Betting on Rory McIlroy Heading into 2023 PGA Tour Season

• Rory McIlroy is the betting favorite for nearly every major and to simply win a major in 2023 because of his status as the top-ranked golfer in the world.
• Non-Tiger Woods golfers have shown that it is incredibly difficult to win a major regardless of ranking, with -350 odds on McIlroy not winning a major likely a strong bet.
• Betting on Rory McIlroy to win the PGA Tour money list for +230 odds is a stronger bet based on his consistent greatness and increased purses.

AUGUSTA – Rory McIlroy is poised to enter the 2023 PGA Tour season as the betting favorite for virtually every Major and golf prop bet at BetOnline, but based on the history of World Number One’s entering the New Year it would appear that betting on the Northern Irishmen not winning a major is a much better bet.

Odds On Rory McIlroy to Win a Major in 2023

• Yes: +275
• No: -350

Betting Against World Number One’s

Rory McIlroy has been one of the top golfers of the past decade, with a PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and Open Championship already on his resume.

Despite that, taking the -350 odds on McIlroy is the clear better bet at legal PGA Tour sportsbooks.

Going back to 2000, just two different golfers have won a major in the same year that they entered number one:

• Brooks Koepka (2019 Season): PGA Championship
• Tiger Woods (2008 Season): U.S. Open
• Tiger Woods (2007 Season): PGA Championship
• Tiger Woods (2006 Season): PGA Championship and the Open Championship
• Tiger Woods (2002 Season): The Masters and the U.S. Open
• Tiger Woods (2001 Season): The Masters
• Tiger Woods (2000 Season): PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and the Open Championship

First off, the greatness of Tiger Woods nearly breaks all gambling trends, but it can also show the level of talent that is necessary to be the top-ranked player and to still win a tournament.

Since Tiger last did so in 2008 14 seasons have been completed. Only Brooks Koepka has handled the pressure of the highest-rated status back in 2019.

Getting -350 odds Rory to not win a major is a bet that has hit 13/14 seasons, meaning it is an excellent value at legal sports betting sites.

Betting on Rory McIlroy

To win a major is incredibly difficult any year given the fact that there are only four available each season.

What is much less difficult and a much better bet is for Rory to win the PGA Tour Money list in 2023 at Bovada.

Odds to Lead the PGA Tour Money List in 2023

• Rory McIlroy +230
• Scottie Scheffler +450
• Jon Rahm +550
• Patrick Cantlay +1400
• Justin Thomas +1600
• Tony Finau +2000
• Xander Schauffele +2200
• Sam Burns +2500

McIlroy would likely need to win multiple tournaments and contend for many others, but two things are helping his case:

First is the 2022 resume that earned him the top spot among the World Golf Rankings (participated in 16 events:

• Wins (3): The CJ Cup @ Summit, RBC Canadian Open, TOUR Championship
• Non-Wins in Top Five: The Masters (2nd), Wells Fargo Championship (5th), U.S. Open (T-5), and The Open Championship (3)
• Top 25s: 13
• Missed Cuts: 2

Rory clearly earned his top spot in the rankings, but his case is also helped by the fact that the PGA Tour recently announced increased purses for many tournaments.

That increase included non-Majors, and Rory dominates those.

Betting on that dominant streak to continue and lead to +230 odds paying out on Rory McIlroy is an excellent option heading into 2023.

That bet also may be a strong arbitrage betting tactic, because if Rory does win a major, he will likely win the money list bet as well.

News tags: BetOnline | Bovada | golf | PGA Tour | Rory McIlroy