Golf has always been a popular game with scores of fans around the world but the rise of golf betting has taken interest in the sport to a new level. PGA Tour, lower-level tour and international golf events run nearly every weekend of the year now and that brings plenty of golf betting opportunities along with them.
If you’re a passive golf fan, you can bet on a tournament winner from time to time and call it a day. If you’re a more passionate golfer (and fan) you can consider a wide range of PGA golf bets every week from the top 10 finishers to the score of your favorite golfer vs. another golfer, to live “next shot” bets and more.
You can also get out the crystal ball for the four Majors and pick your winners well in advance (at very good prices) thanks to a vast futures odds market for the Masters, PGA Championship, US Open and Open Championship.
Golf betting from Oddschecker. Get the best golf odds pre-tournament and in-play, with expert tips and stats, plus claim bookie offers and free bets. Find 08 March, 2021 golf futures betting odds. Compare spreads & lines from the best sportsbooks for each tournament this year. Expert Picks: WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession. How it works: Each week, our experts from PGATOUR.COM will make their selections in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf.
With major technological advances in golf coverage and the volume of golf events increasing exponentially, live golf betting has also taken off. Golf bettors have taken notice with hundreds of thousands more spent on golf bets each year compared to the last.
In years past, betting on golf required a trip to LasVegas or taking your chances with an offshore sportsbook. That’s no longer the case. In May 2018, the US Supreme Court weighed in on a case involving the legality of sports betting.
In a nutshell, the justices decided that it was a matter for the individual states to decide. Several states have picked up the ball and ran with it, and they now have a thriving sports betting industry as a result.
Golf bettors in legalized states will find that they have plenty of legal sportsbook options. Even better, they can bet on the PGA and smaller tours when and where they would like via sports betting apps or legal and regulated online sportsbooks. Here is a partial list of where you can bet on golf legally online in the US:
The most significant events on the PGA golf calendar naturally attract the most interest. On the PGA Tour, these four tournaments are, of course, the Majors. These events have a select line-up of the most prominent names to the field plus who has played well lately or placed well in past events.
Majors draw the most attention when it comes to golf betting and, thanks to golf futuresodds, you can weigh in on the winner of the events before they even take place.
For example say the Masters, one of the four Majors, is still a few months away. Let’s say you like the way one golfer has been playing thus far but he hasn’t captured a lot of attention. As a result, he might have some long odds to win the Masters. You can place a bet on him to win at these long odds and cash-in a nice payday if he wins.
It’s similar to how NFL bettors will place bets on the winner of the Super Bowl for the coming year. That’s another very active futures market and one which provides a chance at an excellent return if your hunches prove correct.
Check the live odds below for the latest odds on the next PGA tournament. Click on any odds to go directly to the sportsbook and start the process of making your bet.
As mentioned, golf’s four Majors attract the most betting and viewing interest. These events are rich in history, stacked with the world’s best golfers and played on the most breathtaking golfcourses on the planet. What are these signature events and when do they take place? How can you bet on all aspects of them? Let’s take a look.
Still the most popular of all golf’s events, the Masters is a massive highlight for sports bettors. It is typically the first Major on the calendar.
The 2021 Masters will return back to its usual spot in the Spring after last year’s tournament being postponed to November, and new champion Dustin Johnson is expected back to defend his green jacket.
In 2020 Johnson blitzed his way to his first green jacket with a record -20 under par performance. In 2019, Tiger Woods completed a comeback for the ages in winning the Masters, the fifth time he has won this prestigious event in his legendary career. He’s second on the all-time list for Masters’ wins, behind only Jack Nicklaus and his six victories.
In 2020 the PGA was the first Major on the PGA rescheduled due to the Coronavirus lockdown earlier in the year. 23-year-old Collin Morikawa dazzled with a final round 64 and a tee shot on 16 at TPC Harding Park that will be remembered for decades.
Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey tied for second while Tiger Woods tied for 37th. Here is the current schedule for the 2021 PGA Championship.
If you want to make a futures bet on the 2021 PGA Championship, check our full page for updated odds.
While the Masters is held in high esteem, the PGA’s US Open can also stake its claim as the biggest event of the year for golfers.
The 2020 US Open fit that billing to a tee with a difficult course (Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, NY) navigated under par by only the best. In this case it was Bryson DeChambeau, who was the only player to finish under par at -6 despite, confoundingly, not hitting many fairways—usually considered essential at a US Open.
DeChambeau’s dazzling display earned him $2,250,000. If all goes according to plan, the 2021 US Open will return to its typical dates in mid-June.
If you want to bet on a player to win the 2021 US Open, odds on key players will be posted at DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook & BetMGM Sportsbook at the beginning of the 2021 PGA season.
Held across the pond in the UK, the Open Championship has a history that can match up with any of the other majors. Sadly, due to Covid-19, the Open Championship was postponed for 2020, but returns in 2021.
