A Beginner’s Guide to Golf Betting
Golf is one of the most popular spectator sports in the world. And while betting on golf may not be as common as betting on other sports, there’s still plenty of money to be made by those who know what they’re doing.
In this beginner’s guide to golf betting, we’ll cover the basics of how to bet on golf, including the types of bets you can make and the odds involved. We’ll also take a look at some tips for improving your chances of winning. So if you’re interested in learning more about this exciting and potentially profitable pastime, keep reading!
Golf Tournaments You Can Bet On
There is an abundance of golf tournaments you can bet on, from pro tourneys to amateur contests, but the two most important golf tours are the PGA Tour and the European Tour.
The PGA Tour is usually held in the US, with the occasional event happening in South America or Asia. The PGA Tour attracts the finest players in the world for various reasons, including hefty prizes and the opportunity to earn the most world ranking points.
The second most renowned tour is the somewhat misleadingly named European tour, held across South Africa, Asia, and Western Europe.
Each tour concludes with an event in which the most successful players of the season compete for large prizes. For the PGA Tour, this event is the Fed-Ex Cup, and for the European Tour, it’s the Race to Dubai.
Each tour’s best players compete in four Majors each year: the Masters, the US Open, the Open, and the USPGA Championship. These four tournaments are among the most popular events for punters looking for exciting wagering opportunities.
Understanding Golf Betting Odds
Golf betting odds describe the bookmaker’s predictions regarding the player’s chances of winning.
Let’s say a player is given 57.0 odds to win a tournament. It basically means their chances of winning are 1 in 57. So, the lower the number, the greater the player’s chances.
If you find this format confusing, you can always convert these odds to percentages. Simply divide 1 with 57 and multiply the result with 100:
1 : 57.0 = 0.0175
0.0175 x 100 = 1.75%
Now, if you want to find out how much money you’ll win if your favourite wins the tournament, you can use this formula:
(Stake * Odds) – Stake = Your profit
If you placed a £20 on a bet, and the player’s odds are 30.0, this will be your profit:
(£20 * 30.0) – £20 = £590
Things To Keep in Mind When Betting on Golf
With over 140 players participating in the average tournament, golf bettors may expect good payouts. (Perhaps one of the most interesting examples of high payouts was the case of the father who won £150,000 by placing a £100 bet on his son to win a golf tournament.)
Just like in any sport, there are favourites, mid-range picks, and underdogs to choose from, but even betting on favourites can bring you decent winnings. Also, keep in mind that in golf, a player can go from being considered a ‘no-hoper’ one week to being one of the favourites the following week. From being a 190.0 outsider, they can shift to 27.0 in a matter of days.
Odds change quickly, so it’s important to check them regularly. The PGA weekly odds, for example, can be looked up online on the tour’s official website.
Golf Bet Types
One of the reasons many punters find betting on golf so entertaining is the large number of bet types you can choose from.
Futures
Futures betting is the simplest type of golf bet. With this bet, you’re essentially wagering on the winner of a tournament. You can also bet on which players will be in the top five, 10, or even 20 places.
Matchup
Just like futures, matchup bets are not limited to golf sports betting. This sort of wagering pits two golfers against each other in a head-to-head matchup (hence the name).
Rather than predicting the tournament’s overall winner, the bettor’s goal is to predict who of the two golfers will score better.
Three-ball matchups are also available. The first two rounds on the PGA Tour are usually played in three-person groups. Instead of just two competitors, sportsbooks will offer betting odds for all three participants, making the bet more exciting but also riskier.
Props and Other Betting Types
If you’re interested in more “exotic” golf wagering options, you might want to try proposition betting, which is broadly defined as betting on something happening or not happening during a game. For example, you can bet on where a tee shot will land, on which player will make the first par, and so forth.
Live Betting
This golf betting system is also known as in-game betting, and its popularity is growing in all sports, including golf, spurred by the advent of online sportsbooks, which update odds in real-time, allowing punters to keep betting during the entire event without ever leaving their homes.
Live betting on tournament winners can be a lot of fun because the odds change during the game. So even if a player hasn’t had a good start, betting on them might still be a good idea because they could improve their game later during the tournament.
Live betting matchups are similar to regular matchups we’ve described above, only they happen in real time. The odds keep changing during the game, depending on what’s going on on the golf course.
Betting per hole offers odds per hole and for the whole round. You can join at almost any stage and bet on a player’s score on a specific hole.
Betting per three holes is based on guessing which player will have the lowest score on three holes on the golf course.
Along with these bets, there are golf betting games that can spice up your experience with golf and gambling, especially if you’re passionate about playing golf yourself. The most popular ones are Umbrella, Wolf, and Hammer.
Strategies
When it comes to pre-tournament wagers, several things need to be considered. These are each player’s current physical fitness, relevant stats, course form, and tournament history. The golf course of a specific week dictates which stats are the most relevant.
A selection of 150 golfers can then be narrowed down to get a better sense of who you should bet on and how. After this, you’ll have a better grasp of the odds for each of them, and you’ll be able to make an informed decision concerning how to place your futures and matchups.
For in-game betting, the odds change based on what’s going on during the game, and there are ways to benefit from this. For example, a player can be a favourite before the start of the game, but their initial progress can cause a shift in the odds. However, if you, as a bettor, believe that your player still has a chance of winning and you turn out to be right, your winnings will be higher.
It’s essential to also consider the players’ recent finishes, making sure not to bet on those who haven’t had good results in recent events.
One of the key golf betting tips is to always factor in the course form. It might seem like a minor detail, but if we analyse multiple courses and golfers, we’ll soon notice that certain players prefer certain courses. This can be useful information for predicting their future success.
Finally, you should avoid betting on golfers who never won a trophy on a tour they’re currently playing.
Final Thoughts
Betting on golf can be a lucrative hobby, but success doesn’t rely exclusively on luck as it may seem to novice punters. Some factors can increase your chances of winning a bet, and thorough research is always a good idea. Along with knowing all the bet types, bettors should consider a player’s strong suits and identify golf courses where that player realises their potential to the fullest.
FAQ
On what site can I bet on golf?
The most popular websites for betting on golf are FanDuel, DraftKings, and PointsBet. All these are tried-and-true sportsbooks offering 24-hours golf betting online.
Is golf easy to bet on?
Yes, betting rules for golf are relatively simple, so bettors get the hang of them quite quickly. As a beginner golf bettor, avoid sticking to only one player because their success rate will go up and down.
What is 3-ball betting in golf?
Three-ball golf betting is a popular way to wager on the game. Essentially, this type of bet involves placing a wager on who will shoot the lowest score over the course of three holes. This bet can be placed on any three consecutive holes and is usually wagered on the front nine holes of a golf course.
