The four golf majors are the biggest events of the year. Any true golf fan prepares for these events, sets aside time to watch, brushes up on history, reads news coverage, and truly enjoys history in the making.
However, many golfers have found that the real way to feel like you are in all the major golf tournament action is to bet on major golf tournaments.
If you want to get in on the action this year, there are some things you should know about how to bet on major golf tournaments. Let’s take a look.
What Makes a Major Golf Tournament Different?
The four major golf tournaments are the Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship, and PGA Championship. The majors have higher stakes, more prestige, historical significance, and sometimes larger purses.
Along with all the positives that majors bring for the golf fan, the player has to deal with quite a bit.
For instance, the course conditions at the U.S. Open usually involve very tricky greens and thick rough. The Open Championship almost always incorporates a bit of wind and rain.
In addition, the field is typically the strongest in golf. It’s challenging to qualify for a major championship, and the best golfers prioritize these events in their schedules.
Major Golf Tournaments Bring More Pressure
As you start to consider betting on major golf tournaments, you can’t ignore the pressure involved. There is both mental and emotional pressure when playing in a major, and not every golfer is ready for it.
There are expectations from fans, sponsors, and the media. In addition, the coverage and the exposure of playing in a major is entirely different from that of playing in a traditional PGA Tournament. You’ll need to look at how golfers handle pressure.
Somebody like Tiger Woods thrived under pressure, where Phil Mickelson took a little more time to pull off a win coming down the stretch at a major.
Tracking History of Majors and Its Importance for Betting
Major golf history can tell you a lot. Major golf tournaments like the Masters are played on the same golf course every year, so players get to know the course, and we can look at their history and performance at that course.
In addition, the history of an event like the Open Championship will tell us who plays well in difficult and windy conditions.
Finally, some golfers start to really get the hang of winning major championships.
For instance, Tiger Woods played really well at Augusta and became a contender every time he played. With six wins at the Masters he showed he could dominate at that course.
| Player | Masters Wins | US Open Wins | Open Championship Wins | PGA Championship Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger Woods | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Jack Nicklaus | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Rory McIlroy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Brooks Koepka | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Analysing Betting Markets and Odds for Major Tournaments
While some betting markets only allow golfers to be on Majors, the best options for betting on a major championship would be websites like 888Sport where you can bet on your favourite golfers all year long.
Tracking betting odds in the weeks leading up to the major championships is smart as you can see how they change as the field is finalised and how big names like Rory McIlroy or Brooks Koepka can skew the odds.
Sometimes, even if they are your favourite player, the big names in golf don’t offer the best value in a golf bet.
Most major championships allow you to bet on the outright winner, top 10 finish, head-to-head matchups, prop bets, and more.
Diversifying your best makes the tournament experience that much more fun and can give you a better chance to win money.
Betting Strategy for Golf Majors
Now that you have a little better understanding of the major and why it’s such a big deal for players, let’s look at a few of the best strategies for betting in major golf tournaments.
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Identify players who can excel under pressure: Look for players with a track record in majors, they don’t have to be major champions but they have to prove they can compete even when the pressure is high.
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Check recent form: Stats on golfers' recent performance (the last 10 tournaments) can easily be found on the PGA Tour or DP World Tour websites. Use these stats, such as driving distance, putting performance, scrambling, and more, to determine who the best players to bet on in major tournaments are.
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Remember to consider longshots: There are surprises in major golf tournaments, where players who have not even won a tournament win a major as their first event. Pay close attention to up-and-coming stars and golfers with a strong history at the course where the major is being played.
Final Thoughts
If you are new to golf betting, betting on major golf tournaments is a thrilling experience. However, if you want to make sure you’ve made the right bet, ensure you are smart about your picks.
Always look at tournament history and player form to ensure you give yourself the best chance at winning money. Stay tuned to 888Sport for all the updates on the 2025 golf major tournaments and the most recent odds.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Adobe*
