Golf November 4, 2020 Houston Open 2020 Preview, Odds & Picks The 2020 instalment of the Houston Open gets underway this week, and it promises to be one of the most exciting golf events of the year. It will be one of the final events for some of the most recognisable players on the tour before The Masters gets underway in the middle of November. Jon Rahm is the betting favorite in PGA 2021 Phoenix Open odds. The tournament runs from Feb. 4-7 in Arizona, so check out our betting tips. The PGA Tour hits the desert this week for the 2021 edition of the Phoenix Open. For example, with a wager of $100 and odds of 35/2 on Jim Furyk to win outright (said thirty-five-to-two), one could see a profit of $1,750 (35 divided by 2, multiplied by $100) plus the stake amount for a total potential return of $1,850. Compare outright winner odds for other important golf tournaments. US Masters Winner Odds. If you wager $100 on Day to win the event and he comes in first, then you would win $1,000 (5 ÷ 2 x 100). You would collect $1,100, which includes your win and stake ($100). What does the FIELD mean? Many golf tournaments will include a betting selection called the Field. This bet consists of all golfers not listed in the 'Odds to Win.' Shane Lowry won The Open Championship as a whopping +8,000 underdog in 2019 and will be a long shot once again in 2021 with odds of +3,300. Photo By - USA TODAY Sports The Open Championship may.
Golf has always been a popular game with scores of fans around the world but the rise of golf betting has taken interest in the sport to a new level. PGA Tour, lower-level tour and international golf events run nearly every weekend of the year now and that brings plenty of golf betting opportunities along with them.
If you’re a passive golf fan, you can bet on a tournament winner from time to time and call it a day. If you’re a more passionate golfer (and fan) you can consider a wide range of PGA golf bets every week from the top 10 finishers to the score of your favorite golfer vs. another golfer, to live “next shot” bets and more.
You can also get out the crystal ball for the four Majors and pick your winners well in advance (at very good prices) thanks to a vast futures odds market for the Masters, PGA Championship, US Open and Open Championship.
With major technological advances in golf coverage and the volume of golf events increasing exponentially, live golf betting has also taken off. Golf bettors have taken notice with hundreds of thousands more spent on golf bets each year compared to the last.
In years past, betting on golf required a trip to LasVegas or taking your chances with an offshore sportsbook. That’s no longer the case. In May 2018, the US Supreme Court weighed in on a case involving the legality of sports betting.
In a nutshell, the justices decided that it was a matter for the individual states to decide. Several states have picked up the ball and ran with it, and they now have a thriving sports betting industry as a result.
Golf bettors in legalized states will find that they have plenty of legal sportsbook options. Even better, they can bet on the PGA and smaller tours when and where they would like via sports betting apps or legal and regulated online sportsbooks. Here is a partial list of where you can bet on golf legally online in the US:
The most significant events on the PGA golf calendar naturally attract the most interest. On the PGA Tour, these four tournaments are, of course, the Majors. These events have a select line-up of the most prominent names to the field plus who has played well lately or placed well in past events.
Majors draw the most attention when it comes to golf betting and, thanks to golf futuresodds, you can weigh in on the winner of the events before they even take place.
For example say the Masters, one of the four Majors, is still a few months away. Let’s say you like the way one golfer has been playing thus far but he hasn’t captured a lot of attention. As a result, he might have some long odds to win the Masters. You can place a bet on him to win at these long odds and cash-in a nice payday if he wins.
It’s similar to how NFL bettors will place bets on the winner of the Super Bowl for the coming year. That’s another very active futures market and one which provides a chance at an excellent return if your hunches prove correct.
Check the live odds below for the latest odds on the next PGA tournament. Click on any odds to go directly to the sportsbook and start the process of making your bet.
As mentioned, golf’s four Majors attract the most betting and viewing interest. These events are rich in history, stacked with the world’s best golfers and played on the most breathtaking golfcourses on the planet. What are these signature events and when do they take place? How can you bet on all aspects of them? Let’s take a look.
Still the most popular of all golf’s events, the Masters is a massive highlight for sports bettors. It is typically the first Major on the calendar.
The 2021 Masters will return back to its usual spot in the Spring after last year’s tournament being postponed to November, and new champion Dustin Johnson is expected back to defend his green jacket.