If the US Open is the toughest to win, then the event that’s also known as the British Open isn’t far behind. Ireland native Lowry celebrated the biggest win of his career in his home country, as last year’s edition in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Harry Vardon holds the record with six victories at this event, the last of which came in 1914.
If you’re comfortable betting on football or basketball, betting on golf can take some adjustment. At first glance, the different kinds of bets can seem like foreign concepts. The best place to start is with the golf betting basics and work your way up. A clear understanding of the main concepts and types of golf bets will help position you to make smarter bets as you go.
In golf, you bet on the performance of an individual, unlike the major team sports. Like team sports, though, you’ll still be doing research on past performance and current trends before making your bets.
Let’s take a look at the basic types of golf bets you can place:
While there are distinct differences between betting on teams and individual sports, there is also some crossover. In fact, you’ll find that solid research skills translate well as you expand your horizons into different areas of sports betting.
If you have a knack for breaking down contests or events in another niche, there’s a chance you’ll catch on quickly as you look to branch out into new areas.
One of the most significant developments in the sports betting world over the past few years has been live betting. Also known as “in play” betting, these are bets you can place as the action unfolds in real-time.
As a golf tournament plays out, you can react to what’s going on by placing some live bets. This market moves fast, so odds and opportunities will vary. Options include a head-to-head matchup of two golfers, or how many strokes it may take a golfer to complete an upcoming hole.
You can enjoy live betting online or via the mobile app of your choice. Since golf tournaments typically begin on a Thursday and go through Sunday, there could be a lot of unforeseen developments along the way.
In-play betting via a mobile app allows you to bet as the event happens, no matter where you are in one of the legalized states.
Prop betting is another way to get some skin in the game. It is different from worrying about which golfer is going to win or place. In short, prop bets are side wagers on events that may or may not happen during a tournament.
Offerings will vary by sportsbook and event, but you’ll find many similarities with the more experience you get. For example, you may see prop bets on the following:
Prop bets can open up a new world of possibilities outside of your standard win and place bets. Be sure to check out the menu of offerings for upcoming tournaments at your sportsbook of choice.
While the majors get the most attention, that’s not all there is to see when it comes to betting on golf. The tour calendar is full of events that run from September through August.
The action intensifies in the spring and summer months with numerous events that are smaller than the Majors but attract plenty of interest.
For each of these events — and all of the others on the PGA Tour — you’ll find a full range of betting markets. You should note that most golf betting action will come on PGA Tour events. You may find action on lower-level tours such as the Senior and European circuits as well.
The LPGA, or Ladies Professional Golf Association, runs a full calendar of events as well. While prize pools are slightly smaller than on the men’s side of the equation, the competition is just as fierce.
You should note that LPGA events don’t attract as much betting interest as the PGA Tour does so you may have limited options. However, you can find some good value opportunities in a sport that doesn’t receive as much attention from oddsmakers.
For another wrinkle in golf betting, select match-play events occur throughout the year. In these events, you’ll find head-to-head opportunities, so a change-up in your approach is necessary.
In stroke-play events, the general goal is to find the winners and those who will play well. For match play, it’s all about the matchups. Which golfer in a pair will outperform the other?
Quite simply, it’s like betting on the winner of an NBA game. You’ll have a favorite and underdog for each matchup, and moneyline odds to go along with that.
The Ryder Cup is perhaps the most popular match-play event in the world. Teams from Europe and the US go head-to-head every two years, with the venue changing each time.
The daily fantasy sports(DFS) industry has come a long way since the early days. The various innovations contribute to its explosive growth.
Included on that list is DFS golf, a game that continues to grow in popularity. The two largest operators, DraftKings and FanDuel, offer games for the weekly PGA tournaments. Here’s how they compare to each other:
As with sports betting, the major events attract the most interest; however, there’s a loyal and devoted player base anytime there’s an event.
Thegoal is to build the highest-scoring lineup from a pool of golfers scheduled to compete, all while staying under the salary cap. Traditionally, the games will span the entire four days but you can also find DFS for single rounds and weekends.
You can find various game types such as tournaments and 50/50s, at different price points with the chance to win real money prizes. For the biggest events, such as the Masters and US Open, prize pools for the major tournaments can be massive.
As an example, DraftKings often runs a $2.5m guaranteed DFS special for The Players with a $1m prize for first. Visit DraftKings DFS to claim your $20 free and play golf DFS in over 40 states
As with all other kinds of sports betting, the odds are a significant factor when it comes to golf. There are favorites and longshots to win each tournament. Your job is to find the winners and potential value plays that may win or place. For the 2020 SentryChampionship, for example, these were the starting odds for the fivefavorites:
Oddsmakers deemed Johnson and Thomas as the most likely to take down the Sentry. They have shorter odds than the field as a result. You’ll find odds listed for all of the players in the field each week, ranging from low to high.
For example, odds for golfers at the Sentry start at a low +600 to an eye-popping +50,000. You’ll find a similar listing of odds when you dig into a future event.
