How to Bet on Golf
Golf is one of the biggest sports in the world in terms of fan numbers. Tournaments occur nearly every week throughout the year, making golf a sport you can bet on 52 weeks a year.
The PGA Tour is the biggest golf league in the world. However, other golf circuits exist, including the LPGA, the PGA Senior Tour, and the all-new LIV Golf Tournament.
Golf is a sport punters love to bet on. Bookies offer fantastic markets for each tournament. In addition, there are four majors each year, which give punters the chance to make great profits from their bets.
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Beginners Guide to Golf Betting
Golf provides many options to bettors each week. There is a chance to find a lot of value in golf bets, which makes it a more popular option than other sports betting. So, how do you bet on golf? Let's explore the game of kings.
There are several markets to explore when it comes to golf tournaments. One of the best markets to wager on is the outright winner market. Ahead of major tournaments and even minor ones, you can wager on the player you predict will win the event.
This bet allows you to lock in the value on a player before the tournament starts. Once the tournament begins, you can follow the player you wagered on throughout the event. If he or she wins the event, then your bet wins.
One of the best aspects of the outright winner bet is that long odds aren't a reason not to wager on a player. In golf, a player with long odds has a good chance of winning the event. So, making a large profit off of an outright winner bet on a long shot isn't a foolish idea as it would be in other sports.
Outright winner markets are not the only golf betting markets available from top sportsbooks. You can also bet on the player to end the round as a scoreboard leader. You can also make a three-ball bet on each round, in which you wager on the golfer to top the group.
Another popular golf bet is on 18-hole head-to-head matchups. For this bet, you simply need to wager on the player you believe will win over the course of 18 holes when golfers go head-to-head.
How to Bet on Golf
One of the things all golf bettors must do is come to terms with the sport's terminology. You should do your research and learn the various terms used in golf. This will help you understand the sport and make educated bets.
After learning the terms, you need to learn all about the tournaments. The PGA Tour has tournaments throughout the year. You can find a golf tournament from the PGA Tour or elsewhere played 52 weeks a year. The ability to bet on golf tournaments throughout the year makes it a sport you can rely on from week to week to take a punt on.
Once you understand the terms and tournaments played each week, you will have a great start when it comes to betting. Golf betting isn't complicated and the basic markets provided by bookies make it easy to wager on the various events covered.
Golf Betting Odds
Golf betting odds come in different formats. Your favourite online sports betting site will allow you to change the odds format. Some websites will offer the odds in American format since many of the PGA Tour's events are played in the United States.
American odds are different than decimal odds or fractional odds. The odds format is based on winning or betting £100. You will see American odds displayed as either +100 or -100. The plus (+) is always placed before the underdog's odds, while the minus (-) represents the favourite.
Fractional odds are also used to represent the underdog and favourite in golf betting. The odds are listed in a format such as 2/1. In this example, you must wager £1 to win £2.
Decimal odds are popular and used by many people in Europe. An example of decimal odds is 3.00. This means that you will receive £3 back if you wager £1. Decimal odd values combine the total overall amount of money you would receive back, including the profit and the stake you wagered.
Regardless of which odds format you choose, you will have the chance to wager on high level golf tournaments each week with your own account or favourite sportsbook.
Why are Golf Odds Long?
Golf odds are long due to the number of players that make up a tournament. Unlike other sports, golf doesn't feature head-to-head matchups between strong and weak players.
In golf, players are playing against themselves and the course. Therefore, the bookies' odds are often long because no one player dominates the tournaments throughout the year.
You may see one player win several games in the tournament at the start of the season but fail to post a victory for the rest of the season.
How Often Can You Win with Golf Betting?
If you make the right decisions, your chances of winning at golf betting are high. Doing your homework, analysis and research ahead of an event can improve your chances of making the right betting decisions.
Betting on the same golfer to win a tournament from week to week is not a wise move. Yet, with no one golfer able to win every tournament, the season is wide open for other players to be victorious.
Golf Betting Markets
You will find a variety of other golf tips and betting markets available at your favourite online sports betting site. Golf tips and markets are not as plentiful as other sports, such as cricket, but there are still great markets to explore.
Type of Golf Bets
Outright winners are bets placed at the beginning of a tournament on a player to win the event. The payouts can be sizeable as you are betting on a golfer to defeat the rest of the field in an event.
Matchups—These bets are placed on a player to win a round matchup, not the tournament. Payouts may not be very large, as one player's strength could be greater than his or her opponent's.
