"We are concerned" - PGA Tour planning crackdown on unruly fans in 2027

The PGA Tour is preparing to ramp up security and crowd-control measures in 2027, according to a report.

Per Front Office Sports, the PGA Tour is planning to revamp its fan code of conduct.

Unruly behaviour outside the gallery ropes has been a hot topic since the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

"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," senior VP of tournament administration Andy Levinson said.

He added: "We're revamping our fan code of conduct. We've put a lot of effort into that."

Levinson said the PGA Tour's new security measures will include volunteers being taught to identify and report fans causing problems, including certain types of behaviour.

New programmes are also being created to track and monitor online commentary from fans about players they have bet on.

Several incidents have thrust the sport into the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

In February, streamer Jack Doherty was kicked out of the WM Phoenix Open after he offered a spectator $100 to yell the word "jackass" during a player's backswing.

Doherty was handed a lifetime ban from attending PGA Tour events. 

Masters champion Rory McIlroy was involved in a heated exchange with a spectator during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.

Wyndham Clark was subjected to repeated heckling en route to winning the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, with police removing some spectators from the grounds.

Major champions Matthew Fitzpatrick and Jordan Spieth have also spoken openly about golfers receiving abusive messages from people who had lost money gambling on them.

Fitzpatrick said virtually every player had experienced that kind of abuse.

The PGA Tour is not the first organisation to tackle this issue. 

In July, the R&A also introduced a new fan code of conduct at the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

The "Open Commitment" asked spectators to respect players, the links and fellow fans, while also encouraging them to follow the guidance of event staff, marshals and security personnel.

Fans were told to remain quiet and still while players were preparing for and playing their shots, and not to call out to players inappropriately during play.

Levinson also acknowledged it was difficult to control large crowds.

"We are trying to take as many steps as we can," he added.

"At the same time, if you've got 10,000 people standing around a green and somebody decides to blurt something out, those things are really hard to control.

"So, we do rely on decorum a little bit at golf tournaments. In some markets we've seen that deteriorate."