In 2020 Johnson blitzed his way to his first green jacket with a record -20 under par performance. In 2019, Tiger Woods completed a comeback for the ages in winning the Masters, the fifth time he has won this prestigious event in his legendary career. He’s second on the all-time list for Masters’ wins, behind only Jack Nicklaus and his six victories.
In 2020 the PGA was the first Major on the PGA rescheduled due to the Coronavirus lockdown earlier in the year. 23-year-old Collin Morikawa dazzled with a final round 64 and a tee shot on 16 at TPC Harding Park that will be remembered for decades.
Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey tied for second while Tiger Woods tied for 37th. Here is the current schedule for the 2021 PGA Championship.
If you want to make a futures bet on the 2021 PGA Championship, check our full page for updated odds.
While the Masters is held in high esteem, the PGA’s US Open can also stake its claim as the biggest event of the year for golfers.
The 2020 US Open fit that billing to a tee with a difficult course (Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, NY) navigated under par by only the best. In this case it was Bryson DeChambeau, who was the only player to finish under par at -6 despite, confoundingly, not hitting many fairways—usually considered essential at a US Open.
DeChambeau’s dazzling display earned him $2,250,000. If all goes according to plan, the 2021 US Open will return to its typical dates in mid-June.
If you want to bet on a player to win the 2021 US Open, odds on key players will be posted at DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook & BetMGM Sportsbook at the beginning of the 2021 PGA season.
Held across the pond in the UK, the Open Championship has a history that can match up with any of the other majors. Sadly, due to Covid-19, the Open Championship was postponed for 2020, but returns in 2021.
If the US Open is the toughest to win, then the event that’s also known as the British Open isn’t far behind. Ireland native Lowry celebrated the biggest win of his career in his home country, as last year’s edition in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Harry Vardon holds the record with six victories at this event, the last of which came in 1914.
If you’re comfortable betting on football or basketball, betting on golf can take some adjustment. At first glance, the different kinds of bets can seem like foreign concepts. The best place to start is with the golf betting basics and work your way up. A clear understanding of the main concepts and types of golf bets will help position you to make smarter bets as you go.
In golf, you bet on the performance of an individual, unlike the major team sports. Like team sports, though, you’ll still be doing research on past performance and current trends before making your bets.
Let’s take a look at the basic types of golf bets you can place:
While there are distinct differences between betting on teams and individual sports, there is also some crossover. In fact, you’ll find that solid research skills translate well as you expand your horizons into different areas of sports betting.
If you have a knack for breaking down contests or events in another niche, there’s a chance you’ll catch on quickly as you look to branch out into new areas.
One of the most significant developments in the sports betting world over the past few years has been live betting. Also known as “in play” betting, these are bets you can place as the action unfolds in real-time.
As a golf tournament plays out, you can react to what’s going on by placing some live bets. This market moves fast, so odds and opportunities will vary. Options include a head-to-head matchup of two golfers, or how many strokes it may take a golfer to complete an upcoming hole.
You can enjoy live betting online or via the mobile app of your choice. Since golf tournaments typically begin on a Thursday and go through Sunday, there could be a lot of unforeseen developments along the way.
In-play betting via a mobile app allows you to bet as the event happens, no matter where you are in one of the legalized states.
Prop betting is another way to get some skin in the game. It is different from worrying about which golfer is going to win or place. In short, prop bets are side wagers on events that may or may not happen during a tournament.
Offerings will vary by sportsbook and event, but you’ll find many similarities with the more experience you get. For example, you may see prop bets on the following:
Prop bets can open up a new world of possibilities outside of your standard win and place bets. Be sure to check out the menu of offerings for upcoming tournaments at your sportsbook of choice.
While the majors get the most attention, that’s not all there is to see when it comes to betting on golf. The tour calendar is full of events that run from September through August.
The action intensifies in the spring and summer months with numerous events that are smaller than the Majors but attract plenty of interest.
For each of these events — and all of the others on the PGA Tour — you’ll find a full range of betting markets. You should note that most golf betting action will come on PGA Tour events. You may find action on lower-level tours such as the Senior and European circuits as well.
