Golf Betting Guide & Sites
Golf is a sport that is played on a professional level throughout the year, with tournaments on both the men’s and women’s tours attracting interest from fans across the globe. With the number of bets on golf having also increased dramatically over recent years, there has never been a better time to back your favourite players. This guide will cover everything that there is to know about golf betting, including the most popular markets and those who are currently competing at the highest level.
Introduction
Golf tournaments take place on a weekly basis, meaning that punters are never short of options when it comes to wagering on the sport. The leading male and female players battle it out in events from around the world in an attempt to rise up the rankings and get their hands on silverware, with competitions including the Masters, Ryder Cup and the Open being among the most popular. Online bookmakers now offer a variety of betting options when it comes to golf too, with the likes of Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jin-Young Ko regularly featuring among the favourites. Let’s kick things off by taking a look at our favourite golf betting site for those based in the UK.
The Best Golf Betting Site for Punters in the UK
We recommend 888Sport as the best golf betting site available to punters in the UK, with the bookmaker offering a large number of markets, competitive odds and generous promotions. 888Sport is also 100% reliable and secure, meaning that customers can concentrate solely on backing their favourite players, while their platform is also extremely simplistic and efficient.
- Best Odds Available
- Wide range of Betting Markets
- Super fast deposits & withdrawals
- Live streaming service
- Best Odds Available
- Wide range of Betting Markets
- Super fast deposits & withdrawals
- Live streaming service
- Odds above average
- Fair new customer bonus
- Outstanding football betting selection
- Odds above average
- Fair new customer bonus
- Outstanding football betting selection
- Over 40 sports depending on the season
- Far ahead in the odds comparison
- Unique long-term bet
- Over 40 sports depending on the season
- Far ahead in the odds comparison
- Unique long-term bet
Which Golf Tournaments are Good to Bet On?
When it comes to golf, there are almost endless opportunities for punters, with events taking place on a weekly basis from around the world. However, the following are among the best competitions to focus upon when betting on golf:
The Masters
The first major tournament of the year takes place at the famous Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia in April, with the event having first been established in 1934. The likes of Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth have won in recent times, while the tournament is known for its difficulty.
PGA Championship
Organised by the PGA, this tournament takes place in May in New York. American Brooks Koepka is the reigning champion, with US players having won for the last three years.
U.S. Open
The US Open is hosted by the USGA, with the third major of the season taking place in June. It has been held regularly since 1895 and is one of the longest-running tournaments in golf.
The Open Championship
The R&A organises what is known as one of the most historic tournaments in golf. Taking place in late July, the British Open is the final major of the season, with Irish player Shane Lowry having won the men’s title in 2019.
Ryder Cup
Contested every two years, the Ryder Cup pits together the best male players from Europe and the United States, with the next event set for Whistling Straits in 2020. A range of match formats are played out during the four-day event, including fouresomes and singles.
The Odds in Golf
Odds in golf are generally relatively easy to understand, with the majority of betting sites simply offering prices on which player will win a particular tournament or who will finish inside the top 10. Factors such as recent form, world ranking and course type are likely to impact upon the odds of players, with tournament favourites generally being available to back at odds of around 8/1.
Which Golf Markets are Usually Available for Punters When Betting Online?
Punters looking to bet on golf are able to take advantage of the following markets with the majority of bookmakers:
Tournament Outright – Perhaps the easiest way to bet on golf is to back a particular player to win a tournament, whether it be a major or event from the PGA Tour. Bookies will give each competing player a pre-tournament price, based on their ranking, form and previous event performances, with punters then having the opportunity to back who they believe will shoot the lowest total. With the more bets placed on one player, the shorter their price is likely to become, with those in the know able to earn some significant earnings when backing the winner. However, this is a risky option, due to the large number of golfers who make up a competition.
1st Round Leader – Some players on tour are known for being fast starters, meaning that they are likely to be worth backing when it comes to this market. Golf tournaments are generally made up of four rounds, with those who are on top after day one often going on to challenge for the title. As well as this, punters can also place each-way bets on this market, meaning that they will earn something even if their chosen player is not leading after the opening round, but is inside the top four or five.
Region of Winner – Winners of golf tournaments come from a range of areas, including Europe, the US and Asia. As a result, many betting sites offer the chance for punters to bet on the region in which the winning player will come from, whether it be Tiger Woods from the United States or Rory McIlroy from Europe.
Top 5/10 Finish – With betting on the outright tournament winner in golf being something of a lottery, it is much more realistic to back a player to finish inside a pre-determined position, whether that be inside the top five or 10. Many players on both the men’s and women’s tours have a habit of coming close to victory.
Hole in One – Par 3’s are often seen as a good opportunity for players to make birdie, while some players may even have the skill or luck to produce a hole in one. With that being said, some bookmakers will provide the opportunity for their customers to back whether or not such an event will occur during an upcoming event.
Short-Term Betting in Golf
When it comes to short-term bets in golf, punters have the opportunity to bet on their favourite players with pre-tournament bets right up until the opening tee shot is hit. Events usually get underway on Thursday mornings, with a range of markets being open to punters.