Top finishers—This is a bet on a golfer's place or finishing position. The payout of a finisher bet is often smaller than that of an outright winner.
Prop bets - These bets make up a variety of wagers for a given event. Golf betting can have several prop bets for a tournament. Some prop bets will be centred around a player, while others will focus on a score. You may also have the chance to make a prop bet on a golfer scoring a hole-in-one
Each Way Betting on Golf
Each way betting is a popular way to ensure funds are received from an outright winner bet. Sportsbooks offer customers each way of betting on golf tournaments, allowing you to place a bet on a golfer to win a tournament or place.
Each-way betting ensures that you will receive some money back on your total stake if the golfer you selected finishes in the top four.
Which Markets Can You Bet Each Way?
The outright tournament winner market allows for betting in each way. Major bookies provide 1/4 the odds for the top four finishers. Betting each way allows you to bet on golf and receive winnings even if your selection doesn't win the event.
Player Betting Markets
The player markets are plentiful for bettors. You can wager on the outright winner of the tournament or a golfer to have a better score at the end of a round. Player betting markets have generous odds in golf, especially in the outright odds market.
Golf Accumulators
A golf accumulator is a great way to add value to a single bet. An accumulator allows you to build a bet with multiple selections.
How do you Place a Golf Accumulator?
An accumulator is a bet that features multiple selections on one bet. You can make a treble, fourfold, fivefold, and more. To make a golf accumulator, you must make selections from different events.
For example, you could place an accumulator on the player to win all four majors ahead of the Masters' start date in early April. If you want to place an acca on an event, you can make three or more selections on the rounds using the 3 ball market.
The 3 ball market features three players and you are betting on the player to have the best score of the trio. You can assemble an acca by choosing the winners of multiple 3-ball games in groups.
You can also place a golf acca on the 18 hole matchups. Matchup betting is a great way to build an acca.
Best Bets for Golf
The best bet for golf is the outright winner bet. Pick a player ahead of an event, select them to win the tournament and sit back to watch the event unfold. This is a great bet and it locks in the odds.
18-hole matchup bets allow you to wager on a head-to-head matchup between two players. Select the player you believe will have the best score of the two golfers.
Finishing place bets are another great option for betting. You can wager on a player finishing in the top five, 10, or 20 before a tournament starts. Bookies will also offer props throughout the event. The big tournaments throughout the golf season will have prop bets available.
In Play Golf Betting
In play golf betting gives you full access and the chance to watch a tournament or round unfold before you place a bet. The in play feature is one of the great innovations in sports betting over the last decade.
The feature allows you to wait and see how your player performs before placing a wager on him or her. If you are not sure whether to wager on a specific player before the tournament or round, you can place an in-play bet once you see how they start.
Of course, in-play betting doesn't just give you access to the chance to bet on a player who is doing well. It also allows you to alter your betting strategy if a player performs below par.
Live Golf Odds
Golf odds are updated throughout a round. Bookies update the odds, giving you the chance to decide whether to place an in-play bet. Live golf odds will be posted prior to a round teeing off. You will be able to click to get the best odds from round to round or during a round before making a wager.
Markets Available in Golf In-Play Betting
A number of markets are available for use in golf in play betting. The odds are updated throughout the round, so you can make a bet to lock in the value.
The in play betting golf markets include:
Outright winner
End of round leader
Hole winner
Compared to other sports betting, there are not necessarily as many in play betting markets for golf. A fewer number of markets means you can focus your attention on what is available.
Golf Major Betting
The PGA Tour has four major tournaments each year. The major events are the best time to bet on golf. The best golfers in the world congregate for them.
The golf majors begin in April with the Masters at Augusta National. In May, the PGA Championship takes place and it is followed in June by the US Open Championship. Finally, in July, the legendary Open Championship is played in Europe. It features the best of the PGA Tour and the best of the European Tour.
Golf betting is at its most popular when the majors occur. The golf odds on the tournament are excellent and it isn't out of the realm of possibility that a long shot will win.
What Are the Golf Majors?
Major golf tournaments are the best time of the year to bet on golf. The four men's majors are:
The Masters - April: The Masters is held at Augusta National each season.
The PGA Championship - May: This event is open solely to PGA players. Unlike the other majors, it does not welcome amateurs.
The US Open Championship - June: The US Open Championship moves around each year to different golf courses in America. It is considered golf's most difficult tournament.
