Sink Your Bets: Strategies and Tips for Betting on Golf

Golf originated in Scotland in the 14th century. According to legend, shepherds were the inventors of the game.

In the 21st century, golf has become a prestigious sport. The top players in the world rankings are among the wealthiest athletes. In 2023, American golfer Phil Mickelson ranked tenth on the list of the wealthiest athletes in history, earning $1.36 billion.

Most bookmakers accept golf bets. Major tournaments attract the attention of fans and enthusiasts who enjoy placing sports bets.

Before placing bets on golf competitions, users need to familiarise themselves with the specifics and rules of the sport. The game aims to hit the ball into the hole with the fewest strokes.

During a standard competitive day, a golfer tackles 18 holes. The player who completes the course with the fewest strokes will win.

Betting on golf can be challenging. There are many contenders for victory, and surprises often occur in second and third-tier tournaments.

Most bookmakers offer customers the option to bet only on the competition's winner. It can be challenging for bookmakers' clients to bet on their favourites. Choosing the champion requires analysing the chances of 30-50 participants; some tournaments can have up to 200 golfers. The potential profit only sometimes justifies the time invested.

It is easier to bet on a golfer who will not win. The chances of winning the bet are higher, but the odds are lower.

For important tournaments, bets are accepted on markets such as:

• Stage Winner: Betting on the golfer to win a specific tournament stage. Often, newcomers or average-level golfers win at the early stages, while favourites peak towards the end of the tournament.
• Placing in the Top: Betting on a golfer to finish within a certain position, such as top 3, top 5, or top 10. If the user is unsure about the favourite winning, there is a higher chance of a top placing among the top five contenders.
• Head-to-Head Comparison: Comparing a pair of golfers the bookmaker offers and betting on which one will finish higher in the final leaderboard or at a specific stage.
• Best among Compatriots: Betting on the best golfer from a particular country, such as Ireland, the USA, or Sweden.

Bookmakers offer high odds and comprehensive betting options for major golf tournaments. These competitions typically span four days, with participants playing 72 holes.

Professional tours are organised in most regions, including Canadian, Australasian, and Japanese tours. The American and European tours are top-rated.

Amateur sports enthusiasts bet on the American PGA Tour from January to November. Similar to the Grand Slam in tennis, golf has four major tournaments:

• The US Masters in April
• The US Open in June
• The British Open (or The Open Championship) in July
• The US PGA Championship in August
• The European Tour occurs throughout the year, with competitions held in European countries, China, South Africa, and Australia.

Golf was included in the program of the Summer Olympic Games in 2009.

Strategies with a high success rate have been developed over time in golf. Users and bettors have tested betting approaches in the sport.

The Ditching Strategy in Golf Betting

Dutching is a classic strategy for betting on outsiders.

The user bets on the victory of the top 6 leading contenders among a selection of 44-6 main contenders. Placing bets on all the offered athletes in the line is pointless since the bookmaker's margin would prevent a profitable outcome.

The user of the betting company determines the size of the bet for each selection using an online calculator. As a result, if any of the favourites win, the client will receive the same profit.

For example, in the Women's Golf Championship, the user places bets on 5 favourites and allocates 10,000 NGN.

If any of the 5 golfers wins, the user will make a profit of 13,400 NGN. Net profit: 13,400 - 10,000 = 3,400 NGN.

The advantage of this strategy is the high chances of making a profit, as the user will earn income if any of the golfers win. The drawback of "ditching" is that if there is an upset and an outsider wins, all bets will be lost.

Betting on Underdogs to Make it to the Top in the First Round

At major tournaments, favourites often have unsuccessful performances in the early stages. The underdog golfers often emerge as winners or make it into the top three. The reason is that the leaders need to showcase their full potential at the beginning of the competition.

The golfer preserves their energy for the final rounds, where the main battle occurs. According to this strategy, players analyse the potential of golfers with low chances of overall success and place bets on the golfer's podium finish in the first round.

In sports betting, success is often accompanied by careful preliminary analysis.

Factors that influence success in golf betting include:

• Player form and performance in the previous 5 tournaments: If a potential favourite has not been performing well and has not been close to the podium in recent tournaments, it indicates poor form.
• Course statistics: In significant tournaments, stages are often held on the same courses for several years. Analysing the performance of golfers on those courses in the previous 3-4 years can help determine the top contenders.
• Weather conditions: Golf tournaments are held outdoors, and weather conditions directly impact the results. Analysing how players perform in different weather conditions can provide insights into their potential success.
• Player experience: In golf, newcomers rarely win major tournaments. A beginner golfer may consistently win in lower-level competitions, but the experience becomes crucial in significant tours.

It is important to remember that golf championships often occur on traditionally windy courses, and golfers may need to help maintain concentration and focus due to regular wind gusts.

Suppose it is expected to be windy on a tournament day. In that case, it may be wise to bet on golfers from Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, or American states such as Florida or Texas, where similar weather conditions are prevalent.

When making predictions, bettors should analyse golf statistics. One important indicator is the GIR (Greens in Regulation) percentage, which represents the percentage of times a player reaches the green at least two shots before par. It demonstrates a player's ability to handle stress and maintain consistency.

The green is the area of grass surrounding the hole, while par refers to the expected number of shots to complete a hole based on its difficulty level.

This indicator showcases a golfer's skill. If a player has a high GIR percentage in previous tournaments, their chances of winning increase.

You can place bets on golf with many bookmakers. However, not all companies offer many championships, extensive betting markets, and competitive odds.

Bookmakers such as Bet365, 1xBet, Betway NG and Nairabet have developed comprehensive betting markets for European and American tours. These bookmakers may offer odds with a margin of 7-8% higher than the fair odds.

Bettors need to compare the offerings of different bookmakers to find the best value and odds for their golf bets. Additionally, considering factors such as the bookmaker's reputation, customer service, and platform ease of use is also advisable when choosing where to place golf bets.