There used to be a time when golf betting was a niche activity, with most sportsbooks allowing bettors to wager only on the winners of upcoming major tournaments. Nowadays, however, there are lots of different ways to bet on golf.
Not only can you bet on the winner of an event, but you can also bet on golf in-play. Live golf betting has become hugely popular in recent years, meaning you can now wager on players, hole results, rounds and other occurrences during a tournament.
If you want to get started with in-play golf betting, you have come to the right place. Our live golf betting guide for beginners covers all the popular in-play markets and explains how to make full use of each one.
It’s time to tee off!
Betting on the Tournament Winner In-Play
Betting on the winner of a tournament before the action gets underway is always fun, but placing in-play wagers on the winner of a tournament can take the excitement to a whole new level.
Let’s say that Rory McIlroy was priced at +700 to win a tournament, but after the first round his odds have risen to +1100. If you’re still confident that McIlroy can win, taking advantage of the in-play odds could land you a tasty profit.
Live Betting on Individual Hole Results
When two players are taking part in a match play event, many sportsbooks will enable you to place live bets on who will win the current or next hole. On top of that, you can also wager on the hole being tied.
For example, the odds for the next hole might look something like this – Scottie Scheffler (+300); Jon Rahm (+200); Tie (+100). The tie is usually the most likely outcome, but betting on a player tends to offer the best value.
In-Play Betting on Player Scores
This live golf betting market allows you to wager on a player’s score on a given hole. For example, you could back Justin Thomas to hit a birdie, or you might bet on Tony Finau registering a bogey.
It is worth noting that this market is often available only for the major tournaments, such as The Masters. However, we recommended looking for this market during other events, as the odds can be very attractive.
What Is 3-Ball Betting in Golf?
Live Betting on the Winner of a Round
Most golf tournaments comprise several rounds spread across multiple days. Accordingly, sportsbooks allow you to place in-play bets on the winner of each round, with the odds fluctuating depending on how players are performing.
A player might start a round as an outsider before storming up the field to become a frontrunner, while another player might be the pre-round favorite before falling off the pace. You can take advantage of the live price changes.
Two/Three Balls In-Play Betting
You often get groups of two or three players teeing off together in golf events. Thanks to the recent rise in live golf betting opportunities, you can now wager on which player from a group will triumph during the round.
Like all in-play golf betting markets, the odds will invariably fluctuate for two/three balls betting. If you can pick the right moment to place your wager, you could come away with a juicy profit.
