Types of Golf Bets
There are several main types of golf bets, with some of the most popular being outright winner, round leaders, finishing position, matchups, futures, live hole-by-hole betting and tournament props.
- Outright winner — who will win the tournament.
- Round leader — who is leading at the end of a given round, not the entire tournament.
- Finishing position — choosing a player to finish top 5, top 10, top 20 or top 40.
- Matchup — who will win between a pair of players; the rest of the field is irrelevant.
- Futures — tournaments months from now, or props like whether a player will win a major.
- Live hole-by-hole — who wins the hole, a birdie, or hitting the fairway/green.
- Tournament props — winning score, hole-in-one, best finisher by country, and more.
How to Place a Matchup Bet
In golf betting, a matchup bet pairs two players together and you select who will win only between those two. The rest of the competitors in the tournament are not relevant. These bets can take place over one round or the entire tournament.
For example, Jon Rahm at -115 could be matched up with Collin Morikawa at -105 for the first round. If Rahm shoots a better score, a $115 bet wins $100. If Morikawa beats Rahm, a $105 bet wins $100. If the two tie, it is a push and the bet is refunded.
Matchup bets are valuable because you can directly compare recent form as well as how each player fits the course.
How to Place a Finishing Position Bet
A finishing position bet is based on where the player finishes at the end of the tournament. Common bets include top 5, top 10, top 20, or top 40.
This is a great way to bet on a player you think will do well but do not want to count on winning the whole tournament. With over 150 golfers competing most weeks, picking a winner is incredibly hard.
Finishing position bets provide room for error. If a player is playing well and has a good history at the course, a top 5 bet may be best. For an under-the-radar breakout pick, top 20 or 40 is safer.
Dead heat rules apply on most sportsbooks. If your top 10 bet finishes in a three-way tie for 10th, 11th and 12th, the payout for 10th is split three ways.
How to Place an Outright Winner Bet
An outright golf bet is simply choosing who will win the tournament. With over 150 golfers, even the favorite is usually at least +1000.
There is often value in good players priced between +3000 and +5000 (30-1 to 50-1). Winning an outright bet can seriously boost your bankroll while risking a half unit or less — but it is incredibly difficult to win.
How to Bet on Golf Futures
A golf future bet is wagering on tournaments — often major championships like The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship — weeks or months in advance.
Many sportsbooks offer futures on whether a golfer will win any of the four majors, or even two or more majors in a season. Betting on a player to win any major is a fun way to follow the biggest tournaments all year.
How to Live Bet on Golf
Live betting in golf is exploding in popularity. Whether on TV or in person, it is fun to place a bet for a specific hole and watch it play out in 10–15 minutes.
Common hole-by-hole live bets include selecting a player to win the hole, two players to tie, a birdie or better, the exact number of shots, and whether a player hits the fairway or green in regulation.
There is often value in betting on end-of-round leaders once a good shot has been hit that could lead to a birdie. Sportsbooks are occasionally slow to update odds before the score is recorded.
How to Bet Golf Tournament Props
Tournament props are a fun way to follow a golf tournament throughout the weekend. There are more props during major championships, but opportunities exist every week.
- Who will be the top English player?
- Will an American player win the tournament?
- Who will be the top continental European player?
- Who will be the top amateur player?
- Which left-handed player will finish highest?
- Will there be a hole-in-one?
- What will the winning score be?
- Will there be a playoff to determine the champion?
Golf Betting Strategies
Golf is one of the hardest sports to bet on because so little is predictable. Fluky bounces, tee times leading to different weather, course conditions and other factors create far more variables than most sports.
Consider how the course fits the player you are betting on. Are most dogleg holes to the right? If the player moves the ball left-to-right off the tee, that could be an advantage. Is there thick rough? Driving accuracy may be crucial.
The strokes gained stat gives a great idea of how each golfer is performing in various aspects of their game.
Live betting can be one of the most effective strategies if you notice a tendency on a specific hole or stretch. A player one shot back coming up on an easy stretch they excel on can be a profitable opportunity.
How to Read Golf Odds
A (-) sign means you risk more than your potential winnings; a (+) sign means winnings exceed your stake. In golf, outright bets are almost always plus-money, except live betting when one player has pulled away.
American odds are based on a $100 bet. An outright winner at +2500 wins $2,500 for every $100 wagered.
How to Read Golf Moneylines
Books create head-to-head matchups even though players compete against the entire field. A (+) denotes the underdog and (-) the favorite.
Example: Abraham Ancer (+113) vs Paul Casey (-135). A $100 bet on Ancer wins $113; you must bet $135 on Casey to win $100.
Line Shopping & Odds Comparison
Getting the best odds on your golf bets cannot be overstated. Line shopping means finding the sportsbook offering the best price on the bet you want.
Since books set matchups independently, it is critical to compare golf moneyline odds. One book may have Ancer at +113 vs Casey, while another has Ancer at +150 — a $37 difference on a $100 bet.
Profitable bettors check lines across all available sportsbooks and maintain accounts at each so they can always bet at the best number.
Where to Bet on Golf
Popular sportsbooks for golf betting include:
- Caesars
- BetMGM
- BetRivers/SugarHouse
- Unibet
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- PointsBet
Who Are the Most Popular Golfers?
Tiger Woods remains the most popular golfer worldwide for both fame and betting handle. Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are also heavily wagered. Golf is global — players like Hideki Matsuyama are hugely popular in Japan.
High-profile golfers often receive a disproportionate share of bets, which can drive their odds down as sportsbooks manage exposure.