Long-Term Betting in Golf
For those with the necessary patience, longer-term golf bets are also available, whether it be wagering on a particular player to become No.1 in the world rankings, Europe to win the next Ryder Cup or Tiger Woods to win a major in 2020. The odds on such markets are often enhanced as a way of rewarding customers who place such bets, with those who are successful often earning some significant winnings.
Live/In-Play Betting in Golf
Many believe that live betting is the best way to wager on golf, which effectively means staking on your favourite whilst they are out on the course. Odds are updated on a regular basis, with a birdie, shank or bogey effecting the prices of players on tour. Live golf betting affords punters time to see how the action is unfolding before staking funds, with those who are towards the top of the leaderboard after a few rounds likely to be competing come the last day. Those in the know are also able to understand when individual players are likely to make a birdie, whether they are the master of Par 3’s or can reach the green in one shot on a Par 4. Generally speaking, the same number of in-play markets are available when compared to pre-tournament options, including winner, to finish in the top 10 and region of winner.
The Best Betting Sites for Golf
While there are a number of online bookmakers offering the possibility to bet on golf events from around the world, we believe that 888Sport is the standout platform for punters. Not only is 888Sport 100% secure and reliable for customers based in the UK, their sportsbook has endless opportunities when it comes to golf, while their odds surrounding the sport are also second to none. Their coverage of both the men’s and women’s tours are excellent, with tournaments coming with over 50 different markets.
Elsewhere, the betting site offers the chance for punters to watch the action as it unfolds through their live streaming service, with tournaments from across the world being available on a weekly basis. New customers at 888Sport can also claim £30 worth of free bets from just a £10 opening deposit, providing the perfect platform to build upon on their site.
Golf Betting FAQ
In this section, our experts will provide answers to some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding betting on golf.
Q. Is golf a good sport to bet on?
A. Golf is undoubtedly a good sport to bet on, offering punters a huge number of markets and bet types, whilst tournaments takes place throughout the year.
Q. Are there opportunities to make a good profit from golf betting?
A. As with any form of betting, those who stick to their strategy and budget are likely to be in a position to make some good profits from betting on golf, with the top teams regularly defeating their opponents.
Q. How do I best get started when betting on golf?
A. In order to start betting on golf, you must first find a betting site that suits your needs and wants. Having done so, come up with a strategy and do your homework before backing a player, whether it be checking out tips or reading the latest golf news online.
Q. Is golf a safe and fair market to bet on?
A. Golf itself is regulated by a number of different authorities, who make sure that the sport is being played within the rules. It is the same when it comes to betting on golf, with betting sites having to ensure that the markets in which they are offering are fair.
The Stars of Golf
Whilst there are a whole host of world golfers currently competing, the following are perhaps the standout names, who attract fans from across the globe.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is ranked second in the list of all-time major winners, with his Masters win in 2019 having been his first success since 2007 following a horrendous run of injuries. The American is known for his unbelievable shot-making ability, with Woods having joined the PGA Tour back in 1995.
Brooks Koepka
Fellow American Brooks Koepka has had an unbelievable few years on tour, winning both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open on two occasions. Having previously won the Rookie of the Year award, Koepka was named the PGA Tour Player of the Year award in 2018, with the 29-year-old still having many years to add to his list of tournament wins.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy is perhaps the most famous European golfer competing today, with the Northern Irishman having won the PGA Championship, U.S. Open and the Open Championship during his career to date. McIlroy has also played for Europe in the Ryder Cup five times already, helping his team to four victories over the US.
Jin-Young Ko
Korean golfer Ko Jin-young is the latest star on the women’s tour, with the youngster having won 10 times on the LPGA of Korea Tour by the age of 22. The 2018 Rookie of the Year made it to the top of the world rankings in 2019, having won the ANA Inspiration and Evian Championship that same year, her first LPGA major championships.
Recent Winners
In terms of golf tournaments, the following players have come out on top over recent years:
The Masters:
- 2015 – Jordan Spieth
- 2016 – Danny Willett
- 2017 – Sergio Garcia
- 2018 – Patrick Reed
- 2019 – Tiger Woods
PGA Championship:
- 2015 – Jason Day
- 2016 – Jimmy Walker
- 2017 – Justin Thomas
- 2018 – Brooks Koepka
- 2019 – Brooks Koepka
U.S. Open:
- 2015 – Jordan Spieth
- 2016 – Dustin Johnson
- 2017 – Brooks Koepka
- 2018 – Brooks Koepka
- 2019 – Gary Woodland
The Open Championship:
- 2015 – Zach Johnson
- 2016 – Henrik Stenson
- 2017 – Jordan Spieth
- 2018 – Francesco Molinari
- 2019 – Shane Lowry
Summarising Betting Review for Golf
With more and more online bookmakers catering well for golf betting fans, there has never been a better time to start backing your favourite players on tour. Be sure to consider all pre-tournament and in-play markets that are now available, as well as sticking to what you know in terms of events taking place.