The PGA Tour announced the suspensions of a pair of Korn Ferry Tour players last week for gambling violations, with Jake Staiano being suspended three months and Vince India receiving a six-month suspension.
Both players have since spoken publicly — or posted on social media — about their sports betting. Staiano was the more open of the two about his wagering violations, going on the Any Given Monday podcast to share his side of the story.
Staiano says he wagered a total of $116.20 in 2021 on four golf wagers. One of the wagers was on Bryson DeChambeau to make a birdie on a particular hole during a PGA Tour event, and the other three wagers related to the 2021 version of The Match, a made-for-TV golf exhibition between DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.
“I’m not a degenerate gambler,” Staiano said on the podcast. “I’m not betting thousands of dollars on Brooks or Bryson or whatever it may be, and I’m not doing it on other sports either.”
Staiano miffed by press release w656h
The PGA Tour’s press release announcing Staiano’s and India’s suspensions irked Staiano. The media statement indicated that each player was being suspended for wagering on PGA Tour events, although neither player wagered on a PGA Tour event they participated in. No additional details were given.
“Obviously, the press release was a little vague. … I just wanted to at least get it out there that, ‘Hey, this was two years ago, I was 24, 25 at the time, and I made a mistake,’” Staiano said.
Staiano stressed on the podcast that he didn’t wager often in 2021. In making the mistake of betting on a PGA Tour event, he said that he watched the tournament on TV and didn’t have any inside information when betting. And he believed wagering on the exhibition match didn’t violate PGA Tour policy.
“I felt like the press release made it look like we were kind of these evil guys that were betting all the time,” Staiano said. “It really wasn’t that deep.”
India addresses suspension 4y7235
Staiano said on the podcast that he hasn’t communicated with India since the suspension and doesn’t know the extent of India’s gambling, which led to a suspension twice the length of Staiano’s.
India addressed his suspension briefly Tuesday in a social media post.
“I have been truly blessed to be able to pursue a career in professional sports,” India said. “It’s an absolute privilege to play this game for a living. To that end, I am deeply ashamed that my behavior and poor decisions put my dream in jeopardy. I regret them every day.”
India itted he knowingly violated PGA Tour rules surrounding wagering.
“I want to apologize to the Tour for knowingly violating the Integrity Program,” India said. “I’m sorry to all my friends, family, coaches, sponsors and anyone who has ed me throughout my career. I’m confident I will grow from this. It’s an opportunity to continue to tackle the heart of my problems. I’m going to put more hours than ever into my body and mind this offseason, and ultimately come out a better person and player. I’m looking forward to 2024 continuing my goal to play golf at the highest level.”
India’s suspension lasts until March, several months after Staiano’s suspension ends in mid-December.
