How to bet on Golf
Golf is an ancient sport whose origins go back many centuries. The first traces of the game, as we know it today, date back to 15th-century Scotland. It has captured the hearts of millions and continues to attract enthusiasts of all ages. The aim of the game is to navigate through a course consisting of 18 holes, under the premise of making the fewest strokes possible. Furthermore, it also pulls in a growing number of punters, looking for lucrative winnings. In our presentation about the Glossary of the sport, you will find everything you need to know, to secure your bets. Let’s now take a look at the different betting options available on the market.
The odds about golf are not «business as usual»
As you know, in all sports, the bookmakers take a number of things under consideration, when they calculate what prices to offer. In this case, three things are of the utmost importance. First of all, the difficulty of the course itself. Depending on the ground they are built on, each one offers different challenges. Secondly, the skill level of the golfers. Top class ones always get lower odds than middle, or lower class, players.
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, the history of each participant with the course in question. Some favor a certain kind of players, while a different sort of golfer prefers others. Add to the above the weather forecast and the condition of the course, and you have the bulk of what sets the betting scene.
Golf specific available markets:
Usually, we start with the options common to all sports. We will skip this step this time, and proceed to those specific to the sport. And there are quite a few:
Winner
The winner of a tournament is the player scoring the lowest total over all the rounds that the completion spans (usually four). The score on each round separately doesn’t matter. If there is a tie at the end, then the winner is determined by a playoff round as stipulated at the rules of each championship.
Finishing position
The wager refers to the position (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc..) that each participant of a tournament will take at the end of it. You can place one either before the first teeing off, or during the course of the event. However, you should keep in mind that the live odds may be different than the pre-game ones. The way that the top Asian and European bookmakers calculate their prices, determines that the latter are based on what we discussed above, while the former are shaped according to what happens in the game itself.
Each way
It’s a double option bet. You select a player to either win or get a position in a competition. The payout depends on the number of golfers and the place that they will finish. Half the bet pays out at a reduced rate (usually ¼ of the original stake) if the player doesn’t win but only positions.
Head-to-head
This is the usual bet on the PGA tour where golfers play against each other only. It can of course be valid for any other confrontation with only 2 players involved. The winner is the one with the lowest overall score. If, for example, one shoots 70 and the other 72 then the winner is the first one. If both shoot 72 then the bet is voided and refunded.
3-Ball
In the first two rounds of the PGA tour, players do not compete in pairs but in threesomes. Odds are given for all three and, of course, the winner is the one with the lowest score. However, since the matchup remains the same between the 1st and the 2nd round, it does not mean that the result of the first will be repeated in the second. Hence, separate wagers are strongly recommended.
Nationality
On this one you need to select a player from a certain country that will have the best score at a given competition. For example, if your tournament is the Masters, then you can select which Australian golfer will finish at the best position.
Hole-in-one
This is a simple yes or no thrilling long shot with odds at about 500. The base premise is a wager on whether any player at any stage of a tournament will make a hole in one shot. For even greater excitement (and profit) sometimes there can be an option on the hole where such a shot is most likely to occur. If you are wondering, the chances are 12,500 to 1. However, there are plenty of golfers that have actually made one!
Albatross
It’s similar to the previous bet, only this time it says whether a player will achieve a hole in 2 strikes less than the par. It can also be called a “double eagle”. Best courses for such a bet are straight line par 4s or short distance par 5s. It’s strongly inadvisable on par 3s.
Nassau
Here we have the best known and most classic wager in golf. Otherwise known as “2-2-2”, “5-5-5”, or “Best Nines”, it’s a triple bet on which golfer will have the best score in the first 9, the last 9 and overall. It also offers a derivative called the “Nassau Press”. More or less, this one is something like “double or nothing”. If the bet on the holes 1-9 is lost then you can “press” the wager on the holes 10 – 18 and equal the money lost.
Cut Line
The PGA tour, in more of its events, features a cut off. Whoever player doesn’t “make the cut” is eliminated. The line is the score of the 70th player and everyone else that ties it. Understandably the best players will always make it so the odds for them are low. The wager gets value with those golfers that are around the limit. And for them the prices will be high.
As you can see there are plenty of options to choose from. In fact, you might as well discard the standard markets and go for the sport specific ones, as they are a lot and offer lots of excitement and enough profits to go around. There’s an ample amount of money to be made so, don’t waste any more time and go register for a betting account with broker.