With LIV Golf’s presence looming larger by the day, let’s look at how it will affect the PGA Tour.
BMR’s Betting Pulse
• First, we need to acknowledge that the LIV Golf is here to stay. Therefore, we can expect more conjectures in the next couple of weeks.
• Currently, the LIV effect on the betting markets and PGA Tour Futures is growing day by day.
• For the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup, the United States looks like a stronger favorite than ever before.
LIV Golf is Here to Stay
First, we need to acknowledge that the LIV Golf is here to stay. This means recognizing the de-stabilizing effect on world golf hasn’t stopped yet and next week’s event at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland will put the controversial project back in the limelight. Therefore, we can expect more conjectures in the next couple of weeks.
Don’t worry, American golf has never had such strength in depth on the PGA Tour. In my opinion, American golf hasn’t had the current strength-in-depth for a very long time, if at all.
The Post-Covid Effect
To bring balance and perspective, Tiger Woods was the driving force and dominant player for two decades. Post-Covid, the PGA Tour’s depth seems to have grown to a new level after the players packed their schedules to make up for the lost events.
Now with hindsight, it could be argued this Covid effect has inadvertently increased the standard and depth of talent on the PGA Tour.
Currently, the LIV effect on the betting markets and PGA Tour Futures is growing day by day.
Big Name Golfers Have Signed With LIV Golf
- Dustin Johnson
- Bryson DeChambeau
- Patrick Reed
The biggest name defector, Dustin Johnson has been an ever-present at the top of the betting markets on the PGA Tour Futures in recent seasons. Another place at the top table was freed up by Bryson DeChambeau joining him after the first event in London.
Along with those two, the defection of former Masters winner, Patrick Reed, was another notable blow for the higher echelons of the PGA Tour. I think it’s a given those three names are elite PGA Tour golfers and players who we could count on to contend for all the top honors on the PGA Tour.
Stars Could Be Past Their Prime
That said for balance, it needs to be stated, that Johnson has been below his best. Meanwhile, Bryson has had injury worries constantly and Reed has been very poor in 2022 by his high standards.
You could argue that all three have taken the money as a sort of ‘psychological crotch’ given, they could possibly be having doubts their foothold at the top of the sport isn’t as strong as it once was.
LIV Golf Series Arrives on American Soil for the First Time
The LIV Golf Series lands on American soil (Portland) for the first time next on June 30th. Rather interestingly, it faces the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour during the same week.
It wouldn’t be unfair to say that the John Deere Classic isn’t one of the PGA Tour’s top events, so it’s entirely plausible that the LIV event has a stronger-looking field with those three defectors playing.
Factor into that scenario, that the week after is the Open Championship over in Scotland at St. Andrews and the John Deere Classic could feel rather light in quality against the new LIV Golf event. Either way, all eyes will be on Portland next week.
How Does LIV Affect Our Future PGA Bets?
With those players who’ve chosen to cross over, now out of the running, any bets on them in future markets outside of the major championships are lost. Hopefully, unless you took some PGA Tour money list bets on those players now defected, you haven’t lost anything.
Any futures PGA bets on the major championships are a little more precarious with only the Open Championship remaining this year.
The 2023 Major Championships
Anyone considering backing a LIV player for next year’s (2023) major championships, I would seriously advise caution because there will be nine months between the Open Championship and next year’s Masters. That’s a long time given the PGA Tour will likely be lobbying behind the scenes to see those players banned from major championships.
Even if that wasn’t the case, we’ve seen sponsors withdraw support for LIV players and there could be commercial pressure applied to television suppliers who in turn could pressure the major championships more than the PGA Tour.
If all that fails, then the lack of Official World Golf Ranking points (OWGR) will start to bite for a few, affecting their major championship participations’.
Conclusion
Avoid backing LIV golfers for Major Championships in the future.
Currently, I cannot see the strength of the PGA Tour being affected noticeably, in fact, it’s entirely plausible it’s strengthened the United States’ position as favorites in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup markets.
New Generation of Superstars
The emergence of the young generation of superstars and multiple winners led by world number one Scottie Scheffler and followed by multiple winners, Sam Burns and Max Homa to name two will have made those defectors look over their shoulders.
Then add in the maidens, Cameron Young and Davis Riley and we know the depth of American golf talent has never been stronger.
The European Ryder Cup team has lost stalwarts:
- Lee Westwood
- Ian Poulter
- Sergio Garcia
Meanwhile, the Internationals have been depleted by the defections of:
- Louis Oosthuizen
- Brendan Grace
- Charl Schwartzel
PGA Tour Futures Best Bet
With that in mind, I’ve already parlayed the two with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review) as an ante-post bet as their prices will only shorten.
Parlay Picks
- United States to Beat Internationals (-330)
- United States to Beat Europe (185)
Golf Pick: Two-Legged Parlay (-195) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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