Betting on the PGA Tour

How to Bet on the PGA Tour

Just like most sports, there are many different ways you can bet on golf. Here are some of the most common ways you can be on an event using legal US sportsbooks.

Winner

The most popular bet on any PGA event is wagering on the winner of the tournament. You can place a future wager on who you believe will finish in 1^st place. Sportsbooks will have odds posted days leading up to the event.

In a typical four-day event, the odds will change after each day, giving you a chance to bet on the winner with updated odds.

Betting on the winner can be the most lucrative bet you can make. However, it can also be the toughest. Try looking at the odds after the Saturday round, and bet on the winner with only one round to play. This can give you the best chance at winning, and also makes the last round exciting!

Matchups

There will be over 100 names in any given tournament, but golf has its popular players. Sportsbooks will offer matchup betting, placing two of the most intriguing golfers against one another.

You will be able to place a bet on who finished the tournament with a better score. The number of matchups offered will be based on the quality of the sportsbook.

Leaderboard

As we discussed before, it can be tough to pick a winner before a tournament begins. With a large field, it can be easier to pick a golfer to finish in the top 5, 10, or even 20.

These wagers won’t provide as good of odds as picking a winner, but it gives you a much better chance at cashing a ticket. Try looking at a longshot that you believe might scratch their way into the top 10!

Props

Props can be one of the most entertaining ways to bet on any sport. The best sportsbooks will provide odds for various props bets.

Here are some of our favorite golf props that we have seen.

• Will a hole in one happen?
• Will there be a tie and playoff?
• Will an American win? European? Australian?
• Who will be the top left-handed golfer?

Live Betting

Many different golf betting sites or streaming services will allow you to watch the tournaments for free. Live betting on golf is one of the huge advantages of being able to use an online sportsbook or app.

Watch the tournament while making wagers as the event occurs. Not only will the odds change for the winner of the tournament, but you will also find bets for certain holes and score results.

If you want to live bet on the PGA Tour, look at the capabilities of the sportsbook before joining. Some offer more live markets than others.

Tips for Betting on Golf

We have gone over some of the ways that you can bet on the PGA. But there are some tips and strategies to consider for any of the betting types.

Weather

Take a look at the weather conditions for the tournament. Rain and wind will play a huge role in how the players perform. The weather can even change for players who are teeing off in the morning, compared to the ones teeing off in the afternoon.

Recent play

If you’re looking to bet on a certain tournament, go look to see how the players have been performing over the past month or two. Golf it a game of confidence and groove. If a player has been playing poorly their last several times out, it’s doubtful to see a quick turnaround.

Injuries

Since golf is a no-contact sport, many people don’t think about the injuries that golfers go through. Many have had troubles with their back and knees. Players will try to play through an injury, so they don’t have to miss a big tournament, such as the Masters.

Course style

Look at how the course plays and what players have had success there. Is a short game important? Is the course long and benefits a power hitter? Those are just several questions you need to consider before betting on an event.

Control your spending

Legal sportsbooks will give you tools to help control your spending. Especially if you are live betting, you can get carried away with all of your wagers. Always check your open bets to see how much you have pending.

Major Championships

The PGA Tour has events throughout the year, but the Major Championships are the most important. Golfers try to come into these tournaments in top shape.

Not all weekend tournaments will feature all of your favorite golfers. However, as long as they are healthy, all of the big names will be competing in the four Major Championships.

Betting on the Masters

The Masters Tournament is possibly the most infamous weekend in all of golf. It is the first major of the year and is always played at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, in the beginning of April.

The winner of the Masters will receive a green jacket and will always receive an invitation to play in the tournament throughout their career, regardless of their play or standings. The total prize pool for this tournament exceeds $11 million.

Jack Nicklaus is renowned as of the best golfers of all time and has won the Masters a record-setting six times. But Tiger Woods has gotten close, winning his fifth green jacket in 2019.

In addition to the plenty of options for betting on the Masters, there is also a Par 3 contest on the Wednesday before the tournament begins.

Don’t miss the opening tee shot, with legends such as Gary Player getting the tournament started!

Betting on the PGA Championship

The PGA Championship is the second major of the year, changing from the last one of the year in 2019. It is played at various celebrated courses across the US, with some of the following being the most common spots for the weekend.

• Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean Course)
• Quail Hallow Golf Club
• Whistling Straits
• Valhalla Golf Club

The winner receives nearly $2 million in prize money, while also taking home the Wanamaker Trophy.

Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagan share the most wins, each winning the PGA Championship five times.

Betting on the US Open

The US Open is often the toughest of all the majors when it comes to scoring. The winner is usually just a few stroked under par. A key to betting on the US Open will be choosing someone who has been hitting the ball accurately and has a good short game.

Just as the PGA Championship, the United States Open Championship is played at courses across the country. Some of the most notable courses include:

• Pebble Beach Golf Links
• Winged Foot Golf Club
• Torrey Pines Golf Course
• Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

It’s impossible to score well from the rough, and the greens and fast. If golfers have dug themselves a hole after the first round, it’s hard to battle back. When picking a golfer to bet on, look for someone who has been consistently hitting fairways.

Betting on the Open Championship (British Open)

The Open Championship, also referred to as the British Open, is the only Major Championship of the year that happens overseas. It’s always at links-style golf courses, including tough greens and windy conditions in Scotland, England, or Northern Ireland.

The tournament takes place at a select few courses, with the most popular being St Andrews in Scotland. Others include:

• Royal Troon
• Prestwick
• Royal St George’s
• Royal Liverpool
• Royal Portrush

When picking a golfer, look for some local talent to do well. In 2019, Shane Lowry won the championship in his home country of Ireland.

The winner takes home the Claret Jug, which is one of the most infamous trophies in golf.

What is the FedEx Cup?

The FedEx Cup was established in 2007 and crowns the best golfer of the year. Throughout the golf season, players will receive FedEx points based on their finishes in official PGA Tour events.

The top 125 players will compete in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

• 125 players in the Northern Trust
• 70 Players in the BMW Championship
• 30 Players in the TOUR Championship

The player with the top seed will have an advantage in the TOUR Championship, which starts unlike any other tournament in golf.

Seed	Starting Point
1	-10
2	-8
3	-7
4	-6
5	-5
6-10	-4
11-15	-3
16-20	-2
21-25	-1
26-30	Even

The winner of the FedEx Cup will win $15 million. Here is the list of former winners.

• 2020 – Dustin Johnson
• 2019 – Rory McIlroy
• 2018 – Justin Rose
• 2017 – Justin Thomas
• 2016 – Rory McIlory
• 2015 – Jordan Spieth

What is the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup is a team event, with the United States taking on Europe. Both the US and Europe will have captains who select 12 players for their teams.

The first two days of the tournament include one four-match session of four-ball and one of foursomes. The last day is only for singles matches.

Because of the team environment, the Ryder Cup is unlike any other event in golf. Betting on the Ryder Cup can be very interesting, with plenty of unique options that you won’t find for other events.

The Ryder Cup only happens once every two years, which is another reason it is so special to golf fans across the globe.