Betting Basics - Golf

Golf is one of the most popular sports in the world for people to play but also watch. It is also a popular when it comes to betting given its format and usually large odds. In this betting guide we are going to look at some of the basics of golf and the popular betting markets and how you can approach them

Golf Tournaments

The majority of golf tournaments take place over 4 days, usually starting on a Thursday and finishing on Sunday. The player who accumulates the lowest score from the four days will be crowned winner.

Most golf tournaments have a “cut”. This is where a certain number of players leave the tournament after two days. The cut is determined by the number of players below a certain score. For the first two days of a tournament players will play in groups of 3 or 4 with the same players each day. Following the cut players are then paired with the players closest to them on the leader board. This means on the final day the two players in 1^st and 2^nd will play together on the last round.

If players are tied on the same score after four rounds, they will then compete in a play-off. This normally consists of playing the 18^th hole again until one player achieves a better score.

Popular Betting Markets

Outright Winner – You are simply choosing who you think will win the tournament outright after the four days of play.

Each Way – This market also requires you to pick the winner, but your bet has a layer of security as you will get a pay out if your player finishes in the places. This is normally set at 6 places, but some bookmakers will offer more places on certain events.

First Round Leader – This effectively turns the tournament into a one-day event. You are predicting which player you believe will be on top of the leader board at the end of the first round of play. Each way betting is often available on this market as well.

Top 5/10 Finish – Unlike the outright markets this is purely a bet on the player to finish in the top 5 or 10. Odds will be shorter but doesn’t require the player to win for you to get a return.

Match Betting – This market is where you bet on one player to beat another over a round. This bet can be done each day of the tournament and bookmakers will offer different markets based on the groups. To win this bet you simply need your selection to finish the day on a lower score to the other player in the bet. The leader board of the tournament doesn’t matter.

In-Play Betting – Golf’s structure lends itself well to in-play betting. The majority of the markets we have mentioned above will be available in play. The odds will fluctuate depending on performance but does allow you to place a bet having watched some of the action.

BettorMind Advice

Research – With any sport you may be unfamiliar with researching ahead of placing a bet is important. Golf tournaments take place all over the world and on different courses each week. Some players will perform better in certain events than others due to the style of the course. By looking back at past results you can start to see the players who favour certain courses, and this information is valuable ahead of placing a bet.

Staking Plan – As there are so many events and markets to bet on, it is important you have a good grasp on your budget and a staking plan to go alongside it. This will enable you to enjoy betting on golf without using more of your budget than you intended and ensure your enjoyment is not impacted by spending too much.

Golf is an enjoyable sport to watch and in the latter stages can be particularly exciting. If you are looking to have a bet on the events you should consider the points raised above as they will give you a solid foundation to build from. Be sure to check out all of our other content at BettorMind to enable you to get the most enjoyment from your betting.