Betting On Masters Golf: A Beginner's Guide

how to bet on masters golf

The Masters is the biggest stage in golf, and it's also the only Major to be played on the same course each year, Augusta National. Betting on golf is a thrilling puzzle, and there are many ways to bet on a tournament beyond simply picking a winner. When it comes to betting on The Masters, there are numerous options and opportunities available. From favourites in the odds to head-to-head matchups, to the Masters cut line, and Masters sleeper picks, there are many ways to get in on the action.

Characteristics Values
Type of bet Moneylines, tournament lines, golfer props, futures, each-way bets
Betting options Bet on the tournament winner, a player to finish in the Top 5, 10, or 20, head-to-head matchups, two- or three-ball matchups, first-round leader picks, Masters cut line, hole-in-ones
Factors to consider Course fit, current form, course history, player form, seasonal results, OWGR ranking, player statistics
Example golfers to bet on Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Chris Gotterup, Robert MacIntyre, Ben Griffin, Matt MacKay, Lottie Woad

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Betting on the outright winner

If you want to bet on Scottie Scheffler to win and see that his odds are at +430, you bet $10 to win $43. This applies to all other forms of betting on the Masters. If you like Patrick Cantlay, bet $10 to win $310 at +3100.

For the Masters, there is no player in better form than Scottie Scheffler. As mentioned, the value might not be that good for the world's number one golfer. Betting $10 only returns $43 on Scheffler and for a player to have odds like those ahead of a tournament is something we haven’t seen since Tiger Woods was in his prime.

Long hitters are always an enjoyable thing to bet on as the public loves players that can strike the ball off the tee. But just remember the old saying, you drive for show and putt for dough. If players who can drive the ball far is your thing, then keep an eye on these top five golfers who lead in strokes gained tee-to-green: Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Si Woo Kim, Hideki Matsuyama, and Shane Lowry.

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Head-to-head matchups

For example, you might bet on Jon Rahm to do better than Scottie Scheffler. If you think Rahm will come out on top, you could risk $10 to win $25. In this case, Rahm is the underdog, so the odds indicate how much you stand to win for every $100 you bet. Scheffler, on the other hand, might be the favourite, so the odds will show how much you need to bet to win $100.

Head-to-head betting is about weighing the reward against the risk. When the odds get too big, the reward may not be worth the risk. For example, if you had to bet $185 to win just $100, the risk is hardly worth the reward.

When placing head-to-head bets, it's important to remember that both golfers must tee off for the bets to stand. If a player withdraws after teeing off, their opponent will automatically be deemed the winner. If one player misses the cut, their opponent wins, and if both miss the cut, the player with the lower score wins.

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Golf prop bets

Prop bets are a great way to add variety and excitement to golf betting. Unlike traditional bets, prop bets focus on specific occurrences or outcomes within a tournament or round, rather than predicting the overall winner. Here are some examples of prop bets to consider:

Head-to-Head Matchups

This type of prop bet involves selecting which of two players will post the better score over a round or the entire tournament. These bets are often priced like moneyline bets and are ideal for leveraging statistical comparisons between players.

Group Betting

Group betting involves choosing which player will have the lowest score within a small pre-assigned group, typically consisting of four or five golfers. This type of bet allows you to consider the performance of a specific group of golfers and predict how they will fare in relation to each other.

Hole-in-One

Wager on whether a hole-in-one will occur during the tournament. This is a classic example of a prop bet, as it focuses on a specific occurrence within the game that does not necessarily impact the overall outcome of the tournament.

Playoff Finish

Bet on whether the tournament will require a deciding playoff. This prop bet adds excitement to the viewing experience, as you are not only anticipating the winner but also predicting the likelihood of a playoff scenario.

Winning Nationality

Predict the nationality of the tournament winner. This prop bet allows you to consider the performance of golfers from different countries and wager on which country will produce the champion.

