Golf betting: Why you don’t have to just pick an outright winner
Betting golf can be really intimidating if you are new to the market. Heck, even if you aren’t new, choosing an outright winner out of over 130 players is a tall task. To do it weekly? Even tougher. There are other betting markets that offer more value in terms of long-term profitability. Here’s a look at the different types of bets you can make in PGA wagering.
Head-to-head matchups
Feel strongly about a player but not sure he’ll get the win? You can bet on that one player to do well against … just one other player. Think of it as Player A vs. Player B.
During the Travelers Championship, one player I thought could excel was Paul Casey. Considered one of the favorites for the tournament, his odds weren’t favorable so rather than take a high-risk Top 10 or Top 5 bet, I looked to his matchup in the head-to-head market. Casey was a -140 favorite over Tony Finau, who was coming off a missed cut at the U.S. Open the week before. Casey didn’t actually even finish in the Top 20 but instead took T36. However, I didn’t need him to finish Top 20 or better, just outperform Finau, and he did just that, as Finau ended up missing the cut.
Taking a head-to-head doesn’t pay out as big as something like an outright win, but it offers less risk and a greater probability of cashing.
Finishing in the Top 20
This type of bet in PGA is my favorite. More often than not, you get plus money on your return if it works out, or sometimes you can find near even money, or even a bet with a small juice at -110 or -120.
For the Valero Texas Open, I felt strongly that Jordan Spieth would just crush his home-state course. Spieth was the +1200 favorite to win the tournament and he was just -125 to finish in the Top 20. He did in fact win that tournament, but my big-boy bet was on Spieth to finish in the Top 20. Did it have as big of a return as a +1200? No, but one thing as a bettor you have to remember is that it’s all about cashing tickets!
It doesn’t always work that way. As mentioned in the first example, I thought Casey would do well and he finished outside the Top 20. However, Top 20 bets are a way for you to still try to build your bankroll while not breaking the bank.
These are just two types of bets you can make wagering on the PGA other than just picking who will win. The great thing about golf is that there are plenty of other options: To Finish Top 10, To Finish Top 5, props like whether a hole-in-one will be made, nationality bets (top American, Australian, Asian, etc.), and many more. Take your time, look through BetMGM to see what is offered and give a few options a try.
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