The PGA Tour has concluded with the four scheduled majors. While this still seems weird for those who spent decades with the PGA Championship in August, not May, this does mean the focus shifts to the playoff push and the chase of the FedEx Cup.
Two big events coming up next month are the World Golf Championships – St. Jude Invitational and THE NORTHERN TRUST. For those two tournaments, DraftKings will be the Official Betting Operator.
The deal further entrenches the gaming powerhouse with the nation’s most prominent golf tour. DraftKings sponsors 2020 US Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau and operates a sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale.
The two tour stops will feature prominent courses in two states where DraftKings has helped advance regulated sports betting. St. Jude will take place at TPC Southwind outside Memphis, Tennessee, while THE NORTHERN TRUST will bring golfers to Liberty National in Jersey City, just across the river from New York (where they continue to figure out if they want sports betting).
“DraftKings Sportsbook is proud to evolve and expand our presence into the golf space by continuing to build upon the existing relationship with the PGA TOUR,” said Ezra Kucharz, chief business officer at DraftKings. “We look forward to providing fans an unparalleled experience at Liberty National and TPC Southwind.”
Both events will see DraftKings enter a new realm familiar to their fans who attend golf tournaments: hospitality. The DraftKings house will be on the back nines of both venues, on the 18th green at St. Jude, while between the 15th and 16th holes at Liberty National.
The house will be open to fans starting Wednesday with food from local restaurants, complimentary Wi-Fi, areas to watch TVs, phone charging, and VIP access for private hospitality. The daily grounds’ tickets for the events, will offer access to the DK house.
This is a fairly significant new partnership for a company that has built its reputation in the online sphere. DraftKings operates sportsbooks across the nation in regulated states but doing hospitality adds another level of fan engagement and brand building.
What the company takes from this endeavor will likely influence what they pursue in future partnerships, especially if it’s branded spaces and retail locations at stadiums. With fans returning for the NFL season, there could be some big deals struck before kickoff in September.
