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ATLANTA — Although a PGA Tour spokesperson mentioned the tour has not seen a rise in spectators making an attempt to distract golfers for betting functions, Jon Rahm mentioned Tuesday that gamers hear about playing “each single spherical.”

“That occurs far more usually than you guys might hear,” Rahm advised reporters Tuesday at a information convention forward of this week’s Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Membership. “I imply, it’s totally, very current. In golf, spectators are very shut, and even when they are not instantly speaking to you, they’re shut sufficient to the place if they are saying to their buddy, ‘I wager you 10 bucks he’ll miss it,’ you hear it.”

PGA Tour president Tyler Dennis confirmed Tuesday {that a} fan was ejected from the third spherical of final week’s BMW Championship for allegedly yelling “Pull it!” whereas Max Homa was making an attempt a brief putt on the seventeenth inexperienced at Olympia Fields Nation Membership exterior Chicago. Homa advised reporters that the fan had wager $3 on him to overlook the putt. Homa made the 5-footer.

“I really like that individuals can gamble on golf, however that’s one factor I am apprehensive about,” Homa mentioned. “It is simply at all times one thing that is in your thoughts. It is on us to remain centered or no matter, however it’s simply annoying when it occurs. … Followers are so nice about being quiet once we play. I feel they’re superior. When anyone ever talks, it is so unintentional. They do not know we’re hitting. It simply sucks when it is extremely intentional.”

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan mentioned the incident was “unlucky.”

“Our followers have nice appreciation for the integrity of the competitors,” Monahan mentioned. “They’re respectful of our gamers. Now we have seen that proceed to be the case and anticipate that to proceed to be the case. Now we have super followers which have super respect for what these gamers have to do so as to present and current the super performances they do.”

Laura Neal, the PGA Tour’s government vp of name communications, advised ESPN on Monday that safety groups will take “swift and speedy motion to guard the integrity of the competitors” however added that no new measures have been in place.

“This is not rampant,” Neal mentioned Monday. “After all, for our safety workforce, we need to be sure that our gamers have the correct enviornment to compete in, however [there’s been] nothing exterior the bizarre since gaming has turn out to be authorized.”

Rahm agreed that golf followers “are fairly good for probably the most half.”

“You are listening to the constructive,” Rahm mentioned. “‘I acquired 20 bucks you make birdie right here,’ issues like that. However no, it is extra usually than you suppose. It isn’t caught on TV possibly, however it’s one thing that occurs, yeah.”

Rahm admitted it could be troublesome for the tour to “by some means management 50,000 individuals scattered across the golf course.”

“You don’t need it to get out of hand, proper?” Rahm mentioned. “It’s extremely straightforward — very, very straightforward — in golf if you wish to have an effect on any individual. You are so shut, you possibly can yell on the unsuitable time, and it’s totally straightforward for that to occur.”

ESPN workers author David Purdum contributed to this report.