Golf Betting: Best Sites and Markets for the UK

What is Golf Betting and How Does it Work?

Golf betting is fairly easy to understand and is very popular in the UK, particularly for competitions such as The Open Championship.

You have to predict what will happen during a tournament, who will be the winner, or more specific aspects of each golfer’s performance. The most common bet is to pick the tournament winner. For example, at The Open Championship, you can bet on Rory McIlroy or Jon Rahm to win the title. You can also bet on head-to-head match-ups between players, such as who will finish ahead of the other in the tournament, or whether a golfer will finish in the top 10 or top 20.

If you do a bit of research, you can easily win; the player’s form, the type of course and their performance in similar tournaments all matter a great deal. A course like St Andrews, typical of the Open, is not the same as other more technical or longer courses.

Tournaments last several days, so you have plenty of opportunities to place bets. The odds are usually quite good too, especially when betting on underdogs; as there are so many players in golf, there’s a wider variety of markets and opportunities.

Why Golf Betting is Booming in the UK

Golf has a huge following in the UK, largely because one of the world’s most important tournaments, The Open Championship, is held there, which everyone follows with great interest. Furthermore, there are countless golf courses across the country, which encourages people to play more, understand the game better and also take an interest in betting.

Sky Sports’ coverage is crucial, as it offers full broadcasts, live analysis and updates on the most important tournaments on the PGA Tour and the European Tour. Thanks to this, more and more people are following golf, and betting has also increased, particularly on the major tournaments.

Key Tournaments & Outlook (2026 Season)

The 2026 golf calendar began in January with the major tours, particularly the PGA Tour, which remains active almost every week with tournaments across the United States and at a number of international venues. The first few months of the year already saw some major competitions, with events where players are starting to show their best form.

April saw the arrival of the Masters at Augusta, marking the start of the most important phase of the year. Then, between May and July, the four major tournaments in world golf – the majors – are concentrated, bringing together all the favourites.

The calendar continues into the summer with the rest of the regular tournaments and the FedEx Cup competitions, bringing the season to a close. August sees the play-offs and the Tour Championship, where the overall winner for the year is decided.

There are several players who are making their mark and are well worth keeping an eye on. Scottie Scheffler remains the favourite; he’s always in the mix at the major tournaments and in with a chance of winning practically every week. Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm are also among the best. Among the younger players, Ludvig Åberg and Akshay Bhatia are improving rapidly and are already starting to compete with the best. The British favourites include Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick and Robert MacIntyre.

• The Masters (April)
• PGA Championship (May)
• US Open (June)
• The Open Championship (July)

Most Popular Golf Betting Markets

Golf betting in the UK is very popular, particularly for major tournaments such as The Open Championship or PGA Tour events. Bets depend on the timing and the type of market. They can be live bets, futures bets – placed before the competition begins – or bets on specific markets, such as the results of particular rounds, the number of strokes or specific positions within the tournament.

• To Win Outright: betting directly on the player you think will win the entire tournament – one of the simplest and most popular options.
• Each-Way (E/W) Betting: you can win a payout if the player finishes in a high position, such as the top 5 or top 8, even if they do not win the tournament.
• Match Betting (3-Balls / 2-Balls): betting on head-to-head matches between players within the same round, choosing who will achieve the better result.
• First Round Leader: bet on which player will lead the tournament after the first 18 holes.

Major Tournaments to Bet On

In golf betting, the Majors attract the most attention; the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour are the events that generate the most activity at UK bookmakers. Tournaments such as The Masters, the US Open and The Open Championship bring together the world’s best players and therefore attract the majority of bets and markets.

Furthermore, the Ryder Cup is even more popular because it is a team competition between Europe and the United States; this generates much greater interest and means British bookmakers see a huge surge in activity when it takes place.

Key Factors When Choosing a Golf Bookmaker

When choosing a golf bookmaker, you can’t just look at the odds. It’s important to consider several factors, especially if you follow major tournaments such as the Majors or the Ryder Cup.

• Each-Way Terms: it’s important to check up to which position they pay out in major tournaments; some bookmakers cover the top 8 or even the top 10 in the Majors, offering more chances to win.
• Live Betting & Streaming: the quality of live betting is very important, because in golf you can bet shot by shot and follow the tournament’s progress in real time.
• Competitive Odds: look for bookmakers with competitive odds and low margins, particularly in markets such as the tournament winner.
• Fast Withdrawals: Fast payment methods such as PayPal or Visa Direct mean you can withdraw your winnings straight away.
• Mobile App Experience: a fast and user-friendly app is essential for following the tournament and placing bets from anywhere.

Top 3 Recommended Golf Bookmakers

In the UK, there are several bookmakers regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) that stand out particularly in golf due to the quality of their markets and promotions.

• Bet365: the most comprehensive, with extensive tournament coverage and a huge range of markets available.
• Mogobet: Cashback on the US Open
• Betmaze: Good odds on the US Open.

Final Thoughts & Expert Tips

In the UK, golf events such as the Majors and the Ryder Cup are the ones that really capture the public’s interest and generate a very high volume of bets. The most popular markets are tournament winner, Each-Way and in-play betting, which work very well in golf due to the number of players and the length of the tournaments; you can find opportunities both before and during the tournament. There are also British players, who generate a great deal of interest.

We advise you to analyse the conditions – such as the wind – before placing a bet, particularly on links courses like those in the Open Championship, as this can completely alter the course of a tournament and must always be taken into account before betting.

Bear in mind that betting should be for entertainment purposes only. It is important to gamble responsibly, set clear limits and, if necessary, seek specialist help from organisations such as GambleAware.