The PGA Tour is adding new security measures and updating its code of conduct for fans for the 2027 season, according to Front Office Sports.
The changes come in response to a number of on-course fan incidents potentially tied to sports betting.
Key Takeaways
- Numerous recent incidents are prompting the PGA Tour to update course security and fan conduct rules.
- Tournament changes include enhanced security training of course volunteers and additional restrictions on fan engagement.
- The Tour will also add a program to monitor and track player harassment and threats on social media.
PGA Tour VP of gaming Scott Warfield and senior VP of tournament administration Andy Levinson recently outlined some changes that are in the works for next season. The changes are aimed at improving player security and tournament integrity.
“We are a sport where the fans can get closer than just about any other sport, so, you know, we are concerned about fans interacting with our players in a negative manner, and certainly the potential for fans to try to impact the competition in some way,” Levinson noted.
In addition to revamping its fan code of conduct, the PGA Tour is also training its ambassador program volunteers who will be in the crowds notifying security of certain types of behavior.
Warfield said the Tour spent the summer gathering feedback from players, which helped inform plans to track harassing comments that “usually start on the course, go online, or vice versa.”
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Incidents of fan harassment in golf increasing
Harassment remains an issue across sports but can be particularly problematic in golf. For one thing, golf has traditionally placed a greater emphasis on decorum on the course. Even announcers are known to whisper to avoid disrupting play. That highlights the larger issue; even a minor disturbance can affect a critical putt or backswing.
Pro golfer Jordan Spieth raised the issue after Wyndham Clark was harassed by fans during the U.S. Open. Spieth, a FanDuel ambassador, cautioned about the role sports betting may be playing in the rise of poor fan behavior.
“Betting in golf is something that's going to have to be tackled here soon,” Spieth said. “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.”
Matt Fitzpatrick brought up similar concerns during this year’s British Open. “For me, it's definitely becoming a problem, and the issue is, particularly in golf, it would be very easy to influence a bet, whether it's you're shouting on someone's backswing, shouting on a putting stroke,” Fitzpatrick said. “It's really easy. Obviously, that is really hard to monitor, but it is definitely an issue.”
These concerns extend beyond golf. Last year, The Athletic reported on the growing harrassment of NBA players, citing death threats and verbal abuse. MLB players have recently spoken out about similar issues.
