All About Sports Betting on Golf
Settlement of Bets and Official Results
If an award ceremony is to be held, settlement will be made on the official result of the relevant governing body at the ceremony. For many bettors following major events like the Ryder Cup, accessing the best Ryder Cup odds is no less vital than knowing how official results are settled.
Except in the case of a ceremony, the bets will be settled according to the governing body's official outcome shortly after the event.
This clause shall apply regardless of later disqualifications or alteration of the outcome (with the exception of adjustments being made to correct reporting errors, subject to such adjustments being made within 24 hours of the initial settlement of the relevant market).
In the event that the "draw" outcome was not given and the outcome of the event is a draw, normal dead-heat rules apply.
When a tournament/round is restarting from the beginning, all bets placed after the official start time of the round/tournament are void except for those on outcomes which are independent of the restart. These independent bets are still valid. Betting on 2-ball or 3-ball markets is only void when placed after the official tee time.
2-ball or 3-ball stakes are acceptable regardless of whether players are clubbed together or are paired otherwise.
In case of a playoff, the result of the playoff determines only the tournament winner. Regardless of three or more players playing, the playoff is only to find the winner of the tournament. Finishing relative of eliminated players during the course of the playoff is not considered.
Void, Cancellation, and Postponement
Wagers made in the tournament are valid only when there is the required number of holes played for an official score. When the tournament is shortened, the wagers placed after the last round played are void.
Non-Starters, Withdrawals, and Disqualifications
If a player fails to start the tournament, bets on such a player are void.
Unless otherwise stated, any withdrawal of a player after the completion of 3 or more holes shall be deemed to have played, and these bets will be voided as losers. Withdrawal of a player prior to the completion of 3 holes renders all bets placed on that player void.
For the qualification bets for a tournament, winning players are those that qualify, regardless of later participation or non-participation. Qualification is decided, and later disqualification or outcome change is disregarded.
Tournament Bets (such as 72-hole markets)
If a player withdraws before a shot is taken, all single bets on the player concerned are void, including outright bets.
If no player completes a designated round, the winner is deemed to be the player with the lowest total score from the last round completed.
If no player completes the first round, all bets are voided.
Round Bets
- In 2-ball or 3-ball markets, the winner is the player with the lowest total score after 18 holes.
- If a player does not start, all 2-ball or 3-ball bets on him are voided.
- If pairings are redrawn, bets remain valid for original pairings.
- If a player posts a score but subsequently is disqualified, bets stand and are settled based on the posted score for the round. Signing the scorecard counts as participation; later disqualifications or result changes are ignored.
Hole Bets (Stroke Play)
Bets are settled when the hole is completed and later penalties or disqualifications are not considered.
In the case of a hole not being completed for any reason, wagers are void with the exception of those on uninfected results.
Hole Bets (Match Play)
Paid when the hole is completed irrespective of later penalties or disqualification.
Conceding wagers on a player/team are lost if a hole is completed by concession.
If a player/team has teed off but then withdraws or gets disqualified, they are deemed to lose, as long as more than one other participant comes back.
No bet on a hole will be taken if a shot is not made on a hole.
Individual Matches
All individual match wagers (e.g., Ryder Cup singles), where a tie is recorded after 18 holes:
- If a playoff or additional holes are included in the tournament, settlement will be as per that.
- Where halved matches are permitted, settlement will be "half."
In match-play team competitions, winner bets on individual matches are settled as void where the match is not taken to its natural conclusion (for instance, where players halve because team result is already decided).
Winning Margin Bets
Settled as per official tournament results, excluding any playoff.
Top Player Bets (e.g., Top American, Top European)
The winners are the players with the highest after the tournament has concluded.
Each-way bets settle precisely as outright each-way bets do.
Specially named players only are considered for settlement. Dead-heat rules are used if there is a tie.
Extended Win-Only Bets
If multiple players tie on the lowest score and there is no playoff, dead-heat rules are used.
To Make the Cut / Miss the Cut
Withdrawn or disqualified players, before having completed 36 holes (or 54 holes in 3-round events), are regarded as not having made the cut.
Where less than 36 holes (or 54 holes in 3-round events) are completed, this market bets are void.
Players withdrawn or disqualified after having achieved a score that assures them of advancing past the cut (after 36 holes) are regarded to have made the cut.
At the PGA Tour, bets on the players who "make the cut" or "modified cut" are settled as "made the cut" (pgatour.com leaderboard).
Big "X" or Similar Markets
Except as otherwise published, in the event of a non-participation by any of the starters named in a Big "X" market, all bets are voided.
We can at our discretion apply Rule 4 to this market if withdrawals significantly impact the odds of the non-withdrawn players.
Special Request Bets
Unless stated otherwise, bets on a player to finish Top-5/10/15/20 (or the similar) are settled as winners if the player is tied for the final position to qualify.
If one has bet on a player to finish Top-10 and the player is tied for 10th, then the bet is settled as a winner.