Phil Mickelson wasn't heavily bet to win the PGA Championship, but his longshot odds are causing bookmakers concern on Friday afternoon.
Despite not being a favorite among bettors, Mickelson turned into DraftKings' second-biggest liability in the outright market after Brooks Koepka, as the 50-year-old took a lead into the clubhouse at 5-under.
On Wednesday morning, one bettor at DraftKings put $1,000 on Mickelson to win it all at 301-1. Another bettor is hoping to cash a $46,000 payout on a $1,000 bet that Mickelson would be the second-round leader.
At most spots, Mickelson could be found at around 150/1 on Thursday morning, including at PointsBet. At that book, he emerged as a top-three liability factoring in live bets that came in on Friday while he was playing his round. At PointsBet, there were 23 golfers who had more tickets on them to win, but Mickelson made up the 15th-most bet on by dollars and the longshot odds turned into a dangerous liability. The book took a $250 bet on Mickelson to win that would pay out $37,500 if he did prevail.
Mickelson won the Open Championship in 2013, but has only won two PGA Tour events since. He entered this week ranked No. 115 in the world.
There's at least one book that says that a Mickelson win would be a profitable one for them.
At the Superbook in Las Vegas, oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said the book only took 21 total bets on Mickelson to win the PGA Championship, the largest being a $25 bet at 150/1.
Said Sherman: "We do very well with him."
