The PGA Tour has become closely linked with the world of legal sports betting, with betting odds now appearing alongside leaderboards and commentators frequently mentioning live lines and in-round parlays offered by the tournament’s sportsbook sponsor.
However, some fans believe that the Tour should be more transparent about players’ health if it continues to embrace sports betting. These concerns were heightened after world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler revealed that he had been battling hand, foot, and mouth disease during the recent BMW Championship.
I got sick Monday night. It hit me pretty good all week; I’m not 100% now. I got hand, foot, mouth. Blisters on the hands, throat, and feet. It was pretty painful to grip the club,” Scheffler told reporters.
“If I were smarter, maybe I would have pulled out, but I was playing so good I felt like if I could knock it out quickly and get through the first couple rounds I would have a chance,” Scheffler continued.
Scheffler says he didn’t shake hands with his playing partners.
“I’m starting to heal up. My throat is still bugging me, but my hands feel normal. I actually caught myself almost shaking hands with Cam [Young] on 18,” Scheffler said.
Should Medical Be Disclosed?
Scheffler is almost always the favorite when he tees it up.
Before the BMW Championship, DraftKings had Scheffler as the favorite at +305. Those odds had an implied probability of 24.69% in the 70-man field. The next favorite was Rory McIlroy at +1300 (implied probability of 7.14%).
Scheffler attracts a lot of action, leading oddsmakers to keep his lines short. However, if bettors had known about his illness, they might have made different choices.
“The PGA Tour needs to have some sort of injury report. If they’re involving betting, not disclosing the favorite’s illness is unacceptable,” said Iain MacMillan, senior editor at Sports Illustrated.
In the NFL, teams must disclose a player’s illness on the injury report if it affects practice or playing time. Similarly, the NBA requires sick players to be included in injury reports under the “Illness” category.
Why Injury Reports Matter
Injury reports have been a part of professional sports for years, starting with the NFL in 1947 to prevent gambling scandals. They promote transparency and protect the integrity of sports by ensuring fair play.
As for the upcoming Tour Championship, Scheffler remains the favorite at +350, followed by McIlroy at +780.