U.S. Regulators Split On Allowing Wagers On Saudi LIV Golf
There was a men's professional golf event held over the weekend in New Jersey featuring 11 participants who had won a total of 21 of the "majors" during their professional careers. The PGA Tour held its own weekend event, the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, that also had 11 major winners. Legal betting was off-limits to gamblers in the Garden State, New York and Pennsylvania, and in many other states. DraftKings reported that for the LIV Tour event it was able to offer wagers in Connecticut, new Hampshire, Illinois, Oregon, Wyoming, Arizona, or Ontario. Henrik Stenson of Sweden won the event with a $4 million top prize.
Mickelson and Koepka have won more majors than anyone who was in the Rocket Mortgage Classic field. Mickelton played in a group with Stenson and Louis Oosthuizen. LIV Tour players have had more recent success than major winners from the RMC field such as Zach Johnson, Geoff Ogilvy, or Lucas Glover.
U.S. Regulators Split On Allowing Wagers On Saudi LIV Golf.
Mickelson, Koepka, and Dustin Johnson are said to have been lured to LIV golf with guaranteed checks of $100 million or more. The Liv Golf Tour is bankrolled with millions put up by leaders of a country that was home to 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11. About half of Livo golfers missed the 36-hole cut and went home with zero prize money. There are concerns about the lack of cameras on the course.
LIV Tour is holding its first event in New York and New Jersey since the PGA Tour decided not to hold one in the area. The grounds pass costs $75, but secondary markets are selling them for as low as $1. I attended Friday's opening round at the Trump National course. Most of the 16 threesomes drew galleries in single digits.
Mickelson, Stenson and Oosthuizen were playing at Trump National Bedminster. They were granted the 16th tee. There were protests in the area during the tournament. A fan heckled Mickelton during his opening tee shot. He was eventually escorted out. The heckler is part of a comedy group called The Good Liars. He feigned remorse to several people in his vicinity. One of them recognized his insincerity.
