Sports betting service and content hub IMG ARENA has acquired the sports betting distribution rights to its first golf major, the PGA Championship, through the championship’s organizer and rights holder, PGA of America.
The collaboration between the three organizations begins with the 2021 PGA Championship, scheduled to be contested May 17-23 at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, in Charleston, South Carolina.
IMG ARENA will distribute data and live streaming of two par-three holes (based on market availability), via its Golf Event Centre. The front-end sports betting solution is an industry-first product, created in association with the world’s leading golf tours to enable interactive in-play betting on the sport.
The Golf Event Centre is, said the firm, the only place to find a comprehensive range of real-time, shot by shot data and markets, as well as live streaming and interactive course visualizations.
Data from the PGA Championship will be collected by ShotLink powered by CDW, the PGA TOUR’s proprietary scoring system, which utilizes an elaborate network of walking scorers, lasers and greenside cameras.
Max Wright, SVP Commercial of IMG ARENA, said: “Golf majors are among the most prestigious events across all sports, so we are very excited to secure this partnership with the PGA of America.
“The PGA Championship has a reputation for producing dramatic and thrilling moments, making it a perfect addition to the Golf Event Centre for sports bettors to enjoy through our global operator partners.”
PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh said: “This partnership will allow fans to engage with one of our flagship events – the PGA Championship – in ways they’ve never been able to before. This is truly a new avenue to reach beyond dedicated golf fans and grow interest in the game from a more diverse fan base. We’re excited for what this opportunity will bring now and, in the future, especially when the PGA Championship is hosted in states where sports betting is permitted.”
Rick Anderson, Chief Media Officer at the PGA TOUR, added: “IMG ARENA’s Golf Event Centre is a one-of-a-kind sports betting product that delivers a new dimension to the golf experience for fans around the globe.
“Aligning with the PGA of America to add the PGA Championship to the Golf Event Centre demonstrates how the golf community is working together to elevate and protect the sports betting experience for fans, while at the same time enhancing operators’ market offerings for professional golf.”
