How to Bet on Golf in 2025 – Golf Betting Guide

As sports gambling continues to be one of the fastest-growing industries, more gamblers are learning how to bet on golf.

This increased interest is no accident. Golf is one of the most popular hobbies in the world, and those who play the game like to follow and bet on it.

As a result, there has never been a greater need for a dependable golf betting guide to help gamblers navigate all the options and pertinent factors. With more options comes the greater opportunity to find value, profits, and satisfaction.

Understanding Golf Betting

When gamblers initially begin betting on golf, they are surprised to discover all the available betting events.

The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) is the most wagered-on tournament format. Additionally, LIV Golf is a rival men’s golf tour funded by Saudi Arabia.

The four biggest golf events wagered on are the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the British Open (also known as The Open), and the U.S. Open.

These tournaments are known as “majors” and draw significantly more wagering action than regular events.

The individual nature of the sport makes Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) popular as well.

Because there are so many different events, you should consider consulting a golf betting guide when you're first starting out.

What Makes Golf Betting Different

Unlike team sports, you'll almost always bet on individual players against the rest of the field or in matchups against other players instead of teams.

Additionally, there are cut lines that trim the starting field, usually in half, midway through the tournament.

Tee times are also different, with the most favored or best performing players usually teeing off later than the rest of the field.

Weather changes can also affect starting tee times and player performance.

Types of Golf Bets

When learning how to bet on golf, newcomers are surprised at all the available wagering options, including the outright winner, each-way betting, top finishers, head-to-head matchups, round leaders, props and special markets, and live betting.

Consult a golf betting guide to determine which types of wagers you should place on certain events.

Outright Winner

The simplest and easiest golf bet to understand is the outright winner. With the outright winning option, gamblers simply bet on who will win the event.

For example, if a gambler took Scottie Scheffler at +400 to win the tournament, he would wager $100 to win $400.

Each-Way Betting

A popular Golf betting option is each-way betting. With each-way odds, you can bet on a player to win the tournament while at the same time wagering on if he will finish within a certain position, such as Top 5 or Top 10.

If the player wins the tournament, you win both bets, but if the player does not win but finishes within the Top 10 of a Top 10 bet, you will win that portion of the wager.

Top Finishes (Top 5, Top 10, Top 20)

A top-finish bet is another simple and easy-to-understand method of betting on golf.

For example, if you bet on a golfer to finish in the Top 10, he must finish within the Top 10 to win the bet. If he finishes 11th or worse, the bet loses.

Head-to-Head Matchups

One of the most popular methods of betting on golf is head-to-head matchups.

In these, gamblers can bet on individual player vs. player matchups to determine who will finish higher in a tournament's standings.

Group matchups usually consist of two to five players grouped by oddsmakers.

Round Leader Bets

Most PGA tournaments last four days, with four rounds of 18 holes daily.

One of the most popular golf betting methods is on which player will lead after a particular round. Employ this strategy for the potential of a player starting strong but fading in later rounds.

Golf Prop Bets & Special Markets

Props and special markets are popular for both amusement and serious strategy.

One of the most popular prop bets is betting on which player of what nationality will win. Other prop options include hole-in-one odds, forecasting a player’s score on an individual hole, cut lines, and more.

Live Golf Betting

Live betting is gaining ground as one of the most popular forms of sports betting, and that certainly is the case when learning how to bet on golf.

Just as the name implies, live betting means constantly changing odds and wagers during live play. With live betting, gamblers can wager on momentum-changing moments and the ability to catch a ride with a hot player.

Golf Betting Strategies

Good strategies for betting on golf are evaluating a player’s recent form, his history at a particular course, the price of the odds vs. actual value, and what the public is betting.

When the public is all going in one direction, that can adversely affect the price but offer value opportunities on the opposite sides.

Using Course History in Golf Betting

One of the most important golf betting tools is course history, as certain players do well at various courses.

For example, Scottie Scheffler has two wins at the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club. On the other hand, Rory McIlroy had his heart broken at Augusta numerous times before finally breaking through in 2025.

Some courses favor powerful drivers while others favor finesse players or good putters.

Golf Stats That Matter: Form & Strokes Gained

When learning how to bet on golf, it is important to know what stats matter. Like all other sports, golf now offers a multitude of fancy stats that may make somebody seem smart but also may confuse a bettor.

The best way is to start with simple stats and then expand beyond that when you feel comfortable.

A player's recent form is always a good tell. “Strokes Gained: Off the Tee” and “Strokes Gained: Putting” are two of the key stats to look at in each tournament you handicap.

Keep in mind that some stats, like driving distance and driving accuracy, sound impressive but offer little in the way of actual betting value.