Golf Betting Glossary | Terms to Know When Betting on Golf

Golf is an incredibly popular sport that attracts a huge number of fans and bettors. As with any other sport, betting on golf has its own unique terms and jargon. In order to fully enjoy and participate in golf betting, it’s important to understand the terminology associated with it. This comprehensive guide will provide you with an extensive golf betting glossary, ensuring that you’re equipped with the knowledge required to make informed bets and enjoy the exciting world of golf wagering.

Golf Betting Glossary

Here is an overview of the ten most common betting markets to familiarize yourself with when betting on golf.

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1. Outright Winner

Outright Winner refers to a bet placed on a golfer who is predicted to win the entire tournament. This type of bet is the most straightforward and common form of golf betting. The odds for outright winner bets are usually higher than other types of bets, as it can be difficult to accurately predict the winner of a golf tournament due to the large number of players and the unpredictability of the sport.

  • Example: In the 2021 Masters Tournament, Dustin Johnson was considered one of the favorites to win. The odds for him to win the tournament outright were set at +800, meaning a successful $100 bet on Johnson to win would have returned $800 in profit.

2. Each-Way Betting

Each-way betting is a popular form of golf betting that allows bettors to wager on a golfer to either win the tournament outright or finish within a specified number of places, usually the top 5 or 10. This type of bet essentially splits your stake into two separate bets: one for the outright win and one for the golfer to place. Each-way betting can provide a safety net for bettors, as they can still win part of their bet even if their chosen golfer doesn’t win the tournament outright.

  • Example: For the 2021 US Open, Rory McIlroy was given odds of +2000 to win the tournament. If a bettor placed a $100 each-way bet on McIlroy with a top 5 finish, the bet would be split into a $50 outright winner bet and a $50 top 5 finish bet. McIlroy ended up finishing tied for 7th, so the outright winner portion of the bet would have lost, but the top 5 finish bet would have won.

3. Handicap Betting

Handicap betting is a type of golf betting that levels the playing field between golfers with varying skill levels. This is done by assigning a handicap to each golfer, which is essentially a number that represents their expected performance. Bettors can then wager on the golfer they believe will perform the best after the handicap has been applied. Handicap betting is popular in golf due to the large number of players and the varying skill levels present in most tournaments.

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  • Example: In the 2021 Open Championship, a bettor could have placed a handicap bet on Jordan Spieth with a handicap of +3 strokes. If Spieth finished the tournament with a score of -10, his score with the handicap applied would be -7. If no other golfer had a better score than -7 after applying handicaps, the bet on Spieth would have won.

4. First Round Leader

First Round Leader is a type of golf bet that involves predicting which golfer will have the lowest score at the end of the first round of a tournament. These bets are typically more difficult to predict than outright winner bets, as they only focus on a single round of play. However, they can offer higher odds and potentially larger payouts, making them an attractive option for experienced bettors and those looking for a more exciting betting experience.

  • Example: In the 2020 PGA Championship, Jason Day and Brendon Todd were co-leaders after the first round, both shooting a score of -5. If a bettor had placed a bet on either Day or Todd to be the first-round leader, their bet would have won.

5. Top Nationality

Top Nationality bets involve wagering on the highest-placed golfer from a specific country within a tournament. These bets can add an additional layer of interest for bettors, as they allow you to support and bet on your favorite national golfers. Top Nationality bets can also be a good option for bettors who may not have extensive knowledge of individual golfers, as they only require you to predict which nationality will produce the best-performing golfer in a tournament.

  • Example: During the 2021 Ryder Cup, a bettor could have wagered on the top-performing American golfer. If the bettor chose Collin Morikawa, who finished with a 3-0-1 record, their bet would have won as Morikawa was one of the top American performers in the tournament.

6. Match Betting

Match betting is a type of golf bet that focuses on head-to-head matchups between two golfers. Instead of betting on the overall tournament, you are simply wagering on which of the two golfers will have the better score at the end of a specified round or the entire tournament. Match bets can be an interesting option for bettors who prefer to focus on individual matchups rather than the larger tournament picture.

  • Example: In the 2021 Players Championship, a bettor could have placed a match bet on the head-to-head matchup between Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas for the second round. If Thomas shot a 69 and Koepka shot a 71, the bet on Thomas would have won.

7. Group Betting

Group betting is similar to match betting, but instead of focusing on head-to-head matchups, you are betting on which golfer will perform best within a group of players. Typically, a group will consist of three or four golfers, and the bettor must predict which golfer will have the lowest score at the end of a specific round or the entire tournament. Group betting can be a fun way to engage with a tournament, as it allows bettors to focus on smaller segments of the competition and analyze how different players perform against each other.

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  • Example: In the 2021 BMW Championship, a bettor might have wagered on Jon Rahm to outperform a group consisting of Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, and Tony Finau. Rahm ended up winning the tournament, making him the best performer in the group and resulting in a winning bet.

8. Hole-in-One Betting

Hole-in-One betting involves wagering on whether or not a golfer will score a hole-in-one during a specific round or throughout the entire tournament. A hole-in-one occurs when a golfer gets their ball into the hole with a single stroke from the tee box. These bets are considered more speculative due to the rarity of hole-in-ones, but they can provide a thrilling betting experience and potentially large payouts for successful bettors.

  • Example: For the 2021 Masters Tournament, a bettor could have placed a bet on whether there would be a hole-in-one during the tournament. Tommy Fleetwood scored a hole-in-one on the 16th hole during the first round, making any bets on a hole-in-one occurring a winning bet.

9. Top 5, Top 10, and Top 20 Finish

Top 5, Top 10, and Top 20 Finish bets involve predicting whether a golfer will finish within a specific range of positions in the tournament leaderboard. For example, a Top 5 Finish bet requires you to predict whether your chosen golfer will finish within the top 5 positions. These bets can be a good option for bettors who want to focus on the overall performance of a golfer without having to predict the outright winner of a tournament. They often have lower odds compared to outright winner bets, but they can provide a safer betting experience with more frequent payouts.

  • Example: In the 2021 PGA Championship, Phil Mickelson won the tournament, finishing in the top position. A bettor who placed a wager on Mickelson to finish in the Top 5, Top 10, or Top 20 would have won their bet in each case, as Mickelson exceeded all of these thresholds.

10. 72 Hole Match Betting

72 Hole Match Betting is a type of golf bet that focuses on the head-to-head performance of two golfers across all four rounds of a tournament. Instead of betting on the overall tournament standings, you are wagering on which golfer will have the lowest cumulative score after all 72 holes have been played. This type of bet can be an interesting option for bettors who want to focus on the long-term performance of individual golfers throughout a tournament, rather than just a single round or a specific leaderboard position.

  • Example: In the 2021 US Open, a bettor could have placed a 72-hole match bet on the matchup between Bryson DeChambeau and Louis Oosthuizen. DeChambeau finished the tournament at +2, while Oosthuizen finished at -1. In this case, the bet on Oosthuizen would have won, as he had a lower cumulative score after all 72 holes were played.

Golf Betting Glossary Conclusion

Understanding the golf betting glossary is essential for any bettor looking to get involved in the world of golf wagering. With a variety of bet types available, ranging from outright winner bets to more specific bets like hole-in-one or group betting, there is something for everyone. By familiarizing yourself with these terms and concepts, you will be better prepared to make informed decisions, enjoy the betting experience, and potentially increase your chances of success.