How to bet on golf online
By Simon Head
Betting on golf has become increasingly popular in recent years, with bookmakers offering plenty of markets to entice bettors.
It is behind the likes of football and horse racing on the sports betting scene and while wagering on golf can offer bigger odds and value for money, many are often left asking the same question: ‘How does golf betting work?’
A knowledge of how to bet on golf, including understanding players, courses and conditions, can prove lucrative.
Different types of bet in golf
Having golf betting explained to you isn't always easy but here at FIRST, we're on hand to talk you through the most popular bets.
Tournament winner
You're backing who you think will win the tournament (the lowest score overall). If players have the same score, dead heat rules will apply, meaning your winnings will be divided by the number of tied winners, therefore you pocket less.
First round leader
You're betting on a player to have the lowest score at the end of the first round. They don't need to go on and win the tournament.
Top 5/10/20 finish
Bookmakers offer variations of this bet including a top 5/10/20 finish. If the player you've backed finishes fourth overall and you've backed them to finish in the top five, it's a winner!
To make the cut
After two rounds of a tournament, the field size is reduced for the final two rounds. You can back a golfer to make the cut, meaning their score must be low enough to continue playing.
Head-to-head matchups
When you back a golfer to finish with a better score than someone else. It's a head-to-head bet rather than one player against the field. Knowing how to bet on golf matchups can be an efficient way of gambling as numerous picks can be added together to make a bigger odds bet.
| Name | Spread | Implied probability | |
| Shane Lowry | -1 [-110] | 60% | favourite |
| Justin Thomas | +1 [-110] | 35.7% | underdog |
Top nationality
Numerous bookmakers will offer winning nationality markets. You're backing the top performer from a certain country, such as the top American player or top European player.
Reading odds
You may be wondering 'how do golf bets work?', well, first of all, you must be able to read odds.
Bookmaker odds show the chances of certain outcomes and they can come in fractions, decimals and moneyline odds.
Fractional odds are used in the UK. If you've backed Scottie Scheffler to be the top American player at 3/1, a £10 bet will return £40 in total (£30 profit and £10 stake). The left number is the profit and the right is the stake.
Decimal odds show the total payout as a multiple of your stake. A £10 bet on odds of 3.5 would return £35, including the stake.
Moneyline odds, which are mostly used in America, are expressed with a + or -. Positive odds (how much you'll win by betting $100) are for backing the underdog and negative (how much you must bet to win $100) are for the favourite.
Most popular tournaments to bet on
The Masters is the most famous golf tournament and that's reflected in betting, however, bettors will also target the other three majors: PGA Championship, US Open and Open Championship. The game also acknowledges The Players’ Championship as the unofficial fifth major - which is held in high regard when crowning the PGA Tour Player of the year.
Bettors will also focus on the Ryder Cup, which pits European stars and American players against each other every two years in a team environment.
Other tournaments can prove lucrative if you have knowledge of the players or the course, plus how the weather can affect performance.
Step-by-step guide of placing a bet
It isn't easy picking the right bookmaker but it's worth doing your research to see which one best suits you. You may prefer a certain site or one may have better welcome bonuses than others.
Complete your registration by giving over your personal details, usually in the form of a UK driving licence or passport.
Now you've got your betting account! Simply make a deposit, ensure you claim your welcome bonuses and place your first bet!
Golf betting strategies and tips
Betting on golf can prove difficult at times as the form of players can change drastically from week to week.
Like any sport, do your research when betting on golf. If you have a strong understanding of player form, their habits, as well as the course they're playing, you're more likely to have success.
Many golf bettors will back numerous players at the start of a tournament, ranging from the favourite to an each-way outsider who could be a value pick. Certain golfers may love one course and hate another so take in as much information as you can pre-tournament.
The weather can also impact golf betting. If winds have picked up, players may have to adapt how they play and certain golfers are better equipped to play in breezy or rainy conditions. Sunny weather will also see the ball travel further compared to cold temperatures, which will suit players who drive the ball well.
More generic betting strategies can include keeping a betting history of your wins and losses. You may start to see a pattern of what's successful. Using different bookmakers to get better odds can also help you find value bets and increase your winnings.
How golf scoring works
Golf can be scored based on stroke play or match play. The former involves players using their total score for the round, including penalty shots. Match play sees players earn a point if they beat their opponent on a hole.
