DraftKings’ Johnny Avello Says Canadian Corey Conners Has the Game to Win a Masters

Posted on: April 11, 2025, 10:28h. 

Last updated on: April 15, 2025, 01:07h.

Mark Keast Read More

Expertise: Canadian Gaming, iGaming, Las Vegas, Sports Betting, NFL, Boxing, UFC.

• Justin Rose holds the Masters lead heading into Round 2
• In-play wagering a huge betting trend, DraftKings says
• Canada’s Corey Conners has the game to contend

For fans and sports bettors, watching Thursday’s first round of the Masters — the most anticipated day of the year in golf, as Jim Gray says — offered much of the same. Scottie Scheffler was cyborg-like. Rory McIlroy, with the eyes of the golf world on him, still chasing that elusive Green Jacket, charged early only to drop off. 

McIlroy is looking to complete a career Grand Slam. Englishman Justin Rose finished with a 7-under 65, after opening with three straight birdies (eight birdies total). By the end of the day, he had a three-shot lead over Scheffler, who’s looking to win his third green jacket, Ludvig Aberg, and Canadian Corey Conners.

McIlroy was in it until the end of the day, but finished with two double bogeys, for a 72, the seventh straight time he failed to break 70 in the opening round of the Masters.

Casino.org spoke with Las Vegas bookmaker Johnny Avello about golf betting trends going into the Masters. 

For Canadian bettors on DraftKings, McIlroy is the clear favorite, drawing 17% of the total handle and 10% of all bets. Rising star Aberg isn’t far behind with 12% of the handle going in. 

Conners, at +6000 going in, is drawing steady betting interest with 4% of the handle. 

Biggest Betting Golf Event of the Year

Avello, DraftKings’ race & sportsbook director, says despite the long odds, Conners has the game to win a Masters.

Avello said you’d think the betting industry would go into a lull after the NCAA basketball tournament, which ended earlier this week. But that hasn’t been happening – the Masters is DraftKings’ most bet-on golf tournament of the year.

A tournament like this – this is the Super Bowl. In-play wagering is huge now,” Avello said. “People don’t necessarily have to get in at the beginning. Or they may be in at the beginning, but they may find something else that they like that’s going on during the tournament or the way somebody’s playing, in a certain round, or they see something that shows that somebody has some promise to win a tournament.”

Avello added that DraftKings offers hole-by-hole betting, which he says has helped drive the site’s in-play wagering.

Going into the tournament, Avello said a lot of the money came in on amateur Noah Kent. 

Look Out for the LIV Players

“Obviously, it doesn’t take much to get you to a pretty significant liability,” Avellow said, adding that golf bettors are savvy and know about players out there who are on the upswing.

Kent was -2 through six holes on Thursday, finishing the day at +7. Akshay Bhatia is another up-and-comer (-2 through the first hole in Round 2 Friday morning) that bettors are keeping an eye on.

But bettors going to back McIlroy (+1200 to win as of Friday morning), Avello told Casino.org. They certainly did in Ontario.

“McIlroy is playing some of his best golf now,” he said.

Who has the best shot among among the LIV tour golfers? Bryson DeChambeau, Avello said. The heavy hitter finished Thursday four shots back of Rose.

“He hits the ball long and his game fits this course,” he said.

Calm Rose Setting the Pace So Far

Past champion Phil Mickelson, now 54, has also been taking money, Avello said. 

“Who do they play to replace Tiger [Woods]?” he said. “Phil.”

We take a lot of money on the tournament and there will be a lot more to come because of the end game and re-sets at the end of every day.”

Bettors might be sleeping on LIV plays like DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka because LIV draws lower TV ratings among golf enthusiasts. Focus has been lost somewhat on those players because they’ve been out of the spotlight.

“[Jon] Rahm hasn’t been an interesting selection this week, and he always is,” Avello said. “Koepka has been taking money, but he doesn’t have us in red numbers. Maybe those guys aren’t getting the eyes on them on a daily basis, but people following the game are still in touch with the LIV players. They’re just not in the mainstream like they used to be.”

Scheffler hits long and gets out of trouble, so he’ll be around the leaderboard all weekend, Avello said. DraftKings also saw a lot of play on Colin Morikawa over the past 48 hours. 

What About Corey Conners?

“I like [Collin] Morikawa’s game,” Avello said. “He’s a lot of left-to-right hitter, can’t hit that draw when he needs it, but he has such a great short game, so he should also be in the mix. [Russell] Henley has been solid in all categories all year, so he’s a guy [for bettors] to look at. [Hideki] Matsuyama has won here before. Speith has been struggling but he still has a good game. All of those guys would be in my top three.”

Then there’s Conners. Don’t dismiss the Canadian’s popularity among bettors as patriotism or emotion.

Conners is three shots back of Rose heading into Round 2. He tees off at 12:22 p.m. EST on Friday. 

“There’s maybe a little bit [of emotion among bettors], but the guy’s got good game,” Avello said. “He’s capable of winning the tournament. I think he’s a great golfer. He just hasn’t had his time yet.”

Conners is +2000 at DraftKings to win the tournament as of Friday.

The biggest line movements at BetMGM Friday morning (opening to current) are: Scheffler (+500 to +225), Aberg (+1400 to +600), and Rose (+10000 to +750).