from a disgruntled individual. Walking alongside Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose on the penultimate Wentworth hole, the 27-year-old golfer was bluntly reminded that his performance, which was outshining his playing partners and Ryder Cup colleagues, was causing financial losses for the heckler.
Fearing further disruptions, MacIntyre cautioned his caddie, Greg Milne, to remain vigilant as they approached the final tee. This unsettling incident comes on the heels of Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy's recent statements about the escalating gambling issue in golf.
MacIntyre, who posted an impressive 69 compared to Rose's 71 and Fitzpatrick's 72, revealed, "I was getting a bit of stick coming up the 17th. There’s obviously gambling going on in the game of golf nowadays, and some people ride a lot of money on it. And, unfortunately, he lost today!"
When pressed on whether the individual wanted him to lose to Fitzpatrick and Rose, he confirmed, "Aye, he did. And he told me the amount he had riding on it! I actually spoke about that to someone a few weeks ago, it might even have been Jon about the heckling on the PGA Tour. It’s all about gambling nowadays."
MacIntyre's unsettling experience echoes the sentiments expressed by Rahm and McIlroy, who had previously spoken out about this growing problem. During the BMW Championship in the United States, two fans were ejected for disrupting Max Homa as he putted during the second FedEx Cup play-off event.
Homa, who addressed the issue, mentioned, "I love that people can gamble on golf, but that is one thing I’m worried about. It just sucks when it’s incredibly intentional."
Rahm expressed his concerns, stating that preventing fans who have gambled on tournaments from attempting to directly influence the outcome would be "extremely difficult." He emphasized, "I feel like we hear it every single round. It’s very, very present."
McIlroy echoed these concerns, saying, "We have talked about this at the board and the PAC [player advisory council] level for a few years. I don’t think there’s any other sport where people can really affect the play."
Despite the heckling incident, MacIntyre praised the tournament, saying, "What a golf tournament this is. The crowds were unbelievable." He also expressed his contentment with his performance, stating, "I’m totally relaxed. This is the best I’ve felt in about four or five weeks."
As MacIntyre progressed through the final stages of his second round, he was subjected to verbal abuse from a disgruntled individual. Walking alongside Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose on the penultimate Wentworth hole, the 27-year-old golfer was bluntly reminded that his performance, which was outshining his playing partners and Ryder Cup colleagues, was causing financial losses for the heckler.
Fearing further disruptions, MacIntyre cautioned his caddie, Greg Milne, to remain vigilant as they approached the final tee. This unsettling incident comes on the heels of Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy's recent statements about the escalating gambling issue in golf.
MacIntyre, who posted an impressive 69 compared to Rose's 71 and Fitzpatrick's 72, revealed, "I was getting a bit of stick coming up the 17th. There’s obviously gambling going on in the game of golf nowadays, and some people ride a lot of money on it. And, unfortunately, he lost today!"
When pressed on whether the individual wanted him to lose to Fitzpatrick and Rose, he confirmed, "Aye, he did. And he told me the amount he had riding on it! I actually spoke about that to someone a few weeks ago, it might even have been Jon about the heckling on the PGA Tour. It’s all about gambling nowadays."
MacIntyre's unsettling experience echoes the sentiments expressed by Rahm and McIlroy, who had previously spoken out about this growing problem. During the BMW Championship in the United States, two fans were ejected for disrupting Max Homa as he putted during the second FedEx Cup play-off event.
Homa, who addressed the issue, mentioned, "I love that people can gamble on golf, but that is one thing I’m worried about. It just sucks when it’s incredibly intentional."
Rahm expressed his concerns, stating that preventing fans who have gambled on tournaments from attempting to directly influence the outcome would be "extremely difficult." He emphasized, "I feel like we hear it every single round. It’s very, very present."
McIlroy echoed these concerns, saying, "We have talked about this at the board and the PAC [player advisory council] level for a few years. I don’t think there’s any other sport where people can really affect the play."
Despite the heckling incident, MacIntyre praised the tournament, saying, "What a golf tournament this is. The crowds were unbelievable." He also expressed his contentment with his performance, stating, "I’m totally relaxed. This is the best I’ve felt in about four or five weeks."
