Golf Betting Odds
Invented in Scotland during the 15th century, golf has since expanded to other parts of the world. The game has a huge following in the United States and is also popular across the UK, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, Spain and parts of Europe.
Because golf isn't just relegated to one part of the world, bettors are used to seeing different odds in PGA betting. For example, if you visit an online sportsbook that primarily targets British bettors, you'll see fractional odds used exclusively. On the other hand, there are moneyline wagers offered at sportsbooks that cater to Americans.
Assuming you plan on visiting different sportsbooks while wagering on golf, you should definitely check out the following information on fractional, moneyline and decimal odds.
Fractional Odds
When it comes to golf betting, the most common type of odds used are fractional. As the name indicates, this lists wagers in fractional form, such as 5/1. The number in front is what a bettor stands to win, while the back number is what a person has to wager.
Typically, you'll see an "Outright Winner" bet offered, and every golfer in the event will be listed with their fractional odds of winning. Here's an example of how this would look using just a few golfers:
British Open - Outright Winner
Tiger Woods 5/1
Phil Michelson 11/1
Rory McIlroy 12/1
Adam Scott 15/1
Justin Rose 16/1
Looking at this example, Tiger Woods is the favorite to win because bettors only stand to earn $5 in profit for every $1 bet. On the other hand, Justin Rose is offering bettors $16 for every $1 wagered.
Betting Moneyline
As mentioned before, fractional odds are the most commonly used in golf betting. However, you'll also see the moneyline offered in certain prop bets and tournaments. The Ryder Cup is one good example of this, where players go head-to-head in match play. In regard to how a moneyline would work in these circumstances, here's an example:
Phil Mickelson -130
Rory McIlroy +125
Although this looks to be a pretty tightly contested matchup, Mickelson is given the slight edge here. Bettors would be risking $130 to win a $100 profit on him. As for McIlroy, bettors are wagering $100 to earn $125 in profit.
Decimal Odds
Again, you'll see fractional odds offered over the decimal variety far more often when it comes to golf. But just like the moneyline, you will see decimal odds used sometimes during major tournaments. Here's a quick look at a match play example with decimal odds:
Tiger Woods 1.70
Lee Westwood 2.35
In this line, people are wagering $1 on Woods in hopes of earning a $0.70 profit ($1.70 total). Westwood is the underdog here because bettors are risking $1 to earn $1.35 in profit.
If you just stick with Outright Winners bets, you probably won't be seeing anything else besides fractional odds. Even still, it's nice to know about the moneyline and decimal odds just so you're prepared for anything.