Golf Betting: A Look at Various Types of Golf Bets

The recent rise in the popularity of sports betting in the United States has certainly shined a light on all sports, including golf. Having stated that, a large majority of sports bettors are not at all familiar with golf betting, much less how to go about being profitable when betting on the sport of golf. I wrote an earlier article on the basics of golf betting, including an introduction to the basics of how to place a bet on a golfer to win a PGA Tour event. (The article just noted can be found on the How to Bet section on this platform). This article will be a continuation of my previous content that will go into far more detail on the multiple types of golf bets that are available to sports bettors in this country, such as prop, head-to-head, and golf futures bets amongst others. Additionally, I will touch on golf betting strategies and tips that have helped me be a profitable golf bettor through the years.

Let’s identify the various types of golf bets that you can place on golf (excluding placing a win wager on a golfer which I have covered in my previous content). 

Prop Bets

What are prop bets in golf? Prop bets are wagers that can be placed on any given PGA Tour golf tournament. Let’s just say that golf offers a wide variety of prop bets. Let’s dive into multiple examples of prop bets that are currently available in the golf betting space. 

Finishing Position

Finishing position prop bets are individual wagers placed on a specific golfer to finish inside the top five, ten, 20, 30, or top 40 of a four-day golf tournament. Why are these types of bets popular in the golf betting space? Think about it. If you are a golf bettor that foresees a golfer performing well at a specific golf tournament, but you don’t feel that golfer can win the event than the finishing position betting option provides the knowledgeable golf bettor a nice alternative to a win bet. Why? Well, if you like a golfer to finish in the top ten of a golf tournament, but you don’t think that golfer can win the event, finishing position betting is a great way to place money on a golfer without the expectation of that golfer winning the tournament.

Another reason you may choose a top five wager over a win wager is the odds. Let’s look at a hypothetical scenario to provide a better understanding of my point regarding the odds. If Rory McIlroy has odds of +400 to win a PGA Tour event, but Rory’s top five wager has odds of +300 than, in my opinion, the top five wager would be the better option for the golf bettor. Why? The value in the number is in the top five wager when you consider the risk/reward associated with both bets, not the win wager on Rory McIlroy in this hypothetical scenario. At the end of the day, numbers don’t lie. Always follow the value that the sportsbooks are offering you.  

Top Nationality

In each golf tournament played on the PGA Tour anywhere from 132-156 golfers maybe in a golf tournament field. The golfers on the PGA Tour are from all parts of the world. That diversity in a tournament field allows sportsbooks to offer top nationality prop betting. An example could be the following: three golfers in a tournament field from England. The sportsbook would set odds on those three British golfers. A golf bettor could than bet on one of those three English golfers. Why is this a nice option? Well, the golfer you wager on in this scenario only needs to beat two players rather than up to 155 golfers in an event field. That is a nice way of mitigating risk and looking out for your bankroll in the long term. Remember, we want to be profitable golf bettors.   

Hole-in-One

Sportsbooks offer a wager on if a golfer will make a hole in one at a golf tournament over a four-day competitive golf event on the PGA Tour. The golf bettor will have the option to either bet yes or no on if a hole in one will occur at a PGA Tour event. This bet is definitely fun as you will be monitoring the event for four days to see if any of the golfers in a tournament field can get an ace on a par three. As a guy that has bet on the sport of golf for over three decades, I have to admit that I certainly enjoy the sweat involved with this wager.  

Top Senior Golfer

What does the term senior golfer mean? Once a golfer reaches the age of 50 years of age, that golfer is considered a senior golfer for the duration of his career. At an event like the Masters Tournament, multiple former Masters champions participate as, “past champions”. These golfers are able to compete with the young guys for one of the few times in a calendar year. Let’s say you have eight golfers at the Masters Tournament over the age of 50, which one do you bet on? Well, look at how those golfers played at Augusta National Golf Club over the course of the player’s career. Augusta National has been the host golf course for the Masters Tournament for decades.

Bernhard Langer is a past Masters champion that I like to wager on in the senior prop market at Augusta National Golf Club. Why? The man has an outstanding career record at the Masters. Langer almost won the tournament when he was way past his prime. 

Make Cut/Miss Cut

Each week, the PGA Tour begins an event with a field of anywhere from 132-156 golfers in the tournament field. Upon the completion of the second round of tournament play, a cut occurs. The top 65 golfers in the event field will make the cut and move on to play in the third round. The remaining players will miss the cut. Sportsbooks offer wagers on both making the cut and missing the cut. This is a great option when you come across a golfer that is highly consistent with his play on the PGA Tour, but rarely finishes in the top 20. However, the golfer just noted has made ten cuts in a row. Just bet on this golfer to make the cut. It’s a wise choice in this example. 

