How to Bet on Golf: Betting Guide

Golf is quickly growing as a popular sport to bet on. Although it’s not as fast-paced as other sports, there are plenty of exciting options to bet on a golf tournament. Where do you start as a golf bettor? Here’s a guide on how to bet on golf. What you need to know about bet types, golf betting sites, tips, and more.

Types of Golf Bets

The traditional bets you might be familiar with in sports betting include spreads, totals, moneylines, and more. Golf has some different bet types you might not be used to. It’s about more than betting on a particular golfer to win the tournament. Here are some popular golf bet types and golf odds.

Outright Winner

To place an outright bet, you need to choose the player you believe will win the tournament, similar to a moneyline bet. However, there are more options available than just two teams. Despite there being several favorites for every tournament, predicting the winner is not always easy.

The odds for outright bets vary depending on whether the player is a favorite or an underdog. For instance, in golf tournaments, the favorites usually have odds to win between +600 and +1300. This would result in winnings of 6-1 to 13-1. On the other hand, lower-ranked golfers are given odds of around +10000.

As underdog victories are rare in golf, the probability of winning such a bet is relatively low. Fortunately, the favorites also offer decent winnings, with a potential return of six times your initial investment. To win an outright bet, all you need to do is accurately predict which one of the many favorites will emerge victorious in the next PGA tournament.

Finishing Position

Finishing position bets are looking at which players will finish in what position at the end of a tournament. You don’t have to be specific and have some wiggle room compared to if you place a bet on one golfer to win. Instead, you predict which players will finish in the top 5, 10, or 20.

These types of wagers are less risky than outright winners. It can be extremely difficult to select who would win from a list of golfers. The finishing position is easier to predict but this means they offer lower payouts. However, they can be an excellent way to keep your bankroll afloat.

Round Leader

Rather than select the outright winner at the end of the tournament, you wager on who will be the leader after a specific round. The most common bet available would be the leader after the first round. However, some sportsbooks do carry markets for the second and third rounds of a tournament.

Make the Cut

You can also place a bet on which players you believe will make the cut. ‘The Cut’ refers to a specific score set halfway through the tournament. Golfers need to have an equal or betting score to the cut to continue playing in the tournament. Those who make it proceed to the remaining rounds and have a chance to win a tournament, while those who don’t are eliminated. 

Matchups are player vs. player type bets that you will find on golf betting markets. You bet on one player versus another and wager on the golfer that you think will have a better tournament. This is the closest thing to a moneyline bet in golf. These bets are common in major tournaments. There will be a long list of matchups from the top sportsbooks. You select one golfer or the other to have a better score.

Popular Golf Prop Bets

You will find a lot of different prop bets for a golf tournament. There are options such as how long will the winning score be, best left-handed golfer, highest placing amateur, and more. Here are a few more props you might see as you start to bet golf.

Nationality Bet

Due to a large number of players in golf tournaments, some sportsbooks group golfers into different categories. The most common category is nationality. With nationality bets, bettors place wagers on the top players’ nationalities in the tournament. These bets can be helpful when you’re unsure which specific players to bet on.

Live Betting

Live betting is gaining popularity among gambling enthusiasts, and technology has made it possible for golf bettors to place bets while watching the tournament. For instance, you can bet on which player will have the lowest score in a two-ball group. Live golf betting also allows for first-round leader betting.

Three-Ball Bets

Golf tournaments usually begin with groups of three golfers. With three-ball bets, sportsbooks allow golf bettors to place bets on which player they believe will have the best score in their group. The outcome of these bets is determined at the end of the round.

Futures

Futures are wagers on long-term events throughout the golf year. For instance, you can bet on who will win a later tournament or have the most wins/total points by the end of the year. 

You are on your way to bet golf. Here are a few golf betting tips and strategies to consider as you check out the latest betting markets and betting options at the top sportsbooks.

Golf Course vs Golfer

Certain golfers perform better on specific golf courses than others. For example, courses with narrow fairways and tee box hazards typically favor golfers with exceptional driving accuracy. On the other hand, courses with wider fairways and longer average hole lengths favor golfers with a significant average drive distance.

As tournament week approaches, it’s essential to research the course and how it may affect specific players. Some courses may be disadvantageous to the favorites and even out the playing field.

