DraftKings Named Official Betting Operator of PGA Tour, Golf Sportsbook’s Fourth-Most Popular Sport

Posted on: July 28, 2020, 09:32h. 

Last updated on: July 28, 2020, 11:01h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

DraftKings has been named the first “Official Betting Partner” of the PGA Tour. The deal gives the sportsbook rights to use PGA Tour trademarks, opportunities to advertise within the tour, and content and video distribution privileges.

DraftKings PGA Tour sports betting odds
DraftKings will likely have an advertising and betting presence the next time the PGA Tour returns to the Memorial Tournament. Bryson DeChambeau is seen here winning the 2018 event. (Image: Tracy Wilcox/PGA Tour/DraftKings/Casino.org)

DraftKings became the PGA Tour’s first official betting partner in July of 2019. Now, the two entities are furthering their partnership.

DraftKings says golf is its fourth most-wagered-on sport. And activity has only increased since the PGA Tour resumed tournament play last month.

When play returned in June at the Charles Schwab Challenge, DraftKings said it took more wagers than it ever had on day one of a four-day official PGA Tour tournament.

There was much pent-up sports betting demand, as sports all but halted in recent months because of the coronavirus pandemic. DraftKings expanding its operations — now up and running in seven states — also played a role in the book seeing record handle on a PGA Tour event.

“Golf has been an especially important outlet for fan engagement over these past few months, and this latest collaboration is a significant next step for both the golf and gaming industries,” said Ezra Kucharz, DraftKings chief business officer.

DraftKings sportsbooks are live in New Jersey, West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Iowa, and Colorado.

Golf Odds Strong

Major League Baseball finally began its long-delayed regular season last week. But games are already being postponed by an outbreak of COVID-19 within the Miami Marlins organization.

Seventeen members of the Marlins team have the coronavirus, including at least 11 players.

The cluster has thrown the 60-game MLB season into further jeopardy. Being an individual sport played outdoors and rather socially distanced compared to other sports, the PGA Tour’s odds of continuing play are seemingly better than baseball, golf, basketball, and hockey.

There were four positive COVID-19 test results during the first three weeks of the PGA Tour’s return. But the tournaments continued.

We knew it was impossible to eliminate all risk,” explained PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. As for what it would take to once again halt play, Monahan said the tour’s routine testing and health safety measures make that unlikely.

“We’re confident with the plan we have and we are very hopeful that we are not going to be in that position,” he stated.

Majors Coming

Golf betting is expected to only increase in the weeks and months ahead, as the Tour heads into majors season.

The PGA Championship, August 6-9, is first up. Held at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, Rory McIlroy is the favorite at 10/1. New world No. 1 Jon Rahm is second at 12/1. Defending champ Brooks Koepka is at 20/1.

The US Open at Winged Foot in New York follows September 17-20. McIlroy again leads the way (12/1), followed by Rahm and Koepka (14/1).

The Masters, traditionally the first major of the year, is the last in 2020 (The Open has been canceled). With a win, McIlroy caps off the career grand slam. He’s the front-runner at 12/1. Rahm is second at 14/1.

And for all the “gamble-oholics” out there, as Tiger Woods calls those who continually bet on him, the 15-time major champ is at 25/1 at the PGA and US Open, and 20/1 at the Masters.