British Open: Matt Fitzpatrick blames betting for golf fans’ bad behaviour

“I would say every golfer that’s played a professional tournament has had a message of abuse from someone that is related to gambling,” the 31-year-old said.

“For me, it’s definitely becoming a problem. It would be very easy to influence a bet, whether it’s you’re shouting on someone’s backswing, shouting on a putting stroke. It’s really easy.

“Obviously, that is really hard to monitor, but it is definitely an issue.”

Fitzpatrick accepts noisy crowds are now a part of modern golf but insisted there had to be limits on how spectators behaved themselves on the course.

“I want an atmosphere at a golf tournament,” he said. “I’ve said a million times, I love football, I love the atmosphere of a football match.

“Ryder Cup, playing away from home, succeeding in those atmospheres – there’s not a much better feeling. I’m all for an atmosphere, but obviously I don’t want it to cross a line.”

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