How To Gamble: Golf

Golf

Among Las Vegas gamblers, golf is considered one of both fastest-growing sports to bet on (auto racing is the other).

The most elementary form of golf betting involves picking the winner of a championship. Typically a sports book will list 30 or more individual golfers along with a field (all others) option, at various odds.

For instance, Tiger Woods may be listed at 2-1, Tom Lehman at 25-1, Bob May at 100-1, etc.. If you bet $10 on Lehman at 25-1 and he goes on to win the championship, you win $250 plus your $10 back, for a total payoff of $260.

Another popular form of golf betting involves matchup propositions, in which two golfers are paired against each other at a head-to-head bet, with a betting line on each golfer set by the oddsmaker. The golfer with the better (lower) score wins the matchup. (If one golfer continues play in the tournament after his opponent misses the cut, the golfer who continues play wins the matchup.)

For example, a matchup may pit Lehman (minus 125) against Jim Furyk (plus 105). If you bet $125 on the favored Lehman, the payoff would be $100 plus your $125 back, for a total of 225. Should you bet $100 on the underdog Furyk, the payoff will be $105 plus your $100 back, for a total of 205.

Some matchups pit one (usually very good) golfer against two or more others. For example, Woods may be pitted against Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III and Ernie Els. To determine the winner, take Woods‘ score and compare with to the best (lowest) score recorded by the 3 others.

Especially in major tournaments, some sports books offer odds on unusual golf propositions, like the over/under on the winning score, the over/under on the lowest round by any golfer or the over/under on the finishing position by a specific golfer. By way of example, the over/under on Woods‘ finishing position may be 3??1/2. When he finishes first, second or third in the tournament, the“under“ wins; when he finishes fourth or worse, the“over“ tickets cash.

Rules vary by casino, but usually your golfer must tee off in the tournament for“action“ (meaning once he tees off, you may either win or lose your wager ). If for any reason he doesn’t tee off, this is usually considered“no action“ and tickets are refunded.

In head-to-head matchup propositions, both golfers must tee off for action.