The LPGA, or Ladies Professional Golf Association, runs a full calendar of events as well. While prize pools are slightly smaller than on the men’s side of the equation, the competition is just as fierce.
You should note that LPGA events don’t attract as much betting interest as the PGA Tour does so you may have limited options. However, you can find some good value opportunities in a sport that doesn’t receive as much attention from oddsmakers.
For another wrinkle in golf betting, select match-play events occur throughout the year. In these events, you’ll find head-to-head opportunities, so a change-up in your approach is necessary.
In stroke-play events, the general goal is to find the winners and those who will play well. For match play, it’s all about the matchups. Which golfer in a pair will outperform the other?
Quite simply, it’s like betting on the winner of an NBA game. You’ll have a favorite and underdog for each matchup, and moneyline odds to go along with that.
The Ryder Cup is perhaps the most popular match-play event in the world. Teams from Europe and the US go head-to-head every two years, with the venue changing each time.
The daily fantasy sports(DFS) industry has come a long way since the early days. The various innovations contribute to its explosive growth.
Included on that list is DFS golf, a game that continues to grow in popularity. The two largest operators, DraftKings and FanDuel, offer games for the weekly PGA tournaments. Here’s how they compare to each other:
As with sports betting, the major events attract the most interest; however, there’s a loyal and devoted player base anytime there’s an event.
Thegoal is to build the highest-scoring lineup from a pool of golfers scheduled to compete, all while staying under the salary cap. Traditionally, the games will span the entire four days but you can also find DFS for single rounds and weekends.
You can find various game types such as tournaments and 50/50s, at different price points with the chance to win real money prizes. For the biggest events, such as the Masters and US Open, prize pools for the major tournaments can be massive.
As an example, DraftKings often runs a $2.5m guaranteed DFS special for The Players with a $1m prize for first. Visit DraftKings DFS to claim your $20 free and play golf DFS in over 40 states
As with all other kinds of sports betting, the odds are a significant factor when it comes to golf. There are favorites and longshots to win each tournament. Your job is to find the winners and potential value plays that may win or place. For the 2020 SentryChampionship, for example, these were the starting odds for the fivefavorites:
Oddsmakers deemed Johnson and Thomas as the most likely to take down the Sentry. They have shorter odds than the field as a result. You’ll find odds listed for all of the players in the field each week, ranging from low to high.
For example, odds for golfers at the Sentry start at a low +600 to an eye-popping +50,000. You’ll find a similar listing of odds when you dig into a future event.
It’s a similar story when you’re looking at other kinds of golf bets, such as top 10 or top 20 finishers in a tournament. For head to heads, groups and various prop bets, it’s a little different. Let’s take a look at the odds for a head-to-head matchup at the Sentry using a⅔ balls format as an example:
As you can see, Johnson is a pretty big favorite here. To break down this head-to-head matchup, you’d want to approach it like how you would bet on a game:
As you gain experience with golf betting, you’ll come to find that the odds aren’t that hard to understand. Also, you’ll get to the point in which you’ll see those potential value opportunities, for example, such as a point spread that seems off in an NFL game.
For more on other “niche” sports you can bet on at US online sportsbooks, check our page here:
The traditional PGA Tour event stretches over four days, from Thursday to Sunday. It can be challenging to be in front of the TV for that long; however, you have options if you are on the go.
You can find live streams of PGA events online and via mobile. Some of them will come right from the sportsbooks themselves. The advent of live betting and sports wagering, in general, has been a catalyst on this front. We can assume that there will be a lot more to come here.
For your safety, stick to the legal and regulated US sites we recommend. If they offer a stream for an event you’re interested in, you’re good to go. If not, check out PGA.com for information on how and where you can legally and safely stream tour events.
There are hundreds of golf terms, some even the professional sometimes forget. Here are just a few of the basic terms you might hear. There are many sites online offering the full index.
Sep 9, 2016; Carmel, IN, USA; Dustin Johnson hits a tee shot during the second round Friday at the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick GC. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
This week's 2020 U.S. Open marks the sixth time the tournament has been held at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York. Fuzzy Zoeller and Greg Norman are the only two players to go under par over 72 holes before Zoeller won in a playoff in 1984. With over 200 yards added since the U.S. Open was last played at Winged Foot in 2006, the world's top players could be in for a challenge when the first 2020 U.S. Open tee times get underway on Thursday at 6:50 a.m. ET.
