It’s no surprise that over the last few years professional golf has become one of the most popular sports to bet on.
With golf tournaments taking place around the world almost every week of the year, there is certainly no shortage of action to bet on, while the competiveness and size of the fields ensures that is plenty of value to be had, with the favourites at most tournaments close to double digit odds.
From straightforward win and place odds, to more complicated match bets and score predictions, there is also no shortage of types of bets to be had, all of which adds to the fun of watching a golf tournament.
For those new to the idea of betting on golf, here are a few pointers that may help you become a more profitable punter.
STUDY THE FORM
As with all sports betting, knowing the form of the competitors is key to finding a winning bet. So take time to study the general form of the golfer you are intending to bet on, rather than following a player blindly or going on gut instincts.
Take time to understand their form over the course, and the type of conditions the players will face for that tournament. Golf, more than any other sport, is a ‘horses for courses’ kind of game, and it’s amazing how often the same players pop up at certain tournaments each year, sometimes regardless of their current form.
So take time to study both short-term form as well as their long-term results over the venue in question.
SHOP AROUND FOR THE WIDEST CHOICE OF BETS
Golf bettors should seek out reputable bookmakers that offer the widest choice of golf betting options on a given tournament. Look for those that offer ‘in-play’ betting, as well as fixed odds, so that you can follow an event ‘as it happens’ from betting perspective.
Also look out for bookies that offer each-way oods for top 10s, not just the top four or five. It’s gut-wrenching to pick a 200-1 shot that finishes sixth and have nothing to show for it.
Some bookmakers also offer a live streaming service that will give you the chance to keep track of the event you’re betting on.
HUNT OUT THE BEST ODDS
Finding the best odds is one of the smartest ways of ensuring you become a profitable bettor. Opening up accounts with several different online bookmakers will ensure you at least have a choice of odds, and will make it easier to spot whether one of your fancied players is offered at more generous odds than others. There are number of websites that collate the odds of all the main bookmakers to help speed up the process of odds checking.
SPREAD YOUR BETS
Favourites are favourites for a reason, so don’t be put off from back a player at shortish odds if you think they have a decent chance of winning. Better to have a couple of 10/1 winners over the course of a season, than a dozen or so 100/1 losers.
Conversely, outsiders are also outsiders for a reason, so if you’re going to back long shots, be sure to bet each-way for a place, as you only need a few of these longer-priced players to sneak into a top-six to yield a healthy profit.
Beyond solely betting on the potential winner of a tournament, also look out for other markets, such as match bets between players, backing a player to simply make the cut, or for an outsider to bag a top-ten finish. If you do your research, there is always value to be found.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS
Knowing your limits, from a financial standpoint, is, of course, the most important aspect of betting. Set aside a maximum amount of money that you are prepared to lose, and do not be tempted to go beyond those limits if results don’t go your way. And, as they say, ‘when the fun stops, stop’.