Top Left-Handed Golfer

For those readers that are not aware, the vast majority of golfers on the PGA Tour are right-handed golfers. Having stated that, there have been quite a few left-handed players that have played at a high level on the PGA Tour, including multiple major championship winners Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson. Sportsbooks seized the opportunity to provide a prop bet when it came to left-handed golfers. I personally have utilized this particular prop bet over the years, often betting on Bubba Watson at the Masters.

How can you find an edge with a left-handed golfer? Certain golf courses on the PGA Tour favor the ball flight from a left-handed golfer. The sharp golf bettor will be able to identify which golf courses on the PGA Tour may benefit a left-handed player. That bettor could than look at this prop and potentially win some cash.     

Top Amateur

The PGA Tour will often provide multiple spots for amateurs in tournament fields as the Tour recognizes the need to provide the next generation of golfers a chance to prosper on a big stage. By doing so, the PGA Tour just presents another outstanding prop betting opportunity for the sports bettor. How do I know who the amateurs are in a PGA Tour tournament field? The sportsbooks will identify the amateur golfers for you in the prop wager. 

Now that I have identified the top amateur golfers in the field how do I research how these golfers are playing as they arrive at a golf tournament?  After all, due to the fact that these golfers are not professionals that compete on the PGA Tour on a weekly basis you won’t have data to review on the PGA Tour website. Let me provide an example of an amateur golfer currently making headlines for his outstanding play in a PGA Tour event and how I was able to review his play.

Luke Clanton is a young golfer that recently posted a second-place finish at a PGA Tour event. Clanton plays college golf at Florida State University. The best way to research how Luke Clanton is playing is by reviewing Clanton’s recent competitive golf results and other related statistical data in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Florida State is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. 

Head-to-Head

Head-to-Head betting is rather simple. You have two golfers going to battle against each other in a PGA Tour event. An example of a head-to-head matchup is the following: Rory McIlroy-120 vs. Tiger Woods -120. The golf bettor would than need to choose which golfer will win. This bet could be for the duration of an entire four-day PGA Tour tournament or for only one competitive round in a PGA Tour event. 

What is a good way to research which golfer to bet on in a head-to-head wager? Let’s dive into that. If the wager is for only let’s say the first round than I would review how each golfer has played in opening rounds over the course of the last year. There is no doubt that some golfers play far superior golf to others in opening rounds on the PGA Tour, I assure you. The sharp golfer will identify which golfers have the skills to get it done. It has to be said, the head-to-head wager has been very profitable to me over the years. Anytime you can cut down on your risk factors when wagering you are definitely moving in the correct direction.   

Live Betting

Our previous discussions regarding golf betting have been specifically regarding only pre-tournament bets. I note this fact as live betting is a far different animal. What are live golf bets? When the first round begins on Thursday morning at a PGA Tour sanctioned golf tournament the event is considered live from the sportsbook’s point of view. How are live bets potentially sharper wagers than pre-tournament wagers? Observing an athlete compete live is always going to be better than pre-tournament conjecture, know that. I have been betting on sports for three decades. Trust me on this one. Never underestimate the eye test when it comes to a live event. Just like in sports such as football, baseball, hockey, etc. observing the live event as it is happening provides a much clearer view of a potential outcome of any sporting event. Golf is no different in that regard.

Golf Futures Betting

Golf futures betting is basically what you would think it would be. You are wagering on an event that is taking place weeks, months, or sometimes years from when you place the golf wager. Let’s take a look at a few examples of golf futures bets to provide appropriate clarity: You could bet on Scottie Scheffler to win the 2026 Masters Tournament at +800: You could bet on Tiger Woods to win the 2025 Grand Slam at +20000. For those readers that are unaware the grand slam is winning all four major championships in the same year. Those two examples really tell the story on this golf wager. It’s just trying to read the tea leaves on golf tournaments, etc. that are occurring in the future. Pretty straightforward.

In conclusion, if you are interested in golf betting make sure to take the appropriate time to evaluate all the different potential betting angles that are in the golf betting arena. Golf betting is far different than the other major sports in the sports betting landscape. If you allow yourself the time needed to learn and navigate the golf betting space, over time, I have no doubt that you can be a profitable golf bettor. Good luck!