Jason Day’s withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer Invitational during his seventh hole of the day sparked a lively debate on Thursday, with many daily fantasy sports (DFS) and gamblers feeling cheated.
A plethora of angry DFS players aired their thoughts on social media after the withdrawal, with some requesting that the PGA Tour implements weekly injury reports, as the relationship between golf and gambling begins to heat up.
The Australian called it quits during the seventh hole of his round, explaining to playing partners Ian Poulter and Rickie Fowler that he couldn’t continue due to the pain in his back. Day revealed after the round the significance of his injury, which involves an annular tear in his L4-L5 discs.
“I (aggravated) it last Sunday, and then got an MRI Monday which came back that I had an annular tear in my disc and then I’ve got ‘set problems’ as well.
“My back was sore when I was practising from Tuesday to Saturday (last week) and I was going to practise on Sunday, but I woke up and couldn’t really walk or sit in the car. I was on a dose pack to try get the inflammation out of it that didn’t get any better.”
The explanation had some questioning whether Day was right to tee it up in the first place, not just to protect those in the fantasy sports world but also for preventing first alternate Chase Wright an opportunity to tee it up, but Day had hoped that the injury would “loosen up” as his round went on.
Last week, Tour Chief Jay Monahan said to players at the Honda Classic
“We are aggressively and also carefully pursuing commercial deals in the U.S. gambling and daily fantasy spaces and expect to make announcements in the coming months. We see strong opportunities for commercial deals.”
But despite those opportunities and growing relationships with these DFS companies, in light of Day’s costly withdrawal for many of those gamblers, golf fans should not expect to see weekly injury reports like they do in the NFL and MLB in the near future, due to the players of the Tour being independent contractors.
Speaking to The Action Network, a PGA Tour spokesman stated
“For the foreseeable future, medical information is considered confidential. Players are not required to disclose an injury.”
The heated debate over Day’s withdrawal also involved Tour players, who were happy to share their view on the subject, with some holding strong opinions on the matter.
Kevin Kisner, co-chairman of the Tour’s Player Advisory Council, has little sympathy with those who lost money on Day’s withdrawal, stating to Golf Channel’s Will Gray.
“It’s nobody’s business. I mean, are we out here to gamble, or are we out here to play golf? I don’t really give a s*** about the DFS guys. You should have picked someone else. If he had shot 65 and he had a hurt back, those guys wouldn’t have said anything.”
Jimmy Walker had more sympathy and concern over those that could contain more inside information than others.
“I’m not saying that anyone did anything malicious, but yeah, it’s a bigger deal. There might have been a head-to-head (matchup) with Jason today, and if a few people know that he’s probably not feeling good, people need to know that. It’s a big deal. There’s a lot of money out there.”
As the PGA Tour’s relationship with gambling continues to evolve, it’s unlikely that the fiery debate will subside anytime soon. Whatever side of the fence you’re on though, the timeless words which Brandt Snedeker issued on Thursday afternoon are perhaps the most relevant, and a stark reminder to those DFS users: “That’s why they call it gambling”.
Your Reaction?- LIKE36
- LEGIT2
- WOW1
- LOL3
- IDHT1
- FLOP3
- OB3
- SHANK26
Rich
Mar 9, 2019 at 1:55 pm
I could care less what DFS players think of some jock’s injury-like Jason Day. No sports player knows when he/she is going to get injured.
Jason Day, don’t pay a whit of attention to their whining.
FkKisner
Mar 8, 2019 at 9:59 pm
I don’t bet or gamble – but Kisner is an absolute b1tch.
SImms
Mar 8, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Maybe I should play on Tour, I would be a shoe in to miss the cut each week and gamblers would love me as a sure thing…
dat
Mar 8, 2019 at 4:14 pm
Imagine betting on sports. Lol.
I Man
Mar 8, 2019 at 2:21 pm
Nobody on tour could care less about people gambling on their sport, nor should they. If you aren’t prepared to lose, don’t make the bet. Worst thing the PGA Tour could have done .
Prut
Mar 8, 2019 at 2:00 pm
…and now that WRX writes about it, we’re supposed to think it’s an actual issue. Just because people say shit doesn’t make it important.
Phil D. Snuts
Mar 8, 2019 at 12:20 pm
Fantasy sports lmao. Get a grip people
HacknGolf
Mar 8, 2019 at 12:12 pm
As a DFS player there are certain rules:
1) Don’t pick Jason Day
2) Don’t pick Kevin Na
3) Don’t pick Danny Lee
4) Don’t pick John Daly
If you stick to those rules, you avoid 99% of WD’s
Loto
Mar 8, 2019 at 6:58 pm
You forgot Tiger
ryan
Mar 8, 2019 at 12:07 pm
anyone who cant own the fact that the guy they picked WD’d is truly a cuck and sucks at gambling. In Sports gambling every outcome is out of your control. Take your losses like a man and realize these guys play for a living, and your some idiot who lost a 50$ entry fee and will be over it in about 4 hours time
Tom
Mar 8, 2019 at 12:01 pm
Gianni is a beast!
LD
Mar 8, 2019 at 11:20 am
It’s gambling, what do the people betting expect? A sure thing? Like assuming when you go to Vegas you’ll win, yea right.
Barney
Mar 8, 2019 at 10:40 am
Kisner would be wise to keep his mouth shut and let folks presume he’s a fool rather than open it and remove all doubt.
JugHead
Mar 8, 2019 at 10:28 am
People crying about losing money gambling… Sounds about right in this day and age. Gotta side with Snedeker and Kisner on this one.
Thomas A
Mar 8, 2019 at 10:23 am
Feeling bad about GAMBLERS losing money? It’s called gambling for a reason. You lost, tough s**t.
Mower
Mar 8, 2019 at 12:01 pm
Exactly! If they’ve got money to throw away on sh*t like this – zero sympathy.
2putttom
Mar 8, 2019 at 1:25 pm
spot on
Chuck
Mar 8, 2019 at 6:03 pm
spot on