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Golf odds: Big Sunday PGA Championship wager on Collin Morikawa earns a bettor $44,000

Going into Sunday’s final round of the PGA Championship, Collin Morikawa was just one of many golfers trailing in a crowded field full of recognizable names.

But Morikawa had a fantastic final round to win his first major, and one bettor at BetMGM cashed in big.

According to Scott Ghertner, executive director of public relations with entertainment and sports at MGM, the most notable bet made on the PGA Championship was before the final round on Morikawa. A $4,000 wager came in at 11-to-1 odds, paying out $44,000 when Morikawa shot a blistering 6-under-par 64 on the final round to win. That’s a memorable Sunday for Morikawa and the bettor who was confident in him heading into the final round. That was the largest payout BetMGM made on the tournament.

Morikawa was in just his second career major, yet he got a good amount of action. He was 33-to-1 to win before play started last Thursday.

Collin Morikawa reacts as the top of the Wanamaker Trophy falls after winning the PGA Championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Collin Morikawa reacts as the top of the Wanamaker Trophy falls after winning the PGA Championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Collin Morikawa was one of BetMGM’s biggest liabilities

Ghertner said BetMGM had big liabilities on three golfers: Tiger Woods, Li Haotong and Morikawa.

The always popular Woods was out of contention by Sunday, but Haotong and Morikawa could have won with big final rounds.

Haotong shot a 1-under-par 69 and finished tied for 17th. Morikawa was a problem for BetMGM though. He kept making big shots down the stretch. When he had a great drive on the par-4 16th hole and made eagle, he was suddenly the favorite to win. He breezed past Dustin Johnson, Paul Casey and Bryson DeChambeau among others to win the tournament by two strokes.

Morikawa’s odds dipped significantly for the U.S. Open in September. He is 20-to-1, the eighth-best odds in the field. And if the U.S. Open is anything like last week’s PGA Championship, there will be a lot of bets coming in.

PGA Championship did huge numbers at BetMGM

The PGA Championship was the first major of the year due to coronavirus postponements and cancellations, and the buildup was apparent in MGM’s handle.

Ghertner said BetMGM set records for action on the PGA Championship and MGM believed it might have been the most money bet on any PGA event ever. The U.S. Open and The Masters should have huge amount of action too.

Golf majors are back and that paid off handsomely for at least one bettor who had faith in Morikawa.

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