Margin of Victory

Wager on the margin by which the winner will win, such as predicting whether they will win by one stroke, two strokes, or more. This adds another layer of speculation to your viewing experience, as you consider not just who will win but by how much.

Remember, success in golf wagering often comes from merging strategy with an understanding of course conditions, player form, betting trends, and other statistical insights. Stay informed about weather conditions and in-play betting opportunities to make more confident picks.

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First-round leader picks

Betting on the first-round leader is a great option if you don't want to wait for all four rounds to find out if your bet has won. This market is a simple bet on who will be leading after the first round. With more variance in a single round, you can often get better odds on top golfers than you would for them to win the whole tournament.

When it comes to first-round leader picks, it's worth considering golfers who have a history of performing well in the opening round. Jordan Spieth has been the first-round leader three times, Bryson DeChambeau twice, and Brooks Koepka twice. Jon Rahm was the first-round leader in 2019 with a score of 7-under 65.

For the 2025 Masters, Matt MacKay expected Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele to dominate in the opening round. Rory McIlroy is also a strong contender, having already picked up one major this year.

Other picks for the 2025 Masters include Viktor Hovland, who shot a 7-under in a previous Masters tournament, and Zalatoris, who has finished inside the top 10 in three career Masters starts.

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Course history

When considering course history, it is worth noting that it used to be that most players who won the Masters had played in the tournament six times before their victory. However, this has now changed to three or four visits on average. Nevertheless, it is clear that experience at Augusta National is important.

When looking at course history, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and Justin Rose are players who have repeatedly performed well at Augusta National. McIlroy, in particular, has a complicated history at Augusta. While he is one of the most complete players in the field, mentally ready, and statistically elite, he has struggled at the Masters in the past. McIlroy has often started the tournament far enough back that he doesn't win, despite playing a great final round.

When considering course history, it is important to look at a golfer's career performance at Augusta National in combination with their more recent play. For example, it is worth looking at the 2021 Masters and other major events closest to 2021 to get an idea of how golfers are performing at similar courses.

In addition to course history, current form and key stats are also essential areas to research when betting on the Masters. Some of the most important skill sets around Augusta National include Par 4 Scoring and Scrambling, Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, Strokes Gained: Approach, Par 5 Scoring, Hole Proximity from 200+ yards, and 3-Putt Avoidance. Greens in Regulation % is also important, as nine of the past 10 Masters winners have ranked inside the top seven of GIR% at the tournament. Finally, average driving distance is key, with the two most recent Masters champions (Dustin Johnson and Scottie Scheffler) coming in over 310 yards.

Frequently asked questions

When betting on the Masters, it's important to consider course fit, current form, and course history. Course fit refers to how a golfer's skillset aligns with the course layout, while current form looks at recent results, momentum, and confidence. Course history considers how well a golfer has performed at a particular course in the past. Other factors to consider include player form, seasonal results, and the number of bets and percentage of the betting handle coming in on certain golfers.

There are numerous types of bets you can place on the Masters. One common type is betting on the outright winner. You can also bet on a player to finish in the Top 5, 10, or 20. Another popular bet is on whether players will make the Masters cut line or head-to-head matchups. Golfer props are bets on specific outcomes focused on a single player, such as betting on the player with the lowest round of the tournament or if a player will get a hole-in-one.

Reading Masters betting odds is similar to reading odds from any other golf tournament, but with more options available. Odds are typically presented as either a (+) or (-) followed by a number. For example, if Scottie Scheffler has odds of +430 to win the tournament, a $10 bet on Scheffler to win would return $43.

Popular betting picks for the Masters often include golfers with a strong track record at the Augusta course, such as Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and Justin Rose. Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Si Woo Kim, Hideki Matsuyama, and Shane Lowry are also considered strong contenders due to their long-hitting abilities.

You can place bets on the Masters through various online sportsbooks and betting platforms such as DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, and CoolBet. These platforms provide betting odds, expert insights, and power rankings to help inform your decisions.

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