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Golf Guide |
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 In recent years, the popularity of golf betting has increased and not without good reason, since the "overround" (bookmaker`s profit margin) on golf bets is the lowest of any sport. The number of betting markets in golf is somewhat limited and cannot offer the same range of markets as say, football or tennis. Nonetheless, golf offers plenty of value betting opportunities.
Outright Betting
In order to succeed, an outright bet must correctly nominate the winner of a tournament. This market generally offers plenty of value to punters. For most tournaments, the favourite is around the 10/1 mark, with prices well into 3 figures. For the 4 Majors (the Masters, US Open, Open Championship and USPGA) it is not unusual to see prices of 500/1 or 1000/1 and there have been some long-priced winners of these events.
Each-Way Betting
Each-way, or win and place betting on golf tournaments can also prove lucrative. The majority of leading layers offer place terms of one-quarter the odds, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (and sometimes 6) on most tournaments.
Place Betting
Some bookmakers offer odds on a player achieving a top-10 or top-5 finish. The price offered will tend to be shorter than for each-way backers, but punters should remember that each-way betting requires two stakes (win AND place) whereas this is effectively a place-only bet, requiring just a singles stake. The odds on offer vary from bookmaker to bookmaker and shopping around is recommended.
Group Betting
In many tournaments, bookmakers make up groups of (usually 5 or 6) players that they consider to have roughly the same chance of winning and offer odds on which of these will put up the best performance over 72 holes. This market is ideal for punters who feel that a long-priced player may perform better than the layers anticipate, but not win the event.
3-Ball Betting
In the majority of tournaments, golfers play the first two rounds in threes. 3-ball betting requires the backer to nominate the player that shoots the lowest score on the day. In the unusual event of all 3 players shooting the same score, the bet is void. This can be a profitable market if a player that is usually "quick out of the blocks" is grouped with 2 slow starters.
2-Ball Betting
In the final 2 rounds of most tournaments, the players are grouped into pairs. 2-ball betting requires the successful nomination of the lower scoring player on the day. Punters should note that since a tie is possible, this is also priced up, making each pair effectively a "3-horse race."
To Make / Miss the Cut
Especially in the Majors, bookmakers offer odds on players making the cut or failing to do so. The odds offered for well-fancied players to miss the cut can often be generous, but very short for the same players to make the cut. The "miss the cut" market tends to be very popular, partly because of the odds offered and partly because it is great to see the pros suffer along with the rest of us.
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