Partner material
How to Bet on Golf: Tips and Valuable Advice
Today we are dealing with a sport that has been gradually becoming more popular year by year: golf. It is enough to say that over 70 million people play it globally now, and it even got represented at the Olympic Games. Tiger Woods, above all else, but also winners like Tanzania's Costantino Rocca, Edoardo Molinari, and Matteo Manassero, have popularized golf in Tanzania, increasing the sport's number of players and transforming once a "VIP" recreational activity into a sport widely recognized and played at all levels. For players keen on taking their passion further, golf betting apps enable you to monitor events and wager using your phone.
Golf betting suits strategy-minded players, those who appreciate technical and tactical mastery in preference to naked physical power, and observing a sport that hinges on precision, poise, skill, and stamina under the stress of competitive and psychological pressure.
Here in this guide, we will explain:
- How golf betting works
- Golf tournaments you can bet on
- Types of golf bets
- Live golf betting
- Golf betting tips
How Golf Betting Works
Golf betting used to be the province of die-hard golf enthusiasts. But with golf's increasing popularity across Europe and worldwide, more and more punters are challenging bookmakers to the max, attracted by the attractive odds available.
You can bet on the victor of a contest, head-to-head races, margins of win, etc. Handicap betting is also available, a means to enhance low odds in otherwise undesirable circumstances where one player is certain to destroy the competition.
Golf Events to Bet On
The golf competition calendar is much the same as tennis. All professional golfers fall under the PGA (Professional Golfers Association), which, like the ATP in tennis, runs tournaments throughout the year that can be wagered upon by punters.
There are four major yearly Majors in golf, just like tennis. These are:
- The Masters: Conducted in April in Georgia, USA, with around 100 participants. The winner not only receives the title but also a lifetime invitation to future editions.
- PGA Championship: Conducted in May, the tournament includes 156 players invited based on stringent ranking and career earnings criteria.
- US Open: It is the most well-known Major played with 72 holes in June. Because of a wide qualifying process, even amateurs can participate.
- British Open: It is the oldest, most prestigious Major and is hosted in the UK.
Special mention to Ryder Cup, which is played biennially in September, when United States teams are pitted against Europe.
Types of Golf Bets
Despite having fewer coverages than sports such as soccer, golf can still prove a good source of bets for gamblers. Given that the tournaments are played nearly every week, there are plenty of chances to bet. Below are the main types of bets:
- Tournament Champion: Bet on which player will win the tournament.
- Head-to-Head: The book takes two players and you bet on which player will end higher in the standings.
- Margin of Victory: Bet on the exact margin of victory (e.g., "Wins by 1 stroke," "Wins by 2 strokes," etc.).
- 1×2 Tournament / 1×2 Round: Similar to soccer betting, you bet on a win, draw, or loss for any player—either the whole tournament or a single round.
- Special Bets: Golf is receptive to a universe of specialized bets, from "Best Rookie" and "Best Wildcard" to "Hole-in-One: Yes/No."
Live Betting on Golf
Live betting has gained popularity in the last few years, and while golf is not as fast as soccer or basketball, it has exciting in-play betting moments nonetheless.
For example, you can wager on how a golfer will do on hole 15 following the completion of the 14th. Live wagering will allow you to realign your strategy—if you had made an initial, pre-tournament wager that is not going well, you can cut your losses by placing a superior live wager.
Betting Tips for Golf
Golf betting is challenging because odds are usually higher than in other sports. The differences between top players and the rest are often minimal, making it essential to develop a solid strategy to spot valuable opportunities.
If you’re new to golf betting, start with simple bets and avoid complex markets. To make accurate predictions, consider the following factors:
- A golfer’s past performance and stats
- The difficulty of the course
- A golfer's average score on the given course
- Physical condition of the golfer (even minor injuries matter)
- Weather, and more specifically wind, which can significantly affect results
Golf is a game of frail psychology, too. It is tough to win once; to win twice in a row is almost out of the question. That is why many gamblers dislike to support favorites who only won, and prefer to think about talented outsiders.
One of the more popular methods is to wager on four or five high-odds underdogs (for example, 50 to 1). If they stick up during the early rounds, you can hedge your bets towards the end of the competition using other players.
Ultimately, golf betting is one of the most thrilling but most challenging forms of betting, since there are always just so many golfers who have a chance to win cups.