9 Golf Betting Markets To Explore During A Major Tournament

Read Time:2 Minute, 39 Second

Golf’s four majors, The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship, attract enormous attention from both fans and bettors. With star-studded fields, historic venues, and unpredictable drama, major tournaments offer a wide range of betting markets beyond simply picking the winner. If you’re planning to place a wager, here are some golf betting markets you can explore.

1. Outright Winner

The classic and most popular market is betting on who will lift the trophy. With fields often exceeding 150 players, odds are long even on the favourites, meaning a successful pick can deliver a significant return. Some bettors choose multiple players to balance risk and reward. It’s easy to check out the latest golf betting odds online at reputable sites like Bet442.

2. Each-Way Betting

An extension of the outright market, each-way bets pay out if your selection finishes in one of the top spots (commonly top 5, top 8, or even top 10 depending on the sportsbook). This is a safer option in majors, where competition is fierce and picking a single winner can be difficult.

3. Top Finishes

Rather than predicting the outright champion, you can bet on whether a player will finish in the top 5, top 10, top 20, or top 40. These markets are popular for backing consistent players who may not win but reliably contend.

4. Head-to-Head Matchups

Books often pair two golfers against each other, and you wager on who posts the lower score over 18 holes, 36 holes, or the full tournament. These bets strip away the complexity of the entire field and focus on a straightforward duel.

5. Nationality Bets

Majors attract international talent, and sportsbooks frequently offer markets such as Top American, Top European, Top Asian, or Top Rest of the World player. You can even find country-specific markets like Top Englishman or Top Australian.

6. Round Leader Bets

These markets let you bet on which golfer will lead after a specific round, for example, the first-round leader. These can offer long odds and appeal to bettors looking for a quicker payoff rather than waiting four days for the outright result.

7. Group Betting

Players may be grouped by world ranking, nationality, or bookmaker’s choice, and you can wager on who will perform best within that subset. It’s another way to narrow down a crowded leaderboard.

8. Winning Margin

Instead of picking a player, you can predict how close the final result will be, such as a playoff, one-stroke victory, or multiple-stroke margin.

9. Prop & Specialty Bets

During majors, books often expand their offerings with fun prop markets, such as:

Will there be a hole-in-one?
Will the winning score be under or over a set number?
Will there be a playoff?

Final Thoughts

Major championships don’t just provide thrilling golf; they also unlock diverse betting opportunities for casual and serious bettors alike. Whether you’re backing a favourite, searching for value in head-to-heads, or taking a shot on a first-round leader, understanding the full menu of golf betting markets can help you approach these tournaments strategically.