Golf is a great sport for bettors, as there’s always something to wager on. Tours such as the PGA and LPGA have grown exponentially over the years and are now international circuits, with action-packed schedules of events year-round.
The golf betting market is also an exciting one as it can swing after every shot. In our guide, we’ll take you through some of the most common bet types, how golf odds work, betting on golf tournaments and most importantly, how to win at golf betting.
So you’ve decided to bet on golf. It’s time to choose a site you want to use.
Head straight for the 'Register' or 'Sign Up' button – good operators make this very easy to find on the homepage.
Complete all of the site’s registration form with your details.
At this stage you may need a security question and answer to give you extra protection.
Create a username and password.
Tap in your promotional code (if you have one) to generate a bonus.
Confirm your age and click to accept the site’s terms and conditions.
Golf betting odds explained
You’ll find there are several different ways you can bet on golf. Like in most sports, the most common type of bet is to wager on which player will win the tournament. To give you a better idea of how golf betting odds work, let’s consider a PGA Championship golf odds example.
Jon Rahm
12.00
Jon Rahm (12.00) is the current favourite to win the 2022 PGA Championship. His odds mean that a C$100 winning bet on him would result in a C$1,100 profit. When you visit betting sites, you’ll be able to compare golf odds and betting lines for every player involved in the championship.
In our example, we have shown the odds in the decimal system, but you can also see them displayed in American moneyline or British fractional odds. If you want to check out other odds types and potential winnings, our golf odds calculator is the perfect tool for this.
The best golf bets
Tournament winner bets
Without a doubt, the most popular golf bet. Who do you think will win the tournament?
Despite being the easiest market to bet on, it isn't always that simple.
Golf events often have over 100 professionals competing, and at the highest level in golf it is the finest of margins separating the winners and those who place. Some of the best golf betting tips and predictions on major tournaments are provided by our recommended sportsbooks.
First round leader bets
This is a popular option for the shrewd bettor. If you know which players traditionally
make a fast start, they could be your selection.
Alternatively, it could be that the weather forecast suggests the earlier starters will play
in easier conditions. This is a bet that cuts down the variables inherent in four rounds over
four days.
Top 10 finish bets
Beneath the top level of the sport, there are many players who make a very good living out of it without winning very often.
Informed bettors will seek out the golfers who show great consistency in placing highly and back them accordingly. You can also have top 5, top 20, top 30, top 40, etc, markets available. In these instances, dead heat rules apply; so, if a player ties for 20th with several other players, a reduction to winnings would apply.
Match bets
It’s possible to bet on a match between two or three players who are in the same group. You
can also bet on a virtual match between players who are not playing together.
Hole in one bets
This is a straightforward choice. Do you think there will be an ace in the tournament or not?
Again, this is a bet that rewards serious study of course trends and the players taking part in the event. Fun fact: the odds of a hole-in-one in golf are 2,500 to 1.
Futures bets
If you believe a player’s style is suited to a particular championship in the future, this could be a bet for you. The longer in advance you make your wager, the more attractive your odds should be.
And what’s great about golf futures betting is that the bet you make won’t be affected by any further odds shifts the sportsbook might make down the line as the tournament approaches.
Parlay bets
It's now possible to be on a host of outcomes within a tournament online with golf parlay betting. You may decide on one player to win one tournament, and another to win a different tournament happening at a similar time. The odds of each player you’ve backed are then multiplied together, which means you could end up making a hefty profit should all your bets be correct.
One of the most common golf accumulators is selecting the winner of the 3-balls or the 2-balls that go out each day. A 3-ball is when players go out in groups of three for the first two rounds of a tournament. For the latter two rounds, you have pairings which are known as 2-ball.
Main golf tournaments to bet on
The Majors
The Majors
Four annual tournaments whose winners are guaranteed a place in the annals of golf. They are the Masters, the US Open, the (British) Open and the PGA Championship.
These events are the highlights of the calendar for golf fans. Non-experts are captivated by the action too, which ensures online golf betting on these events is intense.
PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The highest level of the men’s professional game in North America. There are more than 40 events each
year, with one staged in Canada. These are four-round stroke play events, with an extremely tough and
demanding level of competition.
European Tour
European Tour
With an exciting schedule of events and increasing levels of competition, the European Tour is closing on the PGA Tour in terms of stature.
Tournaments are played virtually all year round, with several in the early months of the year staged outside Europe. These are usually co-sanctioned with other tours.
Asian Tour
Asian Tour
Golf is incredibly popular in Asia, and the quality of the professional tour has risen steadily in
recent years. There are now almost 20 events on the schedule, with prize funds big enough to attract
elite players from across the continent and beyond.
Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
This is a match-play event held every two years between Europe and the US. It provides thrilling entertainment and a host of betting opportunities.
