How to bet on golf – the smart way

Rory McIlroy, pictured here with Ronan Rafferty in practice for the 2007 Walker Cup, was a safe bet to be a success as a professional.

A recent BBC article asks whether it’s possible to calculate the odds of different events in golf. As a case in point this article describes how, when Northern Ireland teenager Joe Rooney hit two holes in one in August this year, the commentator declared the odds of achieving this to be a whopping 67 million to 1. And while these odds are disputed, the fact is such a feat rarely happens. 

Granted, anyone betting on such a feat would be a millionaire – but no-one did because it’s such a freak event. With this in mind, it’s better to put your money on factors that are easier to foresee.

While there are many different inconsistent factors that can influence outcomes in golf, there are ways to predict the results…

Current Form

Golf is hard – that’s a fact. For this reason, it’s impossible for golfers to be on top form all the time. Even the best players endure poor form, with Rory McIlroy’s disappointing season being a case in point. So despite being odds on to complete a career grand before the start of the season, the 28-year-old is yet to win anything. 

Golfers tend go through five- or six-week periods where they consistently finish in the top 10. Keep an out for those ‘purple patches’ when players hit their stride and make it all look easy. While betting is in no way an exact science, it’s at these times when you can feel safer about putting your money on players to finish strongly. 

So to make the best use of your free bets at Bethut, take a look at players’ previous form over recent tournaments to judge their form and decide whether it’s worth taking a punt.

Courses

It’s well-known that golfers have favourite courses - largely because they find them easiest to play on. For example, it’s clear that Angel Cabrera loves playing at Augusta, with green jacket being proof of this. Likewise, McIlroy loves St Andrews for its atmosphere, which always makes him feel at home. 

As a result of such preferences, course form is arguably more important than current form. A player could be playing badly for several weeks, only to hit their stride at their favourite tournament. Likewise, if a golfer frequently performs badly on a certain course, the smart money would obviously be on someone else more suited to it. 

Reasons for course form could include the length of the course, bunker positions, the type of putting surface, and of course the climate and weather. Looking at these factors in relation to a player’s style will help you predict the outcome.  

The luck of the draw

The opening two days of every big golf tournament are divided in two. The first half tee off in the morning and the second get started in the afternoon. This schedule could be crucial. If someone is paired with McIlroy, for example, they need to expect large crowds. This can be quite daunting for those players who aren’t used to such attention and it could throw them off their game. 

Schedule can also play a role in terms of the weather. For example, if heavy winds are forecast in the afternoon but not in the morning, this could seriously impact the games of those drawn in the second half.