SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — On-site betting is coming to the PGA Tour.
The PGA Tour and DraftKings took place on Monday at TPC Scottsdale, site of the WM Phoenix Open, the premier sportsbook tournament venue.
“It’s a big deal,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said.
Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega said the 12,000-square-foot facility has already broken ground and is set to open by October, just east of the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course, which will host the tournament. It holds about 390 people, is open year-round, and offers food and drink.
Monahan said Monday that he never saw the PGA Tour owning a sportsbook until five years ago. But eventually, as the sports betting landscape evolved and grew, the PGA Tour saw gaps in building physical structures on courses.
“When we started to understand what the opportunities were in the market, this is a market where we realized we could do something very unique,” Monahan said. “If you ever asked me where do you think this might be?” This was the place.”
The sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale could be a jumping-off point for the PGA Tour, Monahan said. In a way, he said, the venue could be a pilot program for the PGA Tour.
“We want to make sure we’re focused on making sure this works and makes sure it works in a way that creates a great experience for the people who come down here,” he said. “I think we’ll take the findings here and if the opportunities are there, we’ll take them into consideration.”
The sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale joins sportsbooks at Arizona sports venues at State Farm Stadium, Footprint Center, Chase Field and Phoenix Raceway.
Construction on the sports book began in May. It will have about 40 betting kiosks and seven ticket windows, and more than 3,400 square feet of video walls and screens. There will be an outdoor patio with video screens, VIP cabanas and fireplaces.
The sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale will be open to betting on all sports, not just golf. The plans are for the sportsbook to be open year-round except for the WM Phoenix Open when it is used for hospitality.
“We know this will elevate public openness to a whole new level,” Monahan said.
