PGA Tour: Mixed Results As First Broadcast Incorporates Betting, Live Odds
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First round live odds
On paper, a lightly watched fall event from Las Vegas without fans was the perfect spot to start incorporating sports betting into a PGA Tour event. While the early round execution was as laughably awkward—but befitting of the low budget Korn Ferry-style broadcast effort by Golf Channel—the real eye-opener came during Sunday’s CJ Cup final round.
Jason Kokrak had a one-stroke lead over Xander Schauffele as they arrived at the par-5 18th. And this wagering opportunity—where legal—came from BET MGM as they waited on the tee:
The announcers ran with the bet and instead of a rather traditional conversation about what needed to happen (Xander must make birdie…no kidding!), this side bet of who would win the hole became mildly interesting and fueled good pre-tee shot conversation.
And then Kokrak unleashed a doozy of a tee shot. The bettor or speculator who was all in on Schauffele making birdie to Kokrak’s conservative par? They lost quickly after this clutch (and huge) tee shot by Kokrak:
Look, it’s a small thing but without fans and a lot to watch, these kinds of twists on traditional golf tournaments added something. Particularly with such a budget-slashed broadcast that made the CJ Cup mostly a nap-inducer for three rounds.
After, there was some discussion about the incorporation. I enjoyed this point from Justin Ray, responding to Jason Sobel’s piece at The Action Network on week one of the new future.