Dustin Johnson is the 17-2 favorite in the current 2020 U.S. Open odds from William Hill. However, Jon Rahm (10-1), Justin Thomas (14-1), Rory McIlroy (16-1) and Xander Schauffele (16-1) are also near the top of this week's PGA odds board for the U.S. Open 2020. Before locking in your 2020 U.S. Open picks or entering any PGA DFS tournaments on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel, be sure to see the golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
SportsLine's prediction model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, has been on fire since the return of the PGA Tour in June. In fact, it's up over $8,000 on its best bets since the restart, nailing tournament after tournament.
McClure finished profitable to open the FedEx Cup Playoffs at the Northern Trust, nailing three of his best bets, including a +700 top-five bet on Daniel Berger. After hitting a top-five bet (12-1) on Doc Redman at the Wyndham Championship, McClure finished up over $700 in that event.
The model was all over Dustin Johnson (8-5) finishing on top of the leaderboard at the Tour Championship and Justin Thomas winning the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational at 12-1. And at the 3M Open, McClure's best bets returned a whopping $1,100 as he nailed a top-five pick on Max Homa (12-1) and a top-20 pick on Talor Gooch (4-1). Those are just some of his big recent wins.
In all, the advanced computer model has nailed a whopping six majors entering the weekend, including two of the last four. Last year at the U.S. Open, the model nailed Gary Woodland's win entering the weekend, even though he wasn't the favorite. Anyone who has followed its golf picks has seen massive returns.
Now that the 2020 U.S Open field is taking shape, SportsLine simulated the event 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard.
One huge shocker the model is calling for at the U.S. Open 2020: Rory McIlroy, a former U.S. Open champion and one of the top Vegas favorites, stumbles and barely cracks the top five. McIlroy's emphatic 2011 U.S. Open victory at Congressional Country Club was remarkable, defeating runner-up Jason Day by eight strokes.
McIlroy was also sensational at the beginning of the 2019-20 season, finishing fifth or better in his first six starts. However, McIlroy has seen a dramatic drop-off after the PGA Tour resumed play following the hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, he has recorded just one top-10 finish since June and enters the 2020 U.S. Open having finished outside the top 30 in six of his last nine starts.
McIlroy's inconsistent performances can be directly attributed to his inability to find the fairway off the tee. The four-time major champion finished last season ranked 155th in driving accuracy percentage (56.34), which doesn't bode well for his chances to finish on top of the leaderboard at Winged Foot. He's not a strong pick to win it all and there are far better values in this loaded U.S. Open 2020 field.
Another surprise: Daniel Berger, a massive 30-1 long shot, makes a strong run at the title. He has a much better chance to win it all than his odds imply, so he's a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. After recording three consecutive top-10 finishes before the PGA Tour shut down due to the coronavirus, Berger picked up right where he left off with a win the first week after the restart at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
Berger went on to record three more top-three finishes down the stretch and has only landed outside the top 25 once since February. Berger ranked 27th in strokes gained off the tee, so he has the length and accuracy to be a factor. He also ranked 17th in strokes gained putting, so he should be able to tame the lightning-fast greens at Winged Foot. The model is backing Berger as part of its 2020 U.S. Open bets.
Also, the model is targeting four other golfers with odds of 18-1 or higher to make a strong run at the title. It's also targeting an epic long shot to win it all. Anyone who backs these underdogs could hit it big. You can only see them here.
So who wins the 2020 U.S. Open? And which long shots stun the golfing world? Check out the odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected 2020 U.S. Open leaderboard, all from the model that's nailed six golf majors, including Woodland's upset win last year, and is up over $8,000 since the restart, and find out.
