Golf Betting Tips in Ireland

Revenue in Ireland’s sports betting market is expected to reach $332.80 million by the end of 2024. This sector is also projected to peak at $380.20 million by 2028, with sports like rugby, Gaelic football, hurling, and golf all contributing heavily to this growth.

We certainly cover a broad selection of golf betting markets here at Betiton Ireland, across a number of different tournaments too. The 2024 PGA Tour will feature 36 official FedExCup events alone in 2024, including golf’s four prestigious majors. Let’s take a closer look at the sport’s available wagering markets and the impact of our golf betting tips!

What Types of Golf Betting Odds Are There?

Any online sports betting guide worth its salt should explain betting odds, from the various formats that they are presented in to how they can be used to calculate the probability of an outcome occurring. Let’s start with a summary of the three main golf betting odds formats used online.

Decimal Odds

The default is decimal odds here at Betiton IE, with the format displaying single digits to two decimal places. In simple terms, this number relays how much you can expect to bank for every €1 that you wager successfully, inclusive of your total stake amount.

For example, Ulsterman Rory McIlroy is currently among the favourites to win The Masters in Augusta in April 2024 at a price of 10.00. This means that a €1 bet will unlock a potential return of €10, while successfully staking €10 will deliver a total payout of €100.

Fractional Odds

In the UK, fractional odds are most commonly used. This format features two numbers separated by a slash, with the first digit detailing how much you can expect to win in relation to your stake amount (which is represented by the second number).

If we use the same example of backing McIlory to win the Masters, fractional odds of 9/1 will see you win €9 for every €1 staked. So, a successful €10 bet will see you bank a profit of €90, while you’ll also receive your original stake back to create a total return of €100.

American Odds

Unsurprisingly, American odds are used almost exclusively in the US, while they comprise three digital numbers with either a ‘plus’ or a ‘minus’ sign. The former highlights a betting underdog, while the number it accompanies tells you how much you can win if you successfully bet €100.

A betting favourite will be earmarked by a minus sign, while the corresponding number lets you know the amount you’ll need to wager to win€100. Using this format, McIlroy is priced at +900 to win the Augusta Masters, so a €100 stake can unlock a hefty return of €900.

What Can Influence the Golf Betting Odds?

Regardless of which odds format you encounter, you can calculate the implied probability of a particular outcome occurring. This calculation is simplest when using decimal golf betting odds, and it can be done using the following equation:

(1/ decimal odds) * 100 = implied probability

As we touched on, Rory McIlroy is priced at 10.00 to win the 2024 Masters. So, if we divided one by 10.00, we create a value of 0.1, and multiplying this by 100 implies a 10% probability of the Ulsterman winning his first Masters title (and fourth major overall).

Of course, the implied probability of a player winning has a direct impact on how they’re priced in the first place. Here are some other factors that influence golf betting odds:

• Player Form: This is a key consideration, with a player’s form on the PGA Tour impacting both their confidence and ability to perform consistently on the biggest stages. Pay particular attention to how players have fared during the previous five to 10 tournaments of note and relevance.

• Past Major Performances: When betting on major tournaments like the Masters, it’s important to note that some players reserve their best form for such competitions. Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka offers a relevant case in point, as does the defending Masters champion Jon Rahm.

• Course and Weather Conditions: Not all golf courses are created equal, as while Augusta suits long-ball hitters, technically proficient, straight strikers tend to perform better at Oak Hill (which regularly hosts the PGA Championship). So, you’ll need to factor in the venue and prevailing weather conditions to see which players (if any) can achieve a competitive advantage.

Understand the Golf Scoring System

In professional PGA tournaments, players strive to complete individual holes in as few strokes as possible. Ideally, they’ll complete holes with an under-par score, which means that they needed less shots than expected to finish.

Here’s a summary of the key scoring terms and how they relate to the par score on each individual hole:

📌 Scoring Terms	📊 Number of Strokes
✔️ Double Eagle or Albatross	3 Under Par
✔️ Eagle	2 Under Par
✔️ Birdie	1 Under Par
✔️ Par	Par Score
✔️ Bogey	1 Over Par
✔️ Double Bogey	2 Over Par

Of course, it’s also possible to achieve a triple or quadruple bogey, but it’s rare for professional players to go three or four over par in major tournaments.

