Golf is one of the oldest sports in the world. It is believed that modern golf started during the Middle Ages in Scotland and this is home to some of the most historic golf courses in the world today. It wasn’t until the 19th century that golf became popular in other countries, namely England, Ireland and the United States.
As the sport developed and became professional, so did the prize money and the viewing figures. Golf has become hugely popular, not only for the entertainment value of playing and watching but for betting.
Golf betting is a massive business, with markets available every week. The question is, what are the biggest golf tournaments to bet on? Before we answer that question, there are a few things we need to take into consideration, including:
- Major Tournaments
- PGA Tour
- European Tour
- Popularity
- Live Coverage
- Betting Markets
We can use these factors to form a list of the best golf tournaments for betting, so let’s take a look.
1. The Masters
Established : 1934
Course : Augusta National
2019 Prize Money : $11.5 million
Date : Second Week of April
City : Augusta
Country : United States
The Masters is arguably the most prestigious golf tournament in the world. It is the first of the four majors to be played in the calendar year and is an invitation only event. This makes it different to open tournaments and the other three major golf competitions of the year.
Additional factors which make The Masters different from the other majors is the venue, which stays the same every year and it is organised by a private club. Being the first major golf tournament of the year is enough in itself to make The Masters popular for betting on golf.
The lure of the Augusta National golf course, the build up to the event and the quality of the field also combine to make The Masters one of the biggest golf tournaments to bet on. With so many people eager to place a bet on The Masters, the bookmakers go to great lengths to provide every betting angle imaginable.
Tournament Winner, First Round Leader, Top Amateur, Top 5 Finish and Top Ten Finish are common Masters betting markets. You will also find betting for the top player from a specific region or country, a player to win without including the favourite in the betting and Each Way betting.
The coverage of The Masters is extensive. The build up begins with live coverage of the par-3 tournament on Wednesday and you can watch the tournament live from the first tee shot to the final putt. The Masters is easy to follow and this makes live betting a possibility.
- Most Prestigious Major
- Played at the Same Venue
- First Major of the Year
- All the Top Players Present
- Huge Choice of Betting Markets
- In Depth Coverage
2. The Open Championship
Established : 1860
Course : Various
2019 Prize Money : $10.5 million
Date : Third Week of July
City : Various
Country : United Kingdom
The Open Championship is a special occasion. The event is played once every year and it is the oldest of the four major golf tournaments. It is also the final major event of the year following the change in dates of the major tournaments in 2019.
This will only add to the spectacle as players know this will be their final opportunity to win a major title in the calendar year. The Open Championship is hosted by the Royal and Ancient and the venue changes every year.
It is the only major golf tournament to be played outside the United States and this brings many fans from the United Kingdom and Europe to the event.
Despite the venue changing each year, the Open Championship is traditionally played on a coastal links course. This keeps in with the tradition of golf played in the early years in Scotland and weather can often play a big role. Being on the coast, the wind can play havoc on occasion and this adds to the level of excitement.
The Open Championship is one of the biggest golf tournaments to bet on because of the factors outlined above. This leads to a huge choice of golf betting markets ranging from tournament winner to top 30 finish. However, in-play betting is arguably more important at the Open Championship than anywhere else.
Due to the often changing weather conditions, betting in-play can bring big rewards if done properly at the Open Championship. The leader could be set to play in wind and rain while the chasing pack are playing in favourable conditions for example.
- Oldest Major
- Final Major of the Year
- Traditional Links Course
- Top Players
- Full Coverage
- Massive Choice of Betting Markets
3. PGA Championship
Established : 1916
Course : Various
2019 Prize Money : $11 million
Date : Third Week of May
City : Various
Country : United States
The PGA Championship was the final major golf event for many years but that changed with the new schedule in 2019. It is now the second major tournament of the year following The Masters.
The event itself is organised by the PGA, as the name suggests and by playing well in this event, much like the other three majors, golfers can gain a lot of security for the following years on the PGA Tour.
The PGA Championship has been played on a wide range of courses over the years but recently it has been played on a small group of top courses in the United States. The venue is often on the east side of the United States but that will change in 2020 when the PGA Championship will be played in San Francisco.
Interestingly, the PGA Championship is the only major which does not openly invite amateur golfers to compete. However, there are plenty of betting options available from the beginning to the end of the tournament.
Tournament Winner, Top 5, 10, 20 finish, First Round Leader, Each Way betting and top player from a specific country are all available. Some bookmakers even allow you to bet which player will come out on top between two selected golfers, which can be fun.
The betting markets and change of venue make the PGA Championship one of the best golf tournaments to bet on.
