Another Sign The PGA Tour Is Warming To Daily Fantasy?

Given the role that fantasy leagues and daily fantasy (gambling) have played in strengthening fan ties to other sports, new PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has expressed an open mind toward the possibilities. The daily fantasy world is seeing golf as a growth industry. Television networks would not be opposed to more eyeballs.

So it was intriguing to see the Tour bless Willy Wilcox signing an appearance deal with DraftKings. As Brian Wacker reports for GolfDigest.com, the deal would seem to violate rules against players endorsing gaming companies.

For Wilcox’s part, he won’t have a DraftKings logo on his bag or apparel, and is in no way “endorsing” the company, says his agent Drew Carr -- though Wilcox did excitedly tweet about the new relationship, saying, “So pumped to announce I am officially paired up with @DraftKings! Helping them with some epic events..dream come true see y'all at Pinehurst.”

If that’s not an endorsement, where exactly is the line? It’s a blurry one at best.

“This is an opportunity that we have carefully navigated for the better part of a year, while keeping in close communication with the Tour,” Carr said. “This is not an endorsement of DraftKings, and it is not an endorsement agreement.