The PGA Tour and LIV Golf agreed to a merger that can convey one of the best golfers on the planet again to the identical stage. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Golf betting has been consolidated following the Tuesday announcement that the PGA Tour and LIV Golf agreed to a merger.
unify the sport of golf, on a world foundation”
The Saudi-backed LIV tour launched in 2022 as an alternative choice to the standard important circuit for skilled golfers and provided eye-watering contracts for exclusivity. All of that chaos and controversy got here to be for nothing as the 2 agreed to hitch to “unify the sport of golf, on a world foundation,” per a PGA Tour assertion.
Gamers that signed offers with every tour will likely be allowed to use for reinstatement into the opposite with no punishment. The Saudi Public Funding Fund can even contribute a “capital funding” to the brand new formation.
The most important winners from the announcement are golf followers and bettors. The break up meant that most of the world’s greatest and hottest golfers weren’t at sure occasions due to contractual stipulations. Sure athletes additionally by no means crossed paths with others, once more, due to the offers in place.
In accordance with info printed in 2022, betting on the PGA Tour was seven instances increased than the LIV Tour.
Scott Warfield, the PGA Tour’s VP of Gaming, mentioned final yr the longer term for playing on golf was brilliant.
“A 2025 aim? I wish to consider we may be one of many prime 4 or 5 bet-on sports activities if we do it proper.”
Sportsbooks additionally reported $4-5bn in golf wagers in 2021 alone, roughly 8.5% of the yr’s sports activities betting income complete. That figures to be on the rise now that one of the best golfers are again underneath the identical umbrella.