The Ryder Cup used to be played between Great Britain and the US. It was given fresh impetus by the addition of European players to the British side in the late 1970s.
Canadian Open
Canadian Open
Co-organised by Golf Canada and the PGA Tour, the Canadian Open is an annual stroke-play tournament that takes place in Toronto, Ontario.
In the interwar years, this national open was sometimes thought of as the third most prestigious tournament in golf. As you’d expect, Canadian Open golf betting is very popular in Canada.
Golf tournament schedule 2022
Date
Name of event
Location
Apr 4-10
US Masters
Augusta National Golf Club, Washington, USA
May 5
French Open
Le Golf National, Paris, France
May 19-22
PGA Championship
Southern Hills, Oklahoma, USA
Jun 9-12
Canadian Open
St. George's Golf Course, Toronto, Canada
Jun 10-16
US Open Championship
The Country Club, MA, USA
Jul 10-17
British Open
Royal St George's Golf Club, St Andrews, Scotland
Aug 8-28
FedEx Cup
East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, USA
Golf betting apps & mobile options
Given the intense competitiveness of the betting industry, it is no surprise that sportsbooks are constantly seeking new ways to improve the experience of mobile customers.
You can access betting apps and sites on all types of devices, such as Android and iPhone models, which makes mobile golf betting easy. You can bet anywhere you have an internet connection.
Golf betting bonuses
Today’s global betting industry is more competitive than ever. This means sportsbooks
must come up with ever more inventive ways to attract and retain customers.
One visible and well-established way of pulling in new clients is bonuses.
These fall into three categories:
Welcome bonus
As soon as you become a sportsbook’s new customer, you tend to receive a free bet or a boost
to your initial deposit
It is rare for a sportsbook not to offer a welcome bonus, such is the intense competitiveness
of their industry
It’s worth taking some time to check the T&Cs – you need to be satisfied the bonus
genuinely matches the headline
Enhanced odds
When there’s a big golf event on the way, it’s time to keep watch for an offer of enhanced odds
In most cases these apply to the result of the event, but they can also apply to another popular market
Both new and existing customers should be offered these enhanced odds. But be aware your stake may be limited
VIP club
One method in which sportsbooks persuade regular bettors to stick with them is an invitation
to join a VIP club
Clients targeted in this way are being subtly made to feel elite and special
Club membership can earn free bets, access to special offers or enhanced prices that may not
be available to newer customers
How we review the best golf sites
Licensing:
We place great value on licensing and certification on sites offering SSL encryption
Security:
Being able to believe fully that you are using an honest, safe site is absolutely
critical
Range of bets:
The best websites offer a really broad selection of golf bets
Bonuses:
In such a competitive market place, sportsbooks need to find innovative ways to give extra value to bettors
Payment options:
We look for sites with multiple options – allied to more generous payout percentages
Golf Betting FAQs
How does golf betting work?
First you weigh up the tournament about to be played. Using your golf knowledge, you forecast what is going to happen – and bet on that outcome. Your winnings, when you are correct, will be determined by the odds about the bet you place.
How do you win at golf betting?
It’s very important to do your research to stand the best chance of winning. When it comes to golf betting tips, it’s a good idea to get to know the courses well – most websites will have hole-by-hole course guides – as well as the players' strengths.
The official PGA Tour site also offers lots of useful stats and analysis on things like driving accuracy, driving distance and putting averages.
How do you bet on golf online?
When it comes to gold betting Canada, you’ll find there are countless sportsbooks offering golf betting and odds for all of the major tournaments. To find the right one for you, simply check out our list of recommended sportsbooks.
How does 3-ball golf betting work?
Typically for the first two days of a tournament, golfers go out in groups of threes, referred to as 3 balls. A 3-ball bet is when sportsbooks offer odds on which of the three golfers will score the lowest score over 18 holes or 1 round. No tie selection is offered.
What is a press in golf betting?
A press is a second bet that is opened during the course of a round and runs simultaneously with the original bet. It is opened by the golfer or team of golfers who is losing the original wager. The press or second bet is worth the same amount as the original bet.
There are different press rules, including auto-press – when a new bet is automatically opened if a match reaches a certain point – or some players may only allow for a press to be called when they’re 2 down or worse.
What is the dead heat rule in golf?
This is when a tie happens between players for finishing bet positions like Top 5, Top 10, Top 20 etc. If three players end up tied for 10th position, for instance, then your payout would be reduced accordingly. In some cases, you could even end up losing money on this type of bet.
What are albatross golf odds?
It has been stated that the odds of making an albatross in golf are between six million to one and one million to one. An albatross, also referred to as a double eagle, is a score of three under par and is extremely rare. A hole-in-one on a par 4 would also count as an albatross.
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