The Open Championship - July: The tournament is held in the UK each year and rotates golf courses from year to year. The golf course and weather conditions play a major factor in the tournament's outcome.
Ryder Cup Betting
The Ryder Cup is a biennial men's golf competition played in match play format. It features two teams, Europe and the United States.
The difference between the Ryder Cup and the regular PGA Tour events, other than the fact that they are team-based, is the excitement and fervor created by the tournament. The Ryder Cup is unique for the sport.
Due to its unique nature and the team format required, bettors flock to online sports betting sites to wager on the football event. You will likely find a variety of promos available from your favourite sportsbook.
Golf Betting Strategies
A golf betting strategy can make all the difference between winning a bet and losing it. You will find that a strong strategy can go a long way to improving your chances of winning and picking a long shot to win at great odds.
Golf course - Know the golf course before making a bet on the tournament. Learn about each player's strengths and weaknesses, and how those factor into playing on the course. The conditions and layout of the course can also factor into the event's outcome.
Weather - The weather can alter the way the ball flies off of the tee or plays on the green. A wet tournament can be difficult to play, while hot, dry weather may not be ideal for certain players. The weather can affect both players and courses.
Explore the markets - Evaluate all of the markets to find value. Don't just bet on a long shot because it means you will win a large profit. A long shot has long odds for a reason.
Hype is a killer - A lot of golf websites and pundits will hype up a player they believe is in good form. Hype doesn't mean anything in the golf world. Too often, players are hyped up before a major tournament only to lose to an unknown player in the end.
What to Look Out for When Betting on Golf?
One of the first things to consider when betting on golf is the course. The course can play to a specific golfer's strengths. At the same time, a particular golfer could struggle on a course. Course form is important to watch when betting on a tournament winner.
Some golfers like the great Tiger Woods, rise to the occasion at certain courses. Don't think that a golfer cannot replicate his or her form on the same course from tournament to tournament.
Player form is another area to pay attention to. How a golfer is playing currently will have a major impact on the tournament. The field's strength can also impact the outcome of an event.
Some players rise to the occasion based on the tournament. The four major tournaments often bring out the best in players. There is a chance that a long shot can win a major tournament.
Does the Type of Course Make a Difference?
The type of golf course makes a major difference in the outcome of a golf tournament. Some golfers play better on specific courses than other golfers do. In addition, the conditions of a tournament at a course can make a difference in the results.
For example, some golf courses may be on the coast, providing different weather conditions than more centrally located or landlocked courses.
Golf course distances can also play havoc with the outcome of an event. Golfers that hit further distances can struggle on links and shorter courses, while they thrive on courses with long distances from tee box to green.
By understanding the country and golf course, the tournament is being played on, you give yourself an upper hand in making a wise bet.
Golf Live Streaming
Leading sportsbooks allow you access to watch live golf streams through their platforms. Live golf streaming is a great way to watch the events and place in-play bets.
Not all golf tournaments will be live-streamed by your favourite sportsbook. However, you should be able to find various live links to events from week to week.
Best Golf Betting Apps
Golf is a faster, more action-packed sport than you think. Golf betting apps make it possible to wager on events from anywhere you can get an Internet connection.
You may need to bet on the PGA Tour tournaments at a moment's notice. A golf betting app allows you to get the latest odds and lock in the value. Here are the best golf betting apps available.
Bet365
Betfred
William Hill
888 Sport
Betvictor
Betfair
Boylesports
Best Online Bookmakers for Golf
All leading bookies provide their golf tips for betting. The sport is played all year round, so bookies always update the odds for the latest events.
Leading sportsbooks occasionally offer promotions, free bets and bonuses to golf bettors. You can find great promos during the four majors: the Masters, the PGA Championship, the US Open, and the Open Championship.
Here are the best online bookmakers for golf:
Bet365
William Hill
Betvictor
Betfred
Betfair
Boylesports
Golf is a fantastic sport to bet on. Whether you want to make a bet on an outright tournament winner or the first-round leader, golf offers a variety of great options.
Golf is played all year round, which means you can bet on tournaments nearly 52 weeks a year. Unlike other sports, golf isn't dominated by the favourites. From week to week, tournaments are won by dark horses and players with long odds. If you do your homework, you can pick a winner and enjoy a healthy profit.
With many events, great odds, and fascinating tournaments, golf is a great sport to bet on. If you are looking for a sport to focus on as a sports bettor, then consider making golf your sport.