It’s a similar story when you’re looking at other kinds of golf bets, such as top 10 or top 20 finishers in a tournament. For head to heads, groups and various prop bets, it’s a little different. Let’s take a look at the odds for a head-to-head matchup at the Sentry using a⅔ balls format as an example:
As you can see, Johnson is a pretty big favorite here. To break down this head-to-head matchup, you’d want to approach it like how you would bet on a game:
As you gain experience with golf betting, you’ll come to find that the odds aren’t that hard to understand. Also, you’ll get to the point in which you’ll see those potential value opportunities, for example, such as a point spread that seems off in an NFL game.
For more on other “niche” sports you can bet on at US online sportsbooks, check our page here:
The traditional PGA Tour event stretches over four days, from Thursday to Sunday. It can be challenging to be in front of the TV for that long; however, you have options if you are on the go.
You can find live streams of PGA events online and via mobile. Some of them will come right from the sportsbooks themselves. The advent of live betting and sports wagering, in general, has been a catalyst on this front. We can assume that there will be a lot more to come here.
For your safety, stick to the legal and regulated US sites we recommend. If they offer a stream for an event you’re interested in, you’re good to go. If not, check out PGA.com for information on how and where you can legally and safely stream tour events.
There are hundreds of golf terms, some even the professional sometimes forget. Here are just a few of the basic terms you might hear. There are many sites online offering the full index.
As the PGA Tour stops at TPC Sawgrass in Florida for this week’s Players Championship, we’re betting there’s going to be a back-to-back winner.
And there are two players in this star-studded field with the chance to go back-to-back.
Confused? Well, we’ll clear it up for you.
The first back-to-back winner we are looking at is Rory McIlroy at +1600 at DraftKings. Last year’s Players Championship was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic so the defending champion is McIlroy who won the event in 2019.
But then there’s our second back-to-back winner possibility, Bryson DeChambeau at +1500. DeChambeau won last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and is hitting his stride and a second straight victory is certainly not out of the question.
DraftKings | Odds To Win |
---|---|
Dustin Johnson | +1200 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +1500 |
Rory McIlroy | +1600 |
Jon Rahm | +1600 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Justin Thomas | +2000 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2200 |
Collin Morikawa | +2200 |
Tony Finau | +2200 |
Webb Simpson | +2200 |
Many players will tell anyone and everyone that if they can’t win a major, this event is the next one they want to put on their resume. It’s that prestigious.
Plus the payouts don’t hurt either. The winner will pocket $2.7 million of the $15 million purse.
With that in mind, we’re leaning to McIlroy who knows a thing or two about winning big events as he’s won four majors in his PGA Tour career.
We’re leaning heavily on McIlroy to repeat this week for one simple fact: He’s on his game.
Since 2011 only 12 golfers have successfully defended their titles. One guy, Brooks Koepka, has done it twice.
This week we figure McIlroy has the drive and the momentum to join that elite group.
McIlroy tuned up for this event with a T-10 at last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. But his game has been strong for most of 2021. He’s recorded six top 20s in his last seven events. His one non-top-20 was a missed cut at The Genesis Invitational. And, believe it or not, we’re looking at that MC as a positive.
But there’s an even better sign that McIlroy is laser-focused because of what’s coming up in the next couple of weeks.
Cue the ‘Jaws’ theme: It’s just about time for the Masters.
See, McIlroy is still haunted by the one that got away…the one he couldn’t land back in 2011 when he had a four-shot lead heading into Sunday at Augusta National.
We know…what does this have to do with the Tournament Players Championship?
Well, in a word, everything. See McIlroy was headed to unprecedented heights back in 2011 with, gasp, talk of Tiger Woods-like expectations.
But then came that fateful Sunday that stalled out his skyrocketing career as he carded an 80 and finished T-15. It didn’t derail the Irishman but it sure put a dent in the armor. He’s been battling back shot by shot, tournament by tournament, and win by win.
We’re thinking he is back focused on his game and winning this week is that next step.
TPC Sawgrass, the headliner in the TPC family of 32 courses, is highlighted by one of Pete Dye’s best innovations–the par-3 17th hole and the island green. Well, if you want to get technical it was Pete’s wife, Alice, who actually came up with the idea of the island green but that’s a different story.
But, yes, that island green will again take center stage.
Plenty of tournaments have been won right here. Just ask Rickie Fowler. This is the site of the nine-time Tour winner’s most historic victory as he claimed the 2015 title.
He did it in style, winning in a playoff. And he did it with a birdie on that tough-as-nails 17th. In fact, he birdied that hole five of the six times he played it that week…including both times in the playoff.
DeChambeau is on quite the roll in this wraparound season. He won his first major, the 2020 U.S. Open. He also won last week so he’s used to dealing with stacked fields.
And this one is filled to the brim.
And for our third betting pick we’re going to look down the odds board at Jason Day at +5000. He won here in 2016 and was T-7 in 2019 and T-5 in 2018 so he knows his way around TPC Sawgrass.