Ava Romero
Golf is increasingly becoming a popular sport to bet on, with the PGA Tour partnering with multiple sportsbooks. Golf tournaments are unique in that they offer plus-odds options, which are enticing to customers looking for a larger payout on a smaller bet. Matchup betting is where the odds more closely resemble those seen in other sports. Matchup bets can include two or three players and compare their scores, either over a single round or the entire tournament. Head-to-head matchups pit two players against each other, with the winner being the golfer who ranks highest on the leaderboard at the end. There are also group matchups, which consist of three to five players. Golf tournament props are typically considered the fun bets to place during the course of the event, with quirky options such as whether there will be a hole-in-one scored by any player.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of bets | Head-to-head matchups, three-way matchups, group betting markets, placement position wagers, tournament winner, nationality bets, first-round leader, golf props |
| Factors influencing bets | Weather, player trends, course history, putting surface, player news |
| Odds | Odds are dynamic and vary based on factors such as player performance, news, and weather forecast changes. Odds for favorites typically have a minus (-) sign, while underdogs have a plus (+) sign. |
| Examples of odds | Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas priced at -110. Rory McIlroy at +1000 (10/1) odds. |
| Calculating winnings | A minus price indicates how much you need to wager to win $100. A $1.30 wager on a -130 favorite will win $1. A plus price indicates how much you will win for a $100 wager. A $1 bet on a +110 underdog will win $1.10. |
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What You'll Learn
Head-to-head matchups
It is important to note that if one of the golfers in the matchup withdraws from the tournament or is disqualified, the other golfer will automatically be considered the winner of the matchup. If both golfers miss the cut, the golfer with the lower score or the highest points in Stableford will be deemed the winner.
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Golf tournament winners
Golf tournament winner bets are a popular market where bettors try to pick the tournament winner. This is essentially the moneyline bet in golf. This market is generally open a few days before the tournament begins and remains open at major sportsbooks throughout the contest. With as many as 156 players in some PGA TOUR events, finding a winner can be tricky, but it also offers longer odds than most other sports. Even the favourites can often be at relatively high odds, i.e. +1000 (10 to 1) or higher.
The odds for a favourite typically have a minus (-) sign in front of them, indicating the amount of money you need to wager to win $100. For example, if Rory McIlroy is +1000 (also written as 10/1) to win a tournament, that means for every $100 you bet on McIlroy, you win $1,000 if he wins. A $10 bet at +1000 odds will win you $100, meaning you collect $110 including your original stake. Typical favourites near the top of the market in golf will range from +500 to +1500, but the odds can vary from week to week. Several players will have long odds, with longshots often as high as +50000 (500/1).
Given the high number of competitors in golf tournaments, it is also common to see place markets. You will see shorter odds, but it becomes more likely for a player to finish in the top five, 10, 20, 30 or 40 on the leaderboard. While some sportsbooks pay these bets in full, others apply a “dead heat rule” if two or more players are tied for the final specified bet cut-off. Placement position wagers are a great part of learning how to bet on golf effectively. These give customers the option to decide whether players will finish inside the top five, top 10 or top 20. Obviously, choosing one of these returns a smaller payout than picking a player to win the tournament outright, but golf tournament victories are hard to come by, as most players only win one to three tournaments per season.
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Nationality bets
Nationality props are a great way to get involved in the action, especially if you are new to betting on golf. They are often included in major championships, with groups of five or six golfers with similar odds, battling it out for the best finish. The winner of the group is determined by their final leaderboard ranking at the end of the tournament.
These bets are also a good way to wager on a tournament where you don't have a clear favourite. Nationality props allow you to focus on a specific subset of golfers and their performance relative to each other. This can be an interesting twist on the traditional head-to-head or three-way matchups, creating a unique betting opportunity.
When considering nationality bets, it is important to remember that they are usually considered ''fun' bets, as they typically do not affect the final outcome of the tournament. However, they can provide an exciting way to engage with the action, especially when combined with other wagers as part of a parlay.
So, if you're looking to add a bit of patriotic flair to your golf viewing experience, consider placing a nationality bet. It's a great way to show your support for your country's golfers and add a little extra excitement to the tournament.
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Placement position wagers
When it comes to golf betting, placement position wagers are a great way to learn how to bet effectively. These bets give you the option to decide whether players will finish inside the top 5, top 10, top 15, or top 20. While choosing a golfer to finish in the top 5, for example, will return a smaller payout than picking a player to win the tournament outright, it is a safer bet as it gives you some wiggle room. This is because golf tournament victories are hard to come by, with most players only winning one to three tournaments per season.
It is important to note that if your player finishes in a position that is tied with others, dead-heat rules will apply. These rules will vary depending on the bookmaker, but generally, your stake will be cut according to the number of players tied for those positions. For example, if you bet on Jordan Spieth to finish in the top 5 with odds of 5/1 and he ties with one other player, your odds will be split in half.
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Golf props
For example, in the 2025 Open Championship, one prop bet was for Xander Schauffele and Tommy Fleetwood to both finish in the top 20 (including ties) at +310 odds. Schauffele is the defending tournament champion and is ranked No. 3 in the world, while Fleetwood has three top-10 finishes in six Open Championship starts.
Another example of a prop bet is a head-to-head matchup between two golfers, such as Daniel Berger and Kevin Kisner, for the entire tournament or per round. These bets can be influenced by a player's course history or preferred putting surface. Group betting markets are also available, where you must select one of three players in a group, with higher payouts due to the increased difficulty.
For bigger tournaments, prop bets can become more fun and quirky, such as whether there will be a hole-in-one scored by any player over the course of the tournament. Golfers may also be grouped by categories such as nationality, with bets placed on which American golfer will finish with the best score, for example.
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Frequently asked questions
Matchup bets can include two or three players and will compare their scores, either over a single round or the entire tournament. Head-to-head matchups pit two players against each other, with the bet winner being the golfer that ranks highest on the leaderboard at the end of the event. Group matchups consist of three to five players, with matchups typically featuring golfers that are paired up together for the round.
The odds for a favourite typically have a minus (-) sign in front of them, indicating the amount of money you need to wager to win $100. The odds for an underdog will usually have a plus (+) sign in front of them, indicating the amount of money you will win for a $100 wager. Odds are not static and can vary from week to week based on the event and field composition.
Golf is unique in that it offers plus-odds options, which means you can earn a larger payout on a smaller-sized bet. Long odds are offered for bets like first-round leader and tournament winners. Placement bets can also pay well and give you some flexibility—you can decide whether players will finish inside the top five, top 10, or top 20. You can also consider player trends, such as first-round scoring or strokes gained off the tee, which are publicly available stats.
Golf is one of the fastest-rising betting markets in North America, with the PGA Tour integrating odds into its online leaderboards. DraftKings is one example of a sportsbook that offers golf betting.