Dustin Johnson 17-2
Jon Rahm 10-1
Justin Thomas 14-1
Xander Schauffele 16-1
Rory McIlroy 16-1
Collin Morikawa 18-1
Bryson DeChambeau 22-1
Webb Simpson 28-1
Daniel Berger 30-1
Patrick Cantlay 30-1
Hideki Matsuyama 33-1
Tony Finau 35-1
Tommy Fleetwood 35-1
Jason Day 40-1
Adam Scott 40-1
Patrick Reed 40-1
Tyrrell Hatton 45-1
Tiger Woods 50-1
Rickie Fowler 55-1
Justin Rose 55-1
Viktor Hovland 55-1
Paul Casey 55-1
Matthew Fitzpatrick 55-1
Gary Woodland 60-1
Matthew Wolff 60-1
Harris English 66-1
Sung-Jae Im 70-1
Shane Lowry 80-1
Abraham Ancer 80-1
Louis Oosthuizen 80-1
Phil Mickelson 80-1
Brendon Todd 80-1
Sergio Garcia 80-1
Marc Leishman 100-1
Martin Kaymer 100-1
Henrik Stenson 100-1
Joaquin Niemann 100-1
Cameron Champ 100-1
Billy Horschel 100-1
Si Woo Kim 100-1
Matt Kuchar 100-1
Bubba Watson 100-1
Kevin Kisner 100-1
Ian Poulter 125-1
Bernd Wiesberger 125-1
Cameron Smith 125-1
Rasmus Hojgaard 125-1
Danny Willett 125-1
Matt Wallace 125-1
Lee Westwood 125-1
Byeong-Hun An 150-1
Erik Van Rooyen 150-1
Kevin Na 150-1
Corey Conners 150-1
Alex Noren 150-1
Sam Horsfield 150-1
Will Zalatoris 150-1
Jason Kokrak 150-1
Brandt Snedeker 150-1
Thomas Pieters 150-1
Branden Grace 150-1
Mackenzie Hughes 150-1
Zach Johnson 150-1
Chez Reavie 150-1
Ryan Palmer 150-1
Joel Dahman 175-1
Matthias Schwab 200-1
Lanto Griffin 200-1
Andy Sullivan 200-1
Tom Lewis 200-1
Rafa Cabrera Bello 200-1
Kevin Streelman 200-1
Keegan Bradley 200-1
Graeme McDowell 200-1
Sebastian Munoz 200-1
Christiaan Bezuidenhout 200-1
Lucas Glover 200-1
Mark Hubbard 200-1
Brian Harman 200-1
Robert Macintyre 200-1
Brandon Wu 200-1
Thomas Detry 200-1
Sami Valimaki 250-1
Justin Harding 250-1
Max Homas 250-1
Ryan Fox 250-1
Eddie Pepperell 250-1
Michael Thompson 250-1
Victor Perez 250-1
Adam Hadwin 250-1
Tyler Duncan 250-1
Mike Lorenzo-Vera 250-1
Paul Waring 250-1
Chesson Hadley 300-1
Troy Merritt 300-1
J.T. Poston 300-1
Richy Werenski 300-1
Connor Syme 300-1
Danny Lee 300-1
Adam Long 300-1
Jimmy Walker 300-1
Renato Paratore 300-1
Romain Langasque 300-1
Sung-Hoon Kang 300-1
Kurt Kitayama 300-1
Takumi Kanaya 300-1
Ryo Ishikawa 400-1
Matt Jones 400-1
Shugo Imahira 400-1
Jazz Janewattanond 400-1
Jim Herman 400-1
Adrian Otaegui 400-1
Curtis Luck 400-1
Lee Hodges 400-1
Andrew Putman 400-1
Davis Riley 400-1
Lucas Herbert 400-`
J.C. Ritchie 500-1
Chan Kim 500-1
Stephan Jaeger 500-1
Davis Thompson 500-1
Ricky Castillo 500-1
Eduard Rousaud 500-1
Cole Hammer 500-1
Paul Barjon 500-1
Taylor Pendrith 500-1
Shaun Norris 500-1
Steve Stricker 500-1
Preston Summerhays 750-1
Lukas Michel 750-1
John Pak 750-1
Andy Ogletree 750-1
Greyson Sigg 750-1
John Augenstein 750-1
Chun-An Yu 750-1
Scott Hend 750-1
Danny Balin 1000-1
Sandy Scott 1000-1
Ryan Vermeer 1000-1
Dan McCarthy 1000-1
Marty Jefferson 1000-1
James Sugrue 1000-1