There are various ways to bet on golf, each adding to the excitement and enjoyment of the game. Some of the most popular betting options on the best and biggest PGA golf tournaments include:
- Futures
- Live betting
- Long shots to win a tournament
- First-round leaders
- Each-way betting
- Tournament props
- Head-to-head matchups
PGA tournaments vary each year, but there are generally 39 tournaments: 36 regular-season events and three rounds of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, which start in August.
Professional golf features a quartet of prestigious tournaments, known as the majors. These four iconic tournaments—The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship—define the golf season. All golf courses are different, so deciding which tournament is best to wager on depends on your handicapping skills.
The Masters
This is the first major of the season, played at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia every April. It's the only major played each year at the same course. That helps, as bettors can analyze past results to inform their golf picks. It also enables data-driven analysis to lead the way, including metrics such as power, accuracy, greens in regulation, and putting. The Augusta National greens play fast on a hard surface. The Masters features a smaller field of 90-100 players, compared to 150 players in most other tournaments. This increases the chances of selecting a player in the Top 10, one of many reasons The Masters is popular among both amateur and professional bettors, and it signals the unofficial start of golf season for many.
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is held at various courses each year in May. This is where digging deep into golf statistics specific to each course is essential. Some courses have thick rough and many water obstacles, placing a premium on metrics such as bogey avoidance, accurate ball striking, total driving, and strokes gained approach. Climate, wind, rain, and temperature will also vary from year to year. With a larger field and varying courses, bettors need to take a disciplined, strategic approach, focusing on Top 20 finishes or head-to-head matchups with their PGA golf picks. Then comes the toughest test of all.
U.S. Open
Played in June, the U.S. Open is considered the most demanding of the major golf tournaments due to the challenging courses chosen. It's not uncommon for some of the best golfers in the world to fail to make par or even miss the cut. Fairways are often long and narrow with thick rough, while many greens play fast. The U.S. Open challenges every aspect of a player's game, rewarding accuracy and a golfer's ability to think carefully and plan. With all of these variables, bettors need to keep in mind that upsets are common during the U.S. Open. Geoff Ogilvy won in 2006 at 80-to-1. Webb Simpson (2012) won in San Francisco, capitalizing on an inconsistent field. Gary Woodland was victorious in 2019 at 66-to-1. Wyndham Clark won in 2023 at 80-to-1, while J.J. Spaun cashed in 2025 after being a 130-to-1 long shot before the tournament.
The Open Championship
Golf moves to Europe in July with The Open Championship, also known as the British Open. It rotates between links courses across Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland. It's the oldest major tournament in the world (1860), with stops such as the Royal St. George's Golf Club (England), The Old Course at St. Andrews (Scotland), and the Royal Portrush (Northern Ireland). With the Atlantic Ocean always nearby, unpredictable weather makes this tournament unique for golfers and handicappers. Accuracy tops distance, with irons, short games, tee-to-green, and scrambling metrics to keep in mind. Keeping tabs on wind and weather is crucial, and waiting until closer to tee time can reveal valuable last-minute edges. Handicappers can look at golfers who excel in challenging courses and conditions, such as European players. There is a close to even split between golfers from the United States and Scotland winning The Open.
Rocket Mortgage Classic
Basic handicapping fundamentals come into play for the Rocket Mortgage Classic at The Detroit Golf Club. It's considered a bomber's paradise with wide fairways and few obstacles. Simple power and putting are key. For handicappers who want to dig a little deeper, metrics such as driving distance, strokes gained, birdies or better, and par-4/par-5 scoring come into play. Few obstacles on the wide fairways mean long hitters have the best scoring upside. Additionally, skilled putters on Poa-hybrid greens can gain an advantage.
Charles Schwab Challenge
When conducting research, sports handicappers value consistency, which is why golf bettors appreciate this tournament. Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, has hosted the Charles Schwab Challenge since 1946, the longest-running PGA Tour event at the same venue. It's easier to identify golfers who play well on this lengthy course and those who struggle. 12 of the 18 holes are par-4s. The tree-lined fairways are narrow, with numerous doglegs leading to small, bentgrass greens. They never run in the same direction on consecutive holes, putting a premium on ball-striking, accuracy, and position off the tee. Metrics that shine include driving accuracy, greens in regulation, bogey avoidance, strokes gained on approach, and Par 4 accuracy.
Canadian Open
TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley is a 7,389-yard-long course with wide fairways. Bettors love driving power, and a golfer needs it on this course. Six par 4s are over 480 yards, with four over 500 yards. Even the greens are large and the bunkers deep. Players who gain strokes off the tee and those who hit irons well have an advantage. For bettors who want to dig deeper, key handicapping stats to consider are driving distance, strokes gained, and scrambling.
FedEx Cup Playoffs
Three tournaments conclude the PGA Tour season, crowning a champion. They are the St. Jude Championship, the BMW Championship, and the Tour Championship—all three packed into August—creating a thrilling finish. It all starts with a field of 70 players for the first event, whittled down to 50 in the second, and finally to 30 for the finale. The Tour Championship is the only one that has been played yearly since 2004 at the same venue, the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. It rewards consistency over three tournaments and playing well under pressure to capture the FedEx Cup trophy and $10 million. East Lake Golf Club's Tour Championship has narrow, tree-lined fairways that lead to elevated and undulating greens. Accuracy and exacting approach shots are essential, with pro bettors examining strokes gained: tee-to-green and approach, plus elite putting skills.
From Augusta to East Lake: Where Sports Betting Meets Greatness
With 39 tournaments across the PGA Tour calendar, golf bettors have no shortage of action. From the tradition of Augusta to the chaos of the FedEx Cup, each event offers unique angles, data points, and betting value. The key is matching your handicapping style to the course and conditions—whether that means trusting the bombers in Detroit, precision players at Colonial, or seasoned links veterans at The Open.
Study the stats, track the trends, and swing for value. With a bit of insight and timing, you can turn your golf picks into a profitable summer pastime.
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