Golf betting presents a unique landscape for sports bettors, differing significantly from team-based sports. With large fields of competitors, four-day tournaments, and variables like weather and course conditions, the process of how to bet on golf can seem complex at first. However, this complexity gives rise to a diverse range of betting markets that cater to various strategies and risk tolerances. Understanding the fundamental bet types is the first step toward navigating the golf odds board. The most common wagers—outright winners, finishing position bets, and matchups—provide a solid foundation for anyone looking to engage with a PGA Tour event from a betting perspective.
These markets allow bettors to focus on different aspects of a tournament. One person might prefer the high-reward nature of picking an overall champion, while another may find more consistent success by wagering on a player to simply have a strong showing or outperform a single rival. This guide breaks down these core tournament-based markets to provide a clear primer for beginner bettors.
The Most Popular Wager: Outright Winner Bets
The most straightforward and widely discussed golf bet is the outright winner market. This is the simplest way to get started, as the objective is clear: select the one golfer who will lift the trophy at the end of the tournament.
What is an Outright Bet?
An outright bet is a wager placed on a single golfer to win the entire tournament. Due to the difficulty of selecting one winner from a field that can exceed 150 players, the odds on outright bets are often very long, leading to potentially large payouts. This high-risk, high-reward nature makes it an exciting market, but its difficulty requires careful consideration. Bettors must analyze player form, course history, and current conditions to make an informed selection.
Understanding Outright Odds
In the United States, golf odds are typically displayed in the American format. For outright winner markets, nearly every golfer will have plus-money (+) odds. These odds indicate the potential profit on a $100 wager. For example:
- Scottie Scheffler +450: A successful $100 bet would return a profit of $450.
- Xander Schauffele +900: A successful $100 bet would return a profit of $900.
- Viktor Hovland +1800: A successful $100 bet would return a profit of $1800.
The lower the number, the greater the golfer’s implied probability of winning. The tournament favorite might have odds between +400 and +800, while longshots can have odds of +10000 or higher.
When to Place Outright Bets
The odds for a golf tournament are usually released on Monday of the event week. These odds can fluctuate based on betting activity, player news, or even weather forecasts. Some bettors prefer to place wagers early in the week to secure what they believe is the best value, while others wait until closer to the start of the first round to gather more information before making a decision.
Finding Value with Finishing Position Markets
For those who find picking an outright winner too challenging, finishing position markets offer a more forgiving alternative. These bets provide a greater margin for error, as the selected golfer does not need to win the tournament for the wager to be successful.
Top 5, Top 10, and Top 20 Bets Explained
Finishing position bets are wagers on a golfer to finish within a certain rank on the final leaderboard. The most common markets are Top 5, Top 10, and Top 20. For example, if a bet is placed on Collin Morikawa to finish in the Top 10, the bet wins as long as his final position is 10th or better. This is a popular way to bet on golfers who are playing consistently well but may not be closing out tournaments with victories.
How Odds Differ in Finishing Position Bets
Because the probability of a golfer finishing in the top 20 is much higher than them winning, the odds are significantly shorter. A player’s odds will decrease as the finishing range expands. For instance, a golfer might be offered at these different price points:
- Outright Winner: +2500
- Top 5 Finish: +500
- Top 10 Finish: +250
- Top 20 Finish: +120
These markets are often used to build a betting card with more likely, albeit smaller, returns compared to the all-or-nothing nature of an outright wager.
Dead-Heat Rules
A crucial concept in finishing position betting is the dead-heat rule. Ties are common in golf. If multiple golfers tie for the final paying positions in a market, the stake of the bet is divided by the number of players tied. For example, if three golfers tie for 10th place, they occupy the 10th, 11th, and 12th spots. A Top 10 bet on one of those golfers would have its payout reduced, as only one of the three available spots was truly in the top 10. Each sportsbook has specific rules for how dead heats are calculated.
Head-to-Head and Group Matchup Betting
Matchup betting simplifies a large-field tournament into a direct competition between a small number of players. This format is familiar to those who bet on traditional sports and is an excellent entry point for learning how to bet on golf.
What are Golf Matchup Bets?
A matchup bet, also known as a head-to-head or a twosome, is a wager on which of two golfers will post a better score. Sportsbooks will pair two players, and the bettor simply has to pick which one will perform better. This distills the 150-player field down to a one-on-one contest, removing the need to worry about the rest of the leaderboard.
Round vs. Tournament Matchups
Matchups are typically offered in two main forms. A round matchup is for a single day of play, such as the opening round on Thursday. A tournament matchup is for the entire 72-hole event. For a tournament matchup bet to be valid, both golfers usually must make the cut. If one player misses the cut and the other makes it, the one who played the weekend is declared the winner. If both miss the cut, the player with the lower score after two rounds wins.
Reading Matchup Odds
Matchup odds feature a favorite and an underdog, just like in a moneyline bet for a football or basketball game. The favorite is indicated by minus (-) odds, while the underdog has plus (+) odds. For example:
- Jon Rahm -140 (Favorite)
- Patrick Cantlay +120 (Underdog)
In this scenario, a bettor would need to wager $140 on Jon Rahm to win $100. A $100 wager on Patrick Cantlay would win $120. These bets are decided purely by the stroke total of the two golfers involved.
| Golfer | Outright Winner Odds | Top 10 Finish Odds | Matchup vs. Opponent |
| Rory McIlroy | +750 | -110 | -150 (vs. Homa) |
| Max Homa | +2200 | +240 | +130 (vs. McIlroy) |
| Tony Finau | +4000 | +350 | -115 (vs. Young) |
| Cameron Young | +4500 | +400 | -105 (vs. Finau) |
By focusing on these three primary markets—outrights, finishing positions, and matchups—a newcomer can develop a comprehensive understanding of how to bet on golf. Each market offers a different level of risk and reward, allowing bettors to tailor their approach to their own preferences and knowledge of the sport. Starting with simpler wagers like matchups or Top 20 finishes can be a practical way to build confidence before tackling the more challenging but highly rewarding outright winner market. As with any form of betting, a disciplined and informed approach is essential.