Golfers occasionally go through hot and cold streaks over the course of the year. Heading into a tournament, you want to check the kind of form a player is in. It’s important to research as you learn how to bet on golf. You should also check the reason behind that kind of form the golfer is in. That tells you whether you should expect it to continue coming into the tournament. 

Check the Weather

Weather conditions can have a significant impact on how a golf course plays. Rain, for example, can saturate the fairways and greens, resulting in slower play. Likewise, strong winds can force players to focus more on accuracy than distance. How well players adapt to such conditions can determine the winner of a tournament.

Therefore, it’s important to check the weather forecast, which should include both the entire tournament and daily forecasts. You can then analyze how the weather will affect a golfer based on their skill set. Some players are accustomed to playing in less-than-ideal weather conditions, so keep an eye out for them, as they may cause significant upsets.

Golf Betting Sites

You have read through the guide to betting on golf and are ready to bet on golf online. What sportsbook should you pick? Here are some of the best golf betting sites and apps available in legal sports betting states.

BetMGM is a well-known and reputable name in the sports betting industry, offering various features such as live betting, “edit my bet” options, and more. Additionally, the sportsbook provides promotions throughout the year specifically for new users.

FanDuel has made a name for itself as one of the best places for live betting and is a big name in the industry. It’s a great option to get started as you learn how to bet on golf. The sportsbook allows users to bet on the PGA Tour and more.

PointsBet has made a name for itself in the betting market despite being a lesser-known name. It has done this with unique betting options such as “Points Betting.” Also, it has solid offers such as second chance bets and more for new users. It’s a nice option if you are looking for a way to bet on golf.

DraftKings has a strong and popular sports betting platform around the United States. It has a rewards program where you can earn bonuses, solid promotions, odds boosts, and more for golf bettors. You can bet on golf tournaments and more with DraftKings.

Caesars has one of the best VIP reward programs in the business that helps bettors earn rewards. Also, the sportsbook has live betting, promotions, odds boosts, and more for golf bettors.

Betfred is growing in the United States and making moves in the sports betting industry. The sportsbook has solid features that include promotional offers, live betting, and early cashouts for golf bettors looking to get started.

BetRivers is quickly expanding and is another option for sports bettors looking to place some golf wagers. You can get 2nd chance bets, odds boosts, rewards, and more from this sportsbook.

Bettors can get access to Tipico Sportsbook in states such as Ohio, New Jersey, Colorado, and Iowa. It’s a solid option for new golf bettors trying to score some bonuses and more options. You can get solid bonuses and more with Tipico.

PGA Tour Events to Bet On

There are professional golf events basically every weekend of the year. The PGA Tour season runs almost the entire year and concludes with the FedEx Cup. There are four major tournaments during the season. These are the biggest tournaments in golf and the best golf betting sites have plenty of golf odds and types of bets for majors.

The Masters

The Masters is usually the first major of the golf year. It’s held every April at the Augusta National Golf Club and attracts the best golfers in the world. It has been called a “tradition unlike any other.” Jack Nicklaus won six Masters Tournaments over the course of his career which is a PGA Tour record.

The British Open

The British Open Golf Tournament, also known as The Open Championship, is the oldest of the four major championships in men’s golf. It is typically held in the United Kingdom in mid-July and is organized by The R&A. The tournament was first held in 1860.

The PGA Championship

The US PGA Championship is the second of the four men’s majors in golf. The PGA Championship is typically held in mid-May, and the location of the tournament changes each year. The winner of the tournament receives the Wanamaker Trophy, a cash prize, and a five-year exemption to play in the tournament.

The US Open

The US Open is organized by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and is open to both amateur and professional golfers from around the world. The tournament has been held since 1895.

How to Bet on Golf FAQs

There are usually quite a few players participating in a single golf tournament. Some can have up to as high as 150 golfers. If the odds were even for every player they would still be 150 to 1. Even the favorites at top golf betting sites are hard to bet on and bet correctly. 

There is head-to-head betting, finishing place, outright winner bets, and more. These are common golf bets that you will see on a variety of golf betting websites.

Yes. The top sportsbooks will have odds for the golf majors, tournaments, and more throughout the year. You need to be in a legal sports betting state to be able to bet on golf.

Yes. There is live betting for golf tournaments. It’s okay if you didn’t get to bet on Tiger Woods in time. There will still be chances at betting operators to bet on him throughout the weekend.

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