Jason Day’s early withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer

After six holes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Thursday, Jason Day withdrew from competition siting a “significant back ailment”.

This wasn’t something that happened to Jason Day during the round, as the report came out that it was something that he had been dealing with since Sunday. As one of the favorites in the gambling world, a question arose. Should the public have been given this information earlier in the week?

It is an issue that all sports are dealing with. The NFL has always had issues with it, and the MLB recently made a change to the way that lineup cards are handed in and made available before games. With gambling becoming more legal by the day, it’s a question that was bound to come up during the golf season.

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Gambling and the world of sports, especially golf, have always had a close relationship. From the Black Sox back in 1919, to the Tim Donaghy scandal in the NBA. Golfers of all skill levels play different betting games on the course, and the PGA players are no diffferent, playing many different games during practice rounds. Heck, the PGA even featured one between Tiger and Phil, dubbed “The Match“.

Many in the world of gambling wondered why this information about Jason Day wasn’t made public knowledge earlier in the week. It would have changed odds for many players, and it cost a lot of people money.

From a player’s perspective, not all of them are worried about people betting on the game. Kevin Kisner had some big thoughts on it, and as the co-chairman of the Tour’s Player Advisory Council, his words hold some serious merit.

“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.”

Its a fair point. The players on the course who are actually playing should be focused on their game, and the variables that they actually have to deal with. Not on outside spectators who are gambling on them.

What does need to be realized by people in Kisner’s corner, is that these people are a big part of why golfers make as much money as they do. The amount of money that has come in to golf over the last 20 years has increased dramatically. Part of this is due to Tiger Woods, but part of it is also do to the fan interest that is associated with gambling.

If gamblers and bookmakers are left completely in the cold, it will sour their attitude towards the game, and the money and viewership that goes into golf will suffer. A fair, working relationship between the two groups is needed for the success of the game. This isn’t to say it’s the most important part, but it definitely is a factor that needs to be thought about.

When it comes down to it, it’s going to be a line that is always tough to walk. Jason Day has a right to keep to himself about his injuries. At the same time, the potential for the world of golf to make more money is there if he is open about it. For the sake of golf, hopefully there is an agreement to make both sides happy.