- Second Major of the Year
- Live Television and Streaming Coverage
- Vast Selection of Betting Markets
- All the Top Players Compete
- Few Amateurs Involved
4. US Open
Established : 1895
Course : Various
2019 Prize Money : $12.5 million
Date : Third Week of June
City : Various
Country : United States
The US Open is the third major golf tournament of the year and the final one to be played in the United States. It is the last chance of the year for American golfers to win a major in-front of their own fans. Not only that but the US Open boasts the largest prize fund of any golf tournament on the planet, so there is plenty of incentive to win.
This is the annual national championship of golf for the United States and it is scheduled so the final round is always played on Father’s Day. This can bring a smile to many dads around the world who are not only celebrating Father’s Day but could be celebrating a big win golf betting.
Played on various golf courses throughout the United States, the US Open is often set-up to make scoring difficult for players. Accurate driving is key to getting a low score at the US Open and this makes it very intriguing from a golf betting point of view.
Between 2010 and 2018, four of the winners finished even or over par and that makes for interesting betting on golf. You will find all the best golf betting markets available during the US Open, regardless of which betting sites you use.
- Final Major in the United States
- Oldest Major in the United States
- Largest Amount of Prize Money
- Huge Media Interest
- Plenty of Betting Markets
- Good Golf Betting Offers
- All the Top Players Involved
5. World Golf Championships
Established : 1999
Course : Various
2019 Prize Money : $10.25 million
Date : Throughout the Year
City : Various
Country : Various
The World Golf Championships is not a major golf tournament but is a group of four annual events which combine to make one competition. Many players rank these tournaments as being just below the majors in their importance and that makes them great to watch and place bets.
The winner of the World Golf Championships, also known as WGC for short, receives a three year PGA Tour exemption, which is motivation for those players who may be close to losing their card. Again, this adds to the prestige of the WGC and makes for some exciting tournaments from a betting perspective.
It is possible to bet on each individual round of a tournament, each tournament or the whole championship.
- Ranked Just Below the Majors
- A Relatively New Concept for Betting
- Large Amount of Prize Money
- Good Live Coverage
- Several Ways to Bet
- Top Players Involved
6. Ryder Cup
Established : 1927
Course : Various
2019 Prize Money : None
Date : Biannually in Late September/Early October
City : Various
Country : Various
The Ryder Cup is one of the most dramatic events in sport. It features players from Europe and the United States playing against each other across four days of golf. The players team up and play as pairs and also have individual matches at the end of the event.
If you think golf is a quiet sport, the Ryder Cup will see you change your mind as the European and American fans go wild on every successful shot. Due to the popularity and coverage of the Ryder Cup, there are many betting options available over the course of the weekend.
You bet on which team you think will win, the players who will win their singles games and the pairs who will win their matches.
If you want to enjoy crowd involvement and betting in golf, the Ryder Cup is hard to beat.
- Biggest Crowd Involvement
- Pairs and Singles Betting
- Players Competing for Their Country/Continent, No Prize Money
- Extensive Media Coverage
7. PGA Tour
Established : 1929
Course : Various
2019 Prize Money : Issued Per Tournament
Date : Throughout the Year
City : Various
Country : Various
The PGA Tour is the leading golf tour for professional players. This is where the biggest amount of prize money can be one and the leading sponsors are to be found. The PGA Tour is played mostly in the United States, with some tournaments taking place in Canada and Mexico.
The leading tournaments on the PGA Tour include the Farmers Insurance Classic, which often sees the world’s top players in action for the first time in the season and the Wells Fargo Classic, which is another event which seems to draw the top players.
However, the biggest PGA Tour event which is not a major is The Players Championship. Seen by many as the unofficial fifth major, this is a tournament which every professional golfer wants to win.
It is played on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass every year and features a dramatic island hole, which can see the leaderboard change dramatically in an instant.
- The Home of the Best Professional Golfers
- Tournaments Almost Every Week
- Significant Prize Money
- Live Coverage of Every Tournament
- Huge Betting Potential
- Top Tournaments Including The Players Championship
8. European Tour
Established : 1972
Course : Various
2019 Prize Money : Issued Per Tournament
Date : Throughout the Year
City : Various
Country : Various
The European Tour may not carry the same prestigious as the PGA Tour but there are many betting opportunities to enjoy. Much like the PGA Tour, the European Tour has tournaments played throughout the year, with an event being contested most weeks.
The European Tour, despite the name, is not restricted to European countries and there are events played in Hong Kong, Australia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, India and China to name but a few.
Therefore, the European Tour is great for those who live outside the United States and want to bet and watch golf live in their own country.
You will find all the top golf betting markets on offer for the European Tour events such as tournament winner, first round leader, winning nationality and many more.
- Top Golfers from Around the World
- Tournaments Throughout the Year
- Good Prize Money
- Live Coverage on TV and Online
- Many Betting Markets
- Tournaments Played in Several Countries
