Everybody knows that you can get good odds on top players in golf tournaments, largely because of the number of players taking part.
Nevertheless, given Scottie Scheffler’s form around the time, even the 9/2 odds Dave Portnoy got for him on the 2024 Masters seem generous.
This bet was part of an incredible winning streak for Portnoy, who just days earlier, had won £2.76 million betting on college basketball.
The Barstool Sports founder had staked a huge $300,000 on the world number one ranked golf player, but he had placed the bet shortly before the competition began, so even though he was the favourite the odds still held value.
He even laid out some tips on his X account, as follows:
- 1. 1 shot at a time. Don’t get too high. Don’t get too low
- 2. Drive for show putt for dough
- 3. Hits your irons like a warrior poet
- 4. Don’t let your wife go into labor.
That last one was a nod to the fact that Scheffler’s wife was heavily pregnant at the time.
Scheffler did indeed win the Masters, his second in three years having also won in 2022, simultaneously bagging Dave Portnoy $1,650,000 in winnings.
The win was never really in doubt either.
Scheffler ended up in 2nd place at the end of the first round, before being tied in 1st after round two 6 under par, then staying there on his own for the final two rounds.
He finished on -11, beating Ludvig Aberg in second place by 4.