"Until gambling on golf becomes part of the mainstream betting action, like college and pro football, the PGA Tour will never have a real chance to make a mark in the fall."

The SI golf group contemplates the positive ramifications of the LPGA playing a well known tournament course in Torrey Pines (I have to agree, they should do it more often if at all possible). However, this was a more interesting debate related to the FedEx Cup finale:

Bamberger: Until gambling on golf becomes part of the mainstream betting action, like college and pro football, the PGA Tour will never have a real chance to make a mark in the fall. When you have your own money on the line, or your alma mater is playing, you connect with the pictures on your tube in a totally different way. And I don't think the wise heads in Ponta Vedra Beach would want the Tour to turn into a haven for gamblers anyhow, although a Tiger-Phil-Heath trifecta sounds pretty good.

Van Sickle: Great point by Bamberger. The NFL was huge before, with lots of betting, and fantasy football has put it way over the top as the national past time. Golf can't compete with that. Baseball might even be in tough shape if not for fantasy leagues.

Joe Ogilvie has said many times that golf should find ways to become more gambling friendly if it wants to grow. And what could be more fun to bet on than a four day shootout at East Lake with daily eliminations leading up to a final day free-for-all with 4 or eight guys?

What do you all think about the importance of being gambling friendly in driving your interest in watching golf versus other sports?