Golf bettors are shifting their strategies as the 2025 PGA Tour season begins at The Sentry in Kapalua, featuring a $20M purse and an exclusive field of 59 players who either won last year or qualified for the Tour Championship.

A notable trend has emerged where high-roller bettors are moving away from traditional tournament winner bets, instead opting for "not to win" wagers despite their smaller returns. This shift comes as golf continues to be a profitable sport for oddsmakers since sports betting legalization in 2018.

Recent high-stakes "not to win" bets at The Sentry include:

• $9,325 on Collin Morikawa to net $568
• $9,500 on Patrick Cantlay to net $490
• $9,791 on Nick Dunlap to net $106
• $9,900 on Will Zalatoris to net $98

Current tournament standings show Morikawa at T4 after shooting 66, while Cantlay (+1) and Dunlap (+3) are trailing. Zalatoris poses a risk to bettors after tying for second with an opening round of 65.

Looking ahead to the majors, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler remains the betting favorite despite a minor hand injury. FanDuel's odds for Scheffler:

• Masters: +410
• PGA Championship: +490
• U.S. Open: +410
• The Open Championship: +430

Rory McIlroy follows as second favorite across all majors, with odds ranging between +850 to +1000.

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