Why golf bettors should avoid three-way matchups

WGC-Dell Match Play is entirely about matchups.

Golf bettors should avoid betting head-to-head head to head in head matchups. Sportsbooks take advantage of implied probabilities in sports betting. The more probabilities go over 100 percent, the more of an advantage the sportsbook has. Two NFL point spreads at -110 add up to 104.76 percent. In the two-way matchup with just the players listed, you would get your money back if they tie.

Two golfers with a tie will push each other and get their money refunded.

Bubba Watson is +100, so betting on him is 105.56 percent. The sportsbook will keep 5.6 percent of every dollar wagered. With a tie, the hold increases to 9.5 percent, similar to betting every NFL point spread at -120.

Bubba Watson is +115, while the sportsbook is keeping 9.84 percent of every dollar wagered. Three-way markets are hard to overcome as the odds are against you.

DraftKings and BetMGM offer two-way golf head-to-head bets instead of three-ways. Ties happen more often than you think. Four of the first 38 matches in this year’s match play ended all square.