In very few instances, professional golf tournaments may use the alternative ‘Stableford scoring system’. Rather than being based solely on the number of strokes required to complete individual holes and rounds, this system awards points in relation to the number of strokes attempted. For example:

• 6 points awarded – Four strokes under
• 5 points – Three strokes under
• 4 points – Two strokes under
• 3 points – One stroke under
• 2 points – Level par
• 1 point – One stroke over
• 0 points – Two strokes or more over

Study the Format of the Golf Event

Of the 36 official PGA Tour competitions (this number fell from 44 in 2023), four are categorized as ‘majors’. These tournaments take place between April and July each year, while they boast a combined prize fund of $72,500,000. Here’s a summary of each major:

• The Masters: The first major of each season, this tournament is held every year in April at Georgia’s Augusta National Golf Club. It was first established in 1934, while the legendary Jack Nicklaus remains the most successful ever player here having won six coveted ‘Green Jackets’.

• The PGA Championship: The PGA Championship was inaugurated in 1916, while it’s played at a select number of US venues including Oak Hill Country Club. It’s the second golf major of the year, and since 2019, has been played in May on the weekend before Memorial Day.

• The US Open: The US Open is the third major of the season and typically contested in June. It’s the second-oldest major (having launched back in 1895), while it’s held at a variety of courses that make scoring difficult. Scot Willie Anderson has the most US Open titles, having won four between 1901 and 1905.

• The Open Championship: Like the US Open, this is also held annually at different courses, while it’s the oldest golf major having been founded in 1860. The ‘open’ nature of the competition allows amateurs to participate, although very few non-professionals take part each year. It’s the only major to be held in the UK.

Choose the Golf Betting Market Wisely

Most of our free golf betting tips at Betiton IE are focused on a few core golf wagering markets. Make no mistake; it’s important to select the right wager type when betting on golf tournaments, while also ensuring that you identify the best players and most likely winners.

The Type of Golf Bet

We’ll start by addressing the most popular golf betting markets here at Betiton. These include:

• Tournament Winner: Arguably the majority of free golf betting tips predict the likely winner of individual tournaments. These include all four golf majors and any of the other 32 PGA Tour matches in 2024, while you can also wager on which team will win the Ryder Cup (which pits Europe against the US and is held on a biennial basis).

• Top Five, 10 or 20 Finishes: You can also wager on players to finish in the top five, 10 or 20 of a specific field. This is most common in large tournaments such as the Open Championship, while you can base your decisions on past player performances and how consistent competitors are over the course of a season or more.

• Player Prop Bets: There are multiple prop bets in the sport of golf, most of which are focused on aspects of player performance. For example, punters can wager on whether Brooks Koepka’s first round score at the Masters will be over or under a specific threshold, or the nationality of an eventual tournament winner. You can also place head-to-head bets on the player who will be most successful in a specific group.

The Golfer You Bet on

Golf betting is different to wagering on other sports, as you’re unlikely to support individual players in the same way that you follow teams and franchises. This actually makes it easier to bet more efficiently, as you can focus on the best and most talented players rather than those you support.

Pretty much all betting tips for golf will identify the best players and most likely contenders in any given tournament, based on analysis of recent form, past performances in relevant competitions and the overall size and quality of the field.

In terms of player form, try to focus on recent performances and pay particular attention to competitions of an equivalent size and quality (such as a previous major). Long-ball hitters like 2020 Masters winner Dustin Johnson fare particularly well on courses such as Augusta too, so be sure to consider a player’s strengths and their past performances at certain venues.

When picking a golfer to win a tournament, pay close attention to putting statistics too. For example, ‘Greens in Regulation’ (GIR) statistics are highly insightful, as they refer to a player’s ball being on the green in a defined number of strokes. Players who fare well in this regard are more likely to record birdies and score well during tournaments.

Do Not Underestimate Golf Betting Predictions

In addition to Betiton’s free golf betting tips, we also publish expert predictions from knowledgeable tipsters and even ex-players in some instances. These predictions can be highly insightful, as they may reveal a unique and different perspective that informs your picks ahead of an upcoming tournament.

Certainly, our free golf betting tips and predictions may include detailed statistical analysis, including a deep dive in telling GIR stats, driving accuracy and distance. This information, coupled with your existing knowledge of players and own detailed analysis, can help you to get the absolute most from your bankroll.

Golf Betting Offers

If you’re going to act or start betting on golf tips, you’ll want to make use of Betiton Ireland’s current welcome bonus. This comprises a €10 free bet when you place an initial €15 wager at odds of 2.00 or greater. This is a highly accessible offer, and one that can be deployed on most outright golf betting markets.

The free bet is available for 14 days and must be deployed at minimum odds of 1.80, which are highly competitive terms that afford you both time and significant choice. The bonus is also free from wagering requirements, so no restrictions are placed on any money that you win!

Frequently Asked Questions