Introduction to Golf Betting
Mark Twain once described golf as 'a good walk spoiled'. Golfers know this well, as they combine mental and physical toughness to execute each stroke with pristine form.
Matches are intense and tournaments can be won or lost by a matter of millimetres. Tracing its humble origin from a pastime reserved for the Scottish elite, professional golf has evolved into a highly skilled art that, for many, emulates all the successes and frustrations of life. Today, PGA golf is among the most popular sports in the world and draws millions of dollars of wagering activity on every event. Viva Macau Sportsbook has what you need to take a piece of this action. If you are familiar with the game, but need some help getting going with the wagering aspects, this article has been written just for you.
As with much of the golfing world's focus, most wagering interest tends to fall upon the four majors, the US Open, British Open, PGA Championship and the Masters. While fan interest also usually peaks around events like the Ryder Cup, experienced punters are looking at markets throughout the PGA Tour. Viva Macau Sportsbook will take this action, so rest assured that we have got a ticket for you.
Tournaments are sometimes abandoned and no official result is declared. When that happens we void the bet and return your stake money. When a tournament is shortened, or otherwise affected, by weather conditions, bets are settled based on the official results, irrespective of the number of rounds played. In the case that no further rounds are played after you make your bet, we will void the bet and return the stake.
When a player is disqualified, during or after a round, the player will no longer be a runner. We will void bets made on this player and refund your stake.
As with any sport you are considering placing a wager on, you should consult Viva Macau's Sportsbook Rules before placing a bet on golf. These Rules lay out the specific terms and conditions for the settlement of golf wagers placed at Viva Macau Sportsbook.
Straight Wagers
Viva Macau Sportsbook will offer markets on all PGA golf tour events. The most common bet on golf is an Outright Bet.
Betting the Outright places you on a single golfer to win a tournament. Underdogs can be priced at 50.0 (+5000) or better, but even some of the top contestants in these matches can have a nice payout. If you have a hutch that an underdog will be on his game, one pick can make your whole season. Outright markets will usually have odds listed for the top 25 - 30 contenders. The remaining players are grouped into a Field bet, which is a bet that any player that does not have listed odds will win the tournament.
When you are betting Outrights, should a tournament be abandoned, be it through adverse weather conditions or for any other reason, before 36 holes have been played, all bets are void and stakes are returned. After 36 holes, all bets stand. Similarly, should a player have to retire through injury or any other reason, bets will stand if he had started his round.
Futures usually look at the performance of golfers over the season as a whole. For instance, you may see lines on the player to top the PGA money list or the golfer to take the most tournament wins in a season.
Sometimes one player will be matched against only one other player, creating a 72-hole head to head Matchup. In this bet, you will win if the player you take outperforms the other player on the field. If both the players finish with the same score, the bet it a push and the stake is returned.
Exotic Singles
The most common Exotic Singles you are going to see at Viva Macau Sportsbook are Matchup variants.
Group matchups are a fairly common and popular proposition. A group matchup pits selected golfers against each other. To win the bet, your player just needs to outperform the other players in the group. For example, if you are placed on the golfer that finishes second in a tournament and the three other players in the group finish in 4th, 8th and 10th, you will win the bet.
Group bets have the best value when a relatively unknown golfer is matched against reputable players that do not perform well on a particular course. For a player to be considered a runner in a group bet, they have to tee off for the bet to have action.
You may also see a wager known as a Top 3, 4 or 5 vs. The Field bet. This is something like an outright bet, only the Field includes a much larger group of players. In this proposition, we will choose to match our top 3, 4 or 5 picks against all the rest of the players in the tournament, i.e. the Field. You can choose to be placed on one of the top contestants or the Field, which can include a cast of hundreds of players. These bets are voided if any of the Top 3, 4 or 5 fail to start the tournament.
Combination Wagers
Combination wagers are bets in which more than one match or event is involved. Outright markets and Exotic Singles cannot be included in combinations. Matchup wagers, however, can be included in combinations such as Parlays, If Wagers or Reverses. If you are planning on taking action on two or more Matchups on a given day, this is a great way to increase your payout.
As you've seen, golf events open up a wide array of markets. The biggest tournaments are always tight, tense and riveting. Now is a good time to Check the Markets and see what opportunities await you at Viva Macau Sportsbook.
"Play it as it lies" is one of the fundamental dictates of golf.
The other is "Wear it if it clashes."
~ Henry Beard
Viva Macau Sportsbook - July 1, 2008
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