Golf Bets: Where and How to Place Them?
Golf is rightfully a sport of elites and at the same time one of the most exquisite types of competition. Tournaments are conducted on scenic greens in a very warm and pleasant atmosphere. For those, who prefer betting, looking for Masters betting lines is one of the most popular ways to make huge golf tournaments even more interesting.
Apart from its aesthetic appeal, golf is also very profitable for betting in sportsbooks. In this article, we’ll look at the key features of this sport for betting, explore the most popular types of wagers, and highlight what bettors should be cautious about.
Features of Golf
Golf games are played outdoors on grassy courses that have trees, different landscapes, and miniature ponds. The goal of the player is to place the ball inside the hole in as few strokes as possible. A golf course has 18 holes or sectors. After one's ball has been sunk, the player proceeds to the next one. There are 18 altogether. The winner is the individual who completes the course in the fewest number of strokes.
The most prestigious golf tournaments are the Majors, four of which are major tournaments such as the U.S. Open. Golf also appears at the Olympic Games. Men's events are more predictable. Everyone has heard of American golfer Tiger Woods, who has won major tournaments again and again.
Women's events are far less predictable. Nevertheless, bookmakers give higher odds on women's events most of the time, so these events are attractive to some bettors.
Types of Golf Bets
Bookmakers usually offer the following golf bets:
- On tournament winner
- Head-to-head (who plays better)
- Total strokes
- Finishing position
- Best finisher by result
In some leading bookmakers, more than 30 markets on which to bet on golf are available. Months ahead of major events, winner and finishing-place lines are published. Players are able to place bets not only on the winner but on whether or not a player makes the Top 3, Top 5, or Top 10.
One of the most popular bets is the "Who's Higher" bet. In this bet, the player wagers on a duo of players and decides who will be higher in the tournament or match-up.
Some sportsbooks also offer a best USA golfer in a major tour bet. Since golf is a sport played most prominently in the USA, bets on these are very popular.
There are also real-time golf wagers placed during the event. For fixed outcomes, there must be awareness of tournament information and a conclusion regarding form of players. Some players perform in the USA, but others perform excellently under different conditions.
Aspects of Betting in Golf
There is one chief feature of golf betting: the majority of sportsbooks impose fairly modest margins on the four Majors. A golf 4% bookmaker margin is fair.
In less major tournaments, the margins are normally greater than 5–6%. The events also include more value bets, since bookmakers have a higher tendency to make blunders in odds. To compensate for this, they increase the margin.
Because women's tournaments are not so regular, gamblers predominantly place singles (i.e., individual bets on likely winners). It is profitable to place 6–7 singles with a minimum of 10 odds on each. Even if one of them is a winner, the gambler gets a decent profit. The size for every stake should be the same and no higher than 1% of the bankroll.
Weather is highly significant in golf. Breezy winds impact accuracy in a negative manner, typically making it hard for favorites and underdogs to separate themselves. In such weather, it is best to wager on lower-ranked golfers with high stakes in live betting.
Experienced players perform better when windy than inexperienced players. Under these conditions, experience and the potential to customize shots based on conditions gain the edge.
The type of course is also an important factor to consider. There are golfers who perform well on flat courses, while others prefer hills. The location where the tournament is conducted in the USA can also be a huge contributing factor. Play by the same golfer can vary greatly in various tournaments. That is why records of golfers' past performances should be very accurate when attempting to make the right prediction.
What to Consider in Golf Betting?
Golfers tend to have "uncomfortable" tournaments and opponents. In certain head-to-head competitions, one golfer performs far better than the other, no matter the form.
Weather plays a role. For instance, certain American golfers perform much better in wet or windy conditions than others, and this significantly influences outcomes.
Leading golfers tend to underachieve in less high-profile tournaments, perhaps revealing just 50% of their potential. Betting on an inspired lower-ranked player might then be the better option.
Which Golf Betting Systems Work Best?
Of financial systems, the below have worked for golf betting:
- Oscar Grind system
- D'Alembert method
- Fibonacci sequence
Flat betting or the "2 out of 6" system is recommended where a punter is extremely knowledgeable regarding players' form and motivation. Superior players may use the Martingale system from time to time, although an enormous bankroll and caution to the extreme are required.
For bests, flat betting is the way to go. The size of the stake cannot be greater than 4% of the bankroll for odds as much as 2.0, and not more than 2% for odds of around 5.0.