There are also terms to describe specific scores on a hole;
Birdie - one under par
Eagle - two under par
Albatross - three under par
Ace - a hole in one
Bogey - one over par
Double bogey - two over par
Triple bogey - three over par
Golf also uses a handicap system, which gives players strokes on certain holes. If your handicap is four, you will get a shot on the four hardest holes on the course. The lower your handicap is, the better you are.
In-play betting
Live betting offers bettors the chance to back players while the tournament is ongoing. If you notice a player is starting to find form on day two or down the final back nine, you can back them in play to win the tournament.
Key golf betting terms
| Straight forecast | This involves backing who you think will finish first and second at the end of the tournament in the correct order. For example, Rory McIlroy first, Scottie Scheffler second. |
| Dual forecast | It's the same as a straight forecast bet, however, the top two can finish in any order. McIlroy first, Scheffler second or Scheffler first, McIlroy second will both be winners. |
| Three balls | Golf three-balls involve three players competing against each other. If you back one player in a three-ball, you need them to have a lower score than the other two golfers. If two golfers have the same winning score after the round, dead heat rules will apply, which will see you win the bet but with smaller odds. |
| Two ball golf betting rules | A head-to-head wager where you back one player to finish with a better score than their opponent over a round. You may be offered a 'draw' option which you can back at big odds if you think they will have the same score. |
| Each-way | An each-way bet is when your wager is split in two, one is a win bet and the other is a place bet. A £10 each-way bet will be a £20 stake in total. The places on offer will differ with various bookmakers but it can be up to 12 for big tournaments. |
| Six shooter | This is where the bookmaker selects six players and you pick who will finish with the lowest score. Every other player in the tournament is irrelevant, only the scores of the six players picked matter. |
| How do ties work? | Some bookmakers will pay out if there is a tie, however, some will deem the bet a loser. If players end up with the same score, dead-heat rules apply and your winnings will be reduced. |
| What is a press? | A press is linked to when you're playing golf and it's a double-or-nothing bet. If you've made a bet but you're losing by a set amount, a press starts a new bet which runs concurrently with the original wager. |
| Group betting | Players will go round the course in groups, usually in twos or threes. Group betting is when you bet on a golfer to win that specific group. |
| Hotshots | Hotshots betting sees golfers earn points in a tournament. If you put four players in a bet, they will earn more points for winning it all rather than finishing in the top 10. |
Responsible gambling
Responsible gambling should always be a fundamental part of betting. Always bear in mind that gambling is entertainment, not a guaranteed way of making funds.
Never chase losses, stick to your limits and know when to stop. Bookmakers offer deposit limits and the ability to lock yourself out of your betting account if you need a break.
You must be 18 years old to place a bet in the UK. It's based on the Gambling Act 2005, which aims to protect children and young people from gambling.
Making the most of bonuses and promotions
Bookmakers will hand out welcome bonuses if you create an account and they can range from free bets to money back on all losing opening bets.
There will also be promotions on different golf tournaments. Certain bookmakers will offer more places on each-way bets, while there could be offers that earn free bets if your player has a certain amount of birdies in the first round.
FAQs
What are the most common types of golf bets?
Tournament winner is the most common golf bet and bettors will usually back players each way. First round leader, top 5/10/20 finish, to make the cut, head-to-head matchups and novelty bets such as top nationality are also popular.
What is the legal age to bet on golf in the UK?
You must be 18 years old to place a bet on golf in the UK.
What is a top 5 or top 10 finish bet in golf?
Top five or top 10 finish bets involve you betting on a player's final position at the end of the tournament. If you've backed top five and they finish third, it's a winner!
What does each-way betting mean in golf?
An each-way golf bet will see your stake split in half. If you've backed a player to win the tournament with an each-way bet, half will go on them winning the tournament, with the other half going on them to place.
What happens to a golf bet if the player withdraws?
If the player you backed doesn't take part in the tournament, the bet will be made void and you will get your stake back. If they pull out after teeing off, the bet will be settled as a loser.
What is the ‘first-round leader bet’ in golf?
A first-round leader bet involves backing a player to have the best score after the first 18 holes of action on the opening day of the tournament.
What is the LIV golf tour?
LIV Golf is a Saudi-backed golf tour, fronted by two-time major champion and former world number one, Greg Norman.
The format differs from the PGA tour as it offers three round, 54-hole events, with shotguns starts around the course. Plus, players compete in teams as well as individuals. However, despite much furore, LIV and the PGA decided to merge and help develop the game, combining with another major tour in the sport, the DP World Tour.