GOLF BET INFO
Golf has long been a popular sport to bet on, especially in the UK and other parts of Europe. But it is now one of the fastest-rising betting markets in North America as well. The PGA Tour is embracing gambling and is forming partnerships with betting operators. This has led to odds being integrated into telecasts and more betting markets being offered at betting sites.
HOW TO BET ON THE PGA TOUR
Professional circuits such as the PGA Tour offer golf odds almost every week, making golf very much a year-round sport. The biggest events in golf betting are the major PGA tournaments and team events like the Ryder Cup:
With more people betting on golf, how you can wager have exploded. And with tournaments lasting four days, sportsbooks are quick to post updated golf betting odds, offering options far beyond which golfer will top the leaderboard.
TYPES OF GOLF BETS
Much like major team sports, there are many options on how you can bet on golf. The most popular market is picking the outright winner of the tournament, but you’ll find many other options, including head-to-head matchups and plenty of props.
BETTING ON THE OUTRIGHT WINNER
The most common way to bet on golf is to pick which player will win the tournament. For example, here were the odds of winning the British Open, on June 12, 2023.
Here, Scottie Scheffler is a +750 favorite among the British Open field to win the tournament, which means you could profit $750 for every $100 wagered if Scheffler wins at Royal St. George's Golf Course. The favorite to win a golf tournament generally see their odds range from +700 to +1,200.
Now let’s look at someone who’s further down the betting board like Jon Rahm. With odds of +900, a $100 bet would profit $900 should Rahm win the tournament.
EACH WAY ODDS
Each-way odds allow you to bet on a player to win the tournament but also finish within a certain standing, such as Top 3 or Top 8. An each-way bet is technically two bets with two separate payouts. If a player wins the tournament, they would win both sides of the each-way bet. If they didn’t win but finished third, then just the Top-3 side of the each-way bet would win.
As shown in the example above, you can bet on which player will win the tournament. These bets are normally placed before the event begins and are graded on the final leaderboard after four rounds. You can also bet on the outright winner between rounds and during play if sportsbooks offer live golf odds.
HEAD-TO-HEAD ODDS
Rather than bet on one player versus the entire field, you can bet one player versus another in head-to-head golf betting odds, similar to a moneyline. Oddsmakers will set odds on which player will post the higher finishing position and you can pick which player you think will have the better tournament.
Three-way golf odds simply add a third player to the odds mix and you can bet on which of the three players involved will finish higher at the end of the tournament.
NATIONALITY BETS
Nationality bets are a type of wager that involves betting on which golfer from a specific country will have the best performance in a given tournament. For example, a bettor might place a nationality bet on which American golfer will finish with the best score in the Masters. The odds for each golfer are typically set by the sportsbook based on their previous performances and current form, with favorites typically having lower odds and underdogs having higher odds.
ROUND TOTALS
Oddsmakers will set a projected final score for the round for a player and you can bet on whether the player will finish with an actual score Over or Under that round total.
For example, Tiger Woods’ Round 1 score total could be 69.5. That means that if you think Woods will finish with a score of 69 or better, you would bet on the Under. If you think Woods will shoot more than 69 in Round 1, then you would bet the Over.
GOLF PROP BETS
Betting golf props is one of the fastest-growing markets, with golf odds on everything from hole-to-hole results, odds on a hole-in-one, and if a player will make the cut or not. You’ll find the most golf betting props at major tournaments such as the Masters, U.S. Open, PGA Championship, British Open Championship, and the Ryder Cup.
GOLF FUTURES
Futures odds to win the major tournaments are often open well before the week of the event, such as odds to win the Ryder Cup or the Masters. Golf betting markets for those big tournaments are taking action months before Round 1 begins.
GOLF LIVE BETTING
Most online or mobile sportsbooks will offer live golf odds as a tournament plays out, constantly adjusting to the results on the course. This includes outright winner odds, odds to win the round, and hole-by-hole odds for select players.
Live golf betting is becoming increasingly popular among golf fans and bettors due to the excitement and unpredictability it adds to the game. With live golf betting, bettors can adjust their wagers based on how the match is progressing, with odds and lines changing in real time. This allows for a more dynamic and interactive betting experience, and can also provide opportunities for savvy bettors to capitalize on changes in momentum or other factors affecting the match. Live golf betting is available at many online sportsbooks and can be accessed through mobile devices, making it easy and convenient to place bets from anywhere at any time.
