In 2019, just months after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a long-standing federal ban on sports betting, the PGA Tour began to explore potential opportunities for live betting streams.
With professional golf’s quickly changing leaderboards and myriad shot options offering potential bettors tremendous engagement opportunities, the tour contemplated a possible future live betting stream partnership with ESPN+, which already showcased four feeds for its tournaments.
However, there was a barrier. At the time, ESPN didn’t have a betting partner. But that changed on Aug. 8, 2023, when ESPN announced a 10-year, $2 billion agreement with Penn Entertainment.
Through the agreement, ESPN launched ESPN Bet, a sportsbook providing viewers access to online sports betting as long as they lived in a legalized betting state in which Penn Entertainment was licensed.
With the barrier cleared, the PGA Tour announced a multiyear agreement with Penn Entertainment in late January, enabling ESPN Bet to become an official betting operator of the PGA Tour alongside online sports wagering heavyweights DraftKings and FanDuel.
As a result of the partnership, the parties launched a live betting stream on ESPN+ in February, known as ESPN Bet on PGA Tour Live. The stream – featuring data, insights and live betting analysis – will be offered during the coverage of six FedEx Cup tournaments this year. It debuted at the WM Phoenix Open and will be produced during the Players Championship next week.
“The WM Phoenix Open and the famous 16th hole made for the perfect stage to debut ESPN Bet on PGA Tour Live,” said Scott Warfield, the PGA Tour’s vice president of gaming. “The feed provided fans at home with an extra betting tool as they watched players take on the Coliseum, one of the most iconic holes across the PGA Tour.”
Utilizing ShotLink data, ESPN Bet on PGA Tour Live will offer viewers two hours of live coverage on ESPN+ prior to each tournament’s conventional broadcast. Host Jonathan Coachman, analysts Matt Every (a two-time PGA Tour winner), Graham DeLaet and Steve Scott, and on-course reporter Michael Collins will share ever-changing odds. Additionally, they’ll provide hole-by-hole insights, shot-by-shot commentary and wagering statistics.
“ESPN Bet on PGA Tour Live deepens our already robust media and betting integrations with ESPN and creates unique opportunities to engage golf fans in an entertaining way with compelling up-to-the-minute data and insights,” said Jason Birney, Penn Interactive’s vice president of operations.
“We are always looking to innovate and strengthen the engagement of this new feed and are eager to roll out new enhancements, beginning with the Players – with more additions to come throughout the year.” – Scott Warfield
During the WM Phoenix Open, each two-hour live stream feed was noted for its engagement, excitement, fast pace and unique insights – characteristics Warfield believes will only continue to improve throughout the 2025 PGA Tour season.
“We’ll make sure the two hours are always visually and tonally unique from the rest of the PGA Tour Live feeds,” Warfield said. “We are always looking to innovate and strengthen the engagement of this new feed and are eager to roll out new enhancements, beginning with the Players – with more additions to come throughout the year.”
Aside from the WM Phoenix Open and the Players, ESPN Bet on PGA Tour Live will be produced during three signature events – the Truist Championship (May 8-11), the Memorial Tournament (May 29-June 1) and the Travelers Championship (June 19-22). It will also be produced during the FedEx St. Jude Championship (Aug. 7-10), the first FedEx Cup playoff event.
“ESPN Bet on PGA Tour Live will be a completely new and different experience for golf fans, unlike anything they’ve ever had before,” Warfield said. “New, different opportunities are arising across the board throughout the golf world right now, and the PGA Tour is doing its part to continue to grow the game.”
In fact, Warfield predicts ESPN Bet on PGA Tour Live won’t just pique golf fans’ interests. It will also lead non-golf fans – who are fans of other sports – to view the game, perhaps for the first time.
“It will allow casual or non-fans to experience our sport, as they’ll have a different way to consume professional golf,” Warfield said. “It will be an engagement tool for the PGA Tour too, one that will lead people to watch tournaments, buy merchandise and perhaps start [playing golf].”
The platform’s content will not be limited to betting insights. For example, it will offer viewers opportunities to learn more about TPC Sawgrass’s world-renowned 17th hole during the Players Championship, including past shots and Mother Nature’s impact over the years.
“Viewers will see the action in real time and learn how and why they did – or didn’t – win a bet as well,” Warfield added.
Of note, ESPN Bet provides responsible gaming resources and tools such as limits on time, deposits and wagering amounts.
While looking ahead to the coming months, Warfield asks viewers to remain patient, as the PGA Tour, ESPN and Penn Entertainment work together to enhance viewers’ experiences steadily.
“We’re building the plane while we fly it,” Warfield emphasized. “Over time, ESPN Bet on PGA Tour Live will become a very interesting option for viewers, as we expect continuous improvement.”