19 October 2020
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By.
Iain Carter
BBC golf correspondent
What are the odds of Tiger Woods effectively protecting the Zozo Championship this week and making history with a record 83rd PGA Tour title?
Before we look at the answer, consider the method the concern is framed. It is through the prism of wagering, which is simply how the professional sport now wants it.
Golf has fallen headlong into the world of betting after the relaxation of betting laws in the United States. The PGA Tour identifies the prospective to take advantage of millions of dollars of additional revenue and has actually put betting at the heart of its item.
Recently's CJ Cup was played in Las Vegas, the gaming capital of the US, and official television leaderboards not just reflected the state of play but likewise live chances markets for the result of the competition.
When the last pair got here on the last tee, ultimate champ Jason Kokrak and runner up Xander Schauffele shared a tv image with a graphic asking: "Who will win the 18th hole?"
Kokrak led by one at that phase but on screen chances showed the bookies felt Schauffele was most likely to play that closing hole in less shots. Temptation was being dangled - make this more interesting for yourself. Go on, have a wager.
Cards on the table - if that's an appropriate metaphor - I delight in an occasional little sporting investment. Sometimes I win, more frequently I lose and I'm completely conscious that the people who know best are the bookies.
The PGA Tour is simply as savvy and identifies it is worthwhile to be on the exact same side as the betting companies. In August it signed a multi-year material and marketing handle BetMGM, a company that has wagering licences in seven states.
According to a PGA Tour news release, the company "offers multiple betting formats, from moneyline and point spread bets to parlays and futures".
To put it simply it is pretty hard-core gaming that is now at the very heart of professional golf. And recently it was put strongly in the faces of anybody seeing it.
This audience consists of individuals who simply love the game, not needing the chance to make a quick dollar to find it fascinating. Fans were really thrilled that the 35-year-old Kokrak lastly won a PGA Tour event at the 233rd effort.
They did not need his triumph to be accompanied by a wagering slip that revealed his name beside some yummy pre-tournament odds.
Indeed, lots of viewers already dislike the consistent bookie bombardment that accompanies most ad breaks. They should now feel there is absolutely no escape when chances are officially embedded in coverage material.
And there are those for who gambling is a life and livelihood threatening issue, individuals unable to enjoy a small wager without more harmful impulses taking control of.
Yes, the tour is committed to responsible wagering and belongs to America's 'National Council on Problem Gambling'. And it has an integrity program for its players.
But, eventually, this is a workout in drawing out money from punters' pockets. It finds its method into the hands of bookmakers, the trip and by extension the gamers.
The PGA Tour exists for the improvement of its members - the golf enthusiasts. That's why they did a financially rewarding offer in 2018 with IMG Arena to licence its main live scoring data to wagering operators all over the world.
Professional golf is a company, a profitable enterprise that continues to progress and look for new income streams.
Historically, this is absolutely nothing new. Last Sunday was the 160th anniversary of the first Open Championship, which was played at Prestwick in Ayrshire.
The original field was made up of the finest protagonists from the lots of 'cash matches' that proliferated in the mid-19th century.
Allan Robertson, a St Andrews based ball and club maker, was the very best of the lot and is reputed to have actually never lost. When he died they needed to find a follower, hence the requirement for a competition to recognize 'the champ golf player of the year'.
So the oldest and most famous golf champion originated from an extreme betting environment. Given the imperatives at play in Las Vegas last week, it feels as though the video game is back where it started - all be it in the digital age.
Which brings us to Woods' chances for the tournament which last year was played in Japan and yielded a record-equalling 82nd PGA Tour title. Because of the coronavirus pandemic it is being played this year at Sherwood Country Club in California.
Since that win, which connected Sam Snead's 55-year-old record, Woods has actually played only seven competitions and although he has actually won his own event at Sherwood on 5 events, those were limited 18-man fields instead of the 78-strong contingent today.
So the reigning Masters Champion is a modest 28-1 shot (you can get 33's if you look hard adequate) behind 10-1 favourite Jon Rahm.
For those less thinking about wagering on the result, the fascination will centre around state of Woods' video game with his long-awaited Masters defence at Augusta National next month quickly approaching.
The 15-times major champ is now 44, has a creaky back and knees that niggle. He says he still takes pleasure in completing and fans definitely like seeing him in contention.
But when the fun stops?
If you have been affected by any of the concerns raised in this article, you can discover existing info and support on the BBC Action Line website.
