Solheim Cup golf tips, free bets and latest odds
WITH the Ryder Cup just over a week away, the top women golfers from Europe and the USA are gearing up for their own clash, as the Solheim Cup gets under way on Friday.
The Solheim Cup does not have as much history or prestige as the men’s event, but it is still a great spectacle
Europe will be bidding for an unprecedented hat-trick of wins in the event, where the Americans hold a 10-7 overall advantage.
Suzzan Pettersen’s team are on home soil in Spain, and they boast a stronger core than they have for some years. That is why they are marginal favourites - although both teams are only just inside or outside the even money mark.
It certainly promises to be a close one, so what price the first draw in the tournament’s 33 year history? Well, 12-1 actually, and that looks like the value bet this week.
Solheim Cup odds
- Europe 10/11
- USA 11/10
- Tie 12/1
Solheim Cup boosts
- Leonna Maguire top European points scorer 11/2
- Europe to win 15-13 14/1
Prices boosted by bet365 at time of writing
How to bet on golf
Here are five easy steps for beginners.
1. Choose Your Favourite Sportsbook – there are plenty to choose from and most have their own app or mobile site.
2. Make a Deposit – each sportsbook will walk you through how to connect your bank account to their system including providing a list of all the safeguards they have set up to ensure the safety of your transactions.
3. Claim Your Bonuses – most sportsbooks offers bonuses to first time bettors in the form of free bets.
4. Place Your Bet – now it’s time to navigate through your sportsbook’s odds where they will offer a variety of options including outright winners, or top finishing positions, such as top 10 or 20, or even to make the cut. For the event this week each way odds are generally paid on the top eight players.
5. Collect Your Winnings – If you're successful you will be able to withdraw your winnings once the bet is complete. Some bookmakers offer cashout options on certain bets as well, which is worth keeping an eye on.
Solheim Cup golf tips
There is going to be a draw eventually, and it could easily have ended up all square in both of the last matches to be played on this side of the Atlantic.
The USA scraped a 14 ½ - 13 ½ victory in 2015, and Europe won by the same margin four years ago.
The odds on either side winning by one point this time are also 12-1 in each case, and if you want to hedge your bets slightly, it could be worth wagering on the draw, a 14 ½ - 13 ½ European win, AND a 14 ½ - 13 ½ Yank victory
If it is that close, spreading your stake still offers the prospect of a 4-1 winning bet. That looks pretty reasonable to me, considering there is virtually nothing to choose between the teams.
There are plenty more markets worth looking at, such as who will be leading after the opening session, at the end of day one, and at the end of day two - like the Ryder Cup the action is spread over three days.
But the one that appeals most is the one listing odds on the top points scorer for either side. And with odds of at least 5-1 available on all 24 players, there are some tempting options.
Leona Maguire was the star of Europe’s 15-13 win in the States two years ago. She claimed four and a half points out of a possible five in a remarkable rookie performance.
The Irish star is likely to play in all five sessions once more, so it is no surprise she is the favourite to emerge as Europoe’s leading scorer again, at a best-priced 11-2.
But I prefer the chances of Celine Boutier, who claimed her first Major title at the Evian this year, and also won in Scotland. She is unlikely to sit out any of the sessions either, and her 6-1 quote seems fair.
Ity may be worth having a saver on Carlota Ciganda at 11-1. She is a fierce competitor who always seems to rise to the occasion, and she could prove an ideal partner for one of Europe’s highly-rated rookies, Linn Grant and Maja Stark.
The American market is dominated by world No 3 Nelly Korda - who was No 1 until suffering a few injury problems - and rookie phenomenon Rose Zhang, who has taken the LPGA Tour by storm.
Korda’s problems with a scary blood clot in her arm, and then spasms in her lower back, are apparently behind her.
But I’m not certain she will play all five sessions, while Zhang is pretty much guaranteed a full run at it. So with Koda a best-priced 5-1 and Zhang at 11-2, I’m going to side with the rookie.
The saver here is Danielle Kang at 12-1. She is a bundle of energy, who is red, white and blue to the core. If she hits the ground running she could make her 12-1 quote look very generous.
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