Gambling in golf? You bet!

[VNV Nation]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/...akers.htm#more

As everyone knows...gambling and golf go together like...well...gambling and football. The difference is that the participants are laying money on themselves.

Some tour professionals have admitted to laying money on themselves:

"I've bet on myself a few times," says Tom Watson, shopping for groceries in North Berwick after arriving Monday for his 27th British Open. The five-time winner says he has bet the tournament on "rare occasions," once winning money on Raymond Floyd's top-three finish. "I don't have any problem with it."

Defending British Open champion David Duval says he hasn't made a wager in a practice round in several years, but he recalls playing a lower-stakes version of the no-bogey game at Carnoustie, the event's site in 1999. "Everyone was done after six holes," he says.

Adds three-time British Open champ Nick Faldo: "The most I've ever played for is 20 (pounds) in practice. I'm not daft."


Now, is anyone naive enough to think that, these guys get together, gamble on practice rounds, but it NEVER HAPPENS once it's for real?

My belief is wherever there is a golf course. There is gambling. Pro's are no exception. Nothing unethical on betting on yourself to win.

[VNV Nation]

To the contrary --

Placing large sidebets while competing in PGA events seriously compromises the integrity of the competition.

These guys are rich...Michael Jordan used to wage, allegedly, millions on the golf course. John Daly lost millions on other gambling debts.

Let's say Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia have a huge sidebet -- $50,000, $100,000, whatever...

Let's say that on Sunday, Mickelson trails Tiger by three strokes, but is ahead of Garcia but two strokes.

The nature of competitive athletics demands that Mickelson play to win. You know that you can't play it safe, Tiger isn't going to come back to the pack. So you take risks...you go for the Hail Mary.

But if he plays it safe...he ensures he wins his bet.

[Skip]

Sort of related ... I am a big proponent of PRINCE VALIANT for the HOF, but will agree that even betting on your team is incorrect - although less so in a team sport like baseball than in an individual sport like golf.

[moose]

VNV-
yes, it does happen on the course, but not nearly as often as in the practice rounds.

in the practice rounds some SERIOUS cash can change hands.

some bet in tour events, but believe me, while a player might think twice about compromising their leaderboard position for some of the practice round stakes, it would not be so for the actual event stakes.

and anyway, the amount of guys betting during the scored rounds is small, and it's usually only when they're playing together.

this was all in an old golf or golf digest article - can't find it on line.

[by old article, i mean within the last 4 or 5 years ]

[WiredTiger]

I am not surprised at all. I am sure a lot of these guys grew up hustling older players.

[soxfan121]

So this begs the question; When Tiger walks into the clubhouse and asks if anyone wants to lay a few bucks on today's results, do the other guys:

A. Excuse themselves and run for mens' room?
B. Look away and avoid eye contact?
C. Order another round at the bar and call their accountant?
D. Respond, "Yeah, I'll take some of that action!"