PGA Tour Season Opens with High-Stakes Bettors Making Risky Low-Return Golf Wagers
Golf bettors are shifting their strategies as the 2025 PGA Tour season begins at The Sentry in Kapalua, featuring a $20M purse and an exclusive field of 59 previous winners and Tour Championship qualifiers.
Golfer swinging club on green
A notable trend has emerged where high-stakes bettors are placing large wagers on players not to win tournaments, rather than traditional outright winner bets. This shift comes as traditional golf betting presents challenging odds, with fields typically containing 132-156 players.
Recent examples from Sporttrade's "Whale Tracker" show significant bets placed at The Sentry:
- $9,325 on Collin Morikawa (to net $568)
- $9,500 on Patrick Cantlay (to net $490)
- $9,791 on Nick Dunlap (to net $106)
- $9,900 on Will Zalatoris (to net $98)
After the first round, Morikawa sits T4 with a 66, while Cantlay (+1) and Dunlap (+3) struggle. Zalatoris poses a threat to his bettor's wager, tied for second with a 65.
Looking ahead to the majors, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler leads the betting favorites despite a minor hand injury. FanDuel odds for Scheffler:
- Masters: +410
- PGA Championship: +490
- U.S. Open: +410
- The Open Championship: +430
Rory McIlroy follows as second favorite across all majors, with odds ranging between +850 to +1000.
Related Articles
CFTC Plans Review of Crypto.com's Super Bowl Sports Contracts
