RORY McILROY has sent out a warning about the dangers of sports gambling to golf authorities.

McIlroy has stated that fans affecting tournaments due to their betting is a regular point brought up at PGA board level.

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He said: “We have talked about this at the board and the PAC (player advisory council) level for a few years.

“It is a bit of a slippery slope because I don’t think there’s any other sport – maybe basketball and you can sit courtside, but it’s a different environment – where people can really affect the play out here.

“As long as it’s policed the right way and as long as there’s measures put in place for things like what happened to Max Homa not to happen.

“Because we’re all for people out here having a good time and being able to put something on an outcome, as long as they don’t feel like they can come here and influence that outcome. That’s important.”

At the BMW Championship on Saturday, two people were removed after shouting at Max Homa as he putted out on the 17th hole. The calls related to a bet between friends.

When asked if he was aware of a rise in shouts from galleries, McIlroy said: “My biggest pet peeve is when you’re reading a putt and someone that’s been sitting there all day is like, ‘It doesn’t break as much as you think’, or whatever.

“I just think, ‘Shut up and don’t be a part of the show, just enjoy watching the golf, right?’ But I wouldn’t say that’s to do with gambling, per se.

“If I was here as a fan, I just want to go out and try to watch the best players in the world and have a good time doing that.”

Jon Rahm claimed on Tuesday that the Tour will find it ‘extremely difficult’ to stop fans with gambling interests from affecting events.

He said: “We hear it every single round. That happens way more often than you guys may hear. I mean, it’s very, very present.”