Golf Betting Markets and Rules Explained - Common Golf Odds Examples

Golf betting offers a thrilling experience for sports enthusiasts, with various markets and odds available throughout the season. This guide aims to clarify typical golf betting odds offered by renowned bookmakers, enhancing your understanding of online golf betting.​

Types of Golf Bets

Golf betting encompasses a range of markets, from standard "To Win" and "Each Way" bets to specialized options. Common golf betting markets include:​

Win Outright / Each Way

In this market, bettors select the player they believe will win the tournament. Similar to horse racing, ante-post odds are available up to a year before major tournaments. For events like the Ryder Cup, ante-post betting can be available up to two years in advance.​

Golf odds are often higher compared to other sports due to the large number of participants. For instance, odds for the upcoming Masters Championship might be:

Because the odds are high and there are so many players, different bookmakers will offer different odds for the same players. You may see a player listed at 41.00 with one online bookmaker but is listed at 67.00 with another. It is a good idea to check different bookmakers for their odds offered on the same players.

Place Only Bets

Some online bookmakers offer "Place Only" bets, allowing you to wager on a player finishing within the top positions, typically the first five. Unlike Each Way bets, which consist of two separate bets (one for winning and one for placing), a Place Only bet is a single wager. Place odds are usually a fraction (commonly 1/5) of the To Win odds.​

Golf dead heat rules

A "Dead Heat" means that two horses or players both finish in the same place.

For example, if two players finish -9 under par and have the best scores (the field has -8 or less), then they would both finish in first place. Golf has a "Tie-breaker" or "a play-off" in this situation, so "Dead Heat Rules" are not important.

But after the first place has been decided, you may find four players with the same score in third place, e.g., 3 players all finish on -8 under par. It is when "Dead Heat Rules" are used by the bookmakers.

Dead heat rules mean that your initial Each Way stake will be divided by the number of players that are in the dead heat places and then paid out at the odds given when you placed your bet. In a Dead Heat scenario, the original stake on your chosen player is divided by the number of golfers that finish in the dead heat (same place - joint 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th). So a $100 bet on a player that finished 3rd with two other players (all three finish on -8 under par) will have their stake divided by 3:

$100 / 3 = $33.33

$33.33 is now the "new" stake that will be calculated with the original odds at each way or to finish in the top 5.

If you bet $100 on a player with odds offered at 50/1 each way (5 places pays 1/5) or 10/1 to finish in the top 5 the bet would look like this:

$100 / 3 (3 players tied for 3rd place) = $33.33

[The $66.67 of your original stake is lost - It is because of the "dead heat" rules.]

$33.33 x 10 = $333.33 win

Plus, your original stake of $100 is returned, so the total return is $433.33.

To make / miss the cut

Many online bookmakers offer the chance to bet on players they think will "make" the cut or "miss" the cut. The "Cut" is when a large number of players are removed or eliminated or "cut" from the event after the second round or second day. For example, at The USPGA Open, the 156 golfers who start the tournament on Day 1 will be reduced to around 70 golfers at the end of Day 2. The golfers with low 70 scores (plus ties) make the "cut" and will continue over Saturday and Sunday and play the final two rounds. The golfers outside the Top 70 (plus ties) miss the "cut" and go home early.

Player Group Betting

Group betting involves selecting the winner from a specific group of players, usually predetermined by the bookmaker. These groups might be based on nationality (e.g., top American, top European), world rankings, or tee-time pairings.

In group betting, your chosen player only needs to outperform the others in the group, not win the entire tournament — making it a popular market for those looking to reduce risk while still leveraging player insights.

Head-to-Heads Betting

There are three head-to-head markets. One is "Ante-post," where the bookmakers will "pair" players together as if they are playing against each other. The player who finishes higher up the leaderboard or with the lower score at the end of the tournament is the winner. Bettors can bet Head-to-head markets for single 18-hole rounds or for full 72-hole (4-round) tournaments.

The second head-to-head is at the start of the tournament before the first round. The players are grouped into threes in the first two rounds of a golf tournament. The online bookmakers often offer odds on the three players who will play their rounds together. This head-to-head betting is called "3-ball" betting. You choose which player in the group of three will have the best round.

The third head-to-head market is decided the day before the 3rd and 4th rounds when two players are matched to play with each other around the course. You choose who will have the best round on that day.

Live Betting on Golf

Live golf betting has gained popularity thanks to its real-time excitement. Odds change hole-by-hole, and markets include things like:

Live betting requires quick decision-making, but it also offers a chance to capitalize on momentum shifts or emerging weather conditions.

Special Bets

Special bets offered on individual players may include:

For the majors, ante post specials may include:

Golf Betting Tips

While golf betting can be lucrative, it’s essential to consider the following:

Conclusion

Golf offers one of the most diverse betting landscapes in sports. From outright winners to niche player performance props, the possibilities are nearly endless.

With proper research and a strategic mindset, bettors can enjoy both the excitement of the game and the potential for strong returns. Whether you're wagering on the Masters, the Open Championship, or weekly PGA Tour events, understanding the markets is your first step to smarter bets.