A few weeks ago, I bet Scottie Scheffler to win the Masters at + In a major for the best golfer on the planet, that number was palatable. Jon Rahm (11/1 12/1) Reason to pick: He's the defending champ and he's finished in the top 10 in five of his last six starts. The Spanish. Erik Van Rooyen has enjoyed a steady start toafter returning back to the Winners' Circle best golf players to bet on right nowand now he can compete for the biggest. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, a three-time Wells Fargo winner and the pre-tournament favorite at +, headlines the field that includes Xander Schauffele (+).
Joaquin Niemann and Tony Finau were statistically the two best ball-strikers in the field but, unfortunately, both were hopeless on and around the greens. In Niemann's, it was one of a few frustrations, including the way Jon Rahm went to pieces having been two-under through eight. There is a long way to go and if Shane Lowry can nurse it to the clubhouse in level, he'll join Finau and Niemann as part of a large group of players who may yet work their way into this tournament — if Scheffler allows it.
He tees off late on Friday night, the spectacle of Masters weekend well under his control, along with just about everything else. Hodges hit the ball brilliantly on his Masters debut, ranking seventh in strokes-gained ball-striking. That he shot a two-over 74 can be put solely down to his short-game, which is usually pretty reliable. Adrian Meronk was very poor just as he had been a year ago.
For now, the Pole clearly has some Augusta lessons to learn and given that softer conditions ought to have favoured him and Grayson Murray over Hodges, the latter's advantage looks significant already. Throw in the potential for a better scoring day on his part, and Hodges ought to be favourite to double up.
Hadwin is typically among the most assured putters on the PGA Tour so we can expect that to change, whereas Hagestad will do well to lean so heavily on his short-game again, and does not set the bar high. Nor does Fred Couples, who shot 80, putting better than Hadwin.
This is surely a match, between a PGA Tour professional and an amateur, and Hadwin looks a big price at just a hair shorter than evens with several firms. One lucky winner will be able to treat themselves to the latest golf gear, play at hundreds of great courses across the UK, and even book lessons with their local PGA professional.
To enter, simply login and answer the question below before the closing date of 10am on Monday April 15 and one person will be drawn at random from all correct answers. The competition is for Sporting Life members only, so if you do not have an account you can join for FREE by clicking the button above.
Prior to round one I'd have been worried by Cantlay's long-game numbers for the season so far, but he went on to lead the field in strokes-gained approach and put such concerns to bed. Cantlay was on track to rank inside the top five or six before holing out on 17 so this wasn't one freak, holed wedge shot, more consistently excellent approach work in a one-under Rickie Fowler's ball-striking was worse than everyone bar Couples and amateur Jasper Stubbs.
And this was not unexpected: Fowler's long-game has returned to the depths it hit during his sharp fall down the rankings a couple of years ago. Min Woo Lee, meanwhile, is playing with a broken finger and the flu. He still managed to drive the ball well and we saw Tom Kim defy a bad injury at the Open, but Min Woo's approach play is a worry anyway.
Cantlay at odds against rates a fantastic bet. He gained over 8 strokes on approach in Mexico, but he forgot to pack his short game for that particular tournament. He has gained strokes off the tee in five straight tournaments and he has gained strokes on approach in five out of his last seven tournaments. Best golf players to bet on right now He will lose some strokes around the green, but he has made up for it with his putter as he has gained consistently on the greens since The Sentry in January.
He has gained on approach in six out of his last seven tournaments and finally gained some strokes around the green at Bay Hill. He finished T13 here in He has made the cut here in three out of his last four tries, with his best showing a T He seems priced too low to ignore this week. Reference this spreadsheet tracking who we have used. Scottie defends and wins by two.
Dennis Esser: Rory McIlroy gave me some hope when he drove the par-4 10th green on Saturday and rallied his way into contention by making huge putts from off the green. He then killed all of that momentum by playing the front side on Sunday with more squares on his scorecard than I have after hitting the bottomless bloody mary bar.
I went back and forth this week with Shane Lowry and Max Homa and can make a good case for either. Get all-access to exclusive stories. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us. Dennis Esser is a contributor to The Athletic, covering golf through the lens of sports betting and fantasy sports.
A resident of New Jersey, Dennis' writing has appeared in numerous fantasy and betting outlets. Fantasy Baseball. NBA Picks. NHL Picks. By Dennis Esser Mar 13, Start Free Trial. Spread golf betting is seen primarily in Europe and done mostly by experienced bettors trying to capitalize on any edge they can find. The spread is based on the number of shots by which the bookmaker thinks one player will beat another, and golf bettors buy on the spread or sell against it depending on how they think the player will perform.
More than half the country now has access to legal sports betting, and golf with its myriad of possibilities is a mainstay of golf betting sites everywhere. You can bet on golf at any of the trusted golf betting apps listed here, all of which are legal and licensed in the U. Any of the golf apps mentioned here are great options. They all offer a voluminous selection of golf events occurring both this week and the future, as well as live betting and other features.
Our reviewers rank BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook as two of the best golf betting sites, but all of the proven and trusted sportsbooks listed here feature competitive odds and great promo code offers for new users. Getting started is easy: Click to download the golf betting app of your choice, accept your welcome offer and begin making bets on popular golf events today.
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. We may earn a fee if you make a purchase through one of the links in this article.
And all the golf betting sites listed below are legal and licensed in the United States. Top App Features Daily odds boosts Bet editing and early cash out Industry-best rewards program Caesars Sportsbook Golf Another sports betting brand name whose lineage goes back to the Las Vegas Strip, Caesars offers competitive golf odds that are posted and updated quickly.
It is one of the top apps for golf betting online Top App Features Very competitive golf betting lines Regular boosts and promos Industry-best customer support Fanatics Sportsbook Golf The newest entry in the world of golf betting is Fanatics Sportsbook, an arm of the sportswear company. FanDuel Golf A former daily fantasy site that evolved into a powerhouse sportsbook, FanDuel is known for its incredible response time and unparalleled iPhone integration, which make it easy to quickly place live golf odds and bets.
Top App Features Great live betting options Range of ongoing boosts and promos Cash out option bet Golf Founded in Great Britain in , bet pioneered features like live betting and same-game parlays now standard across the industry. Golf Betting Promotions Just as all golf courses boast different features, no two betting golf promo code offers are created alike. Bet Credits Bet credits are what most welcome offers deliver: funds you can use to bet with, but are only valid at the sportsbook that dispensed them.
Bet credits also typically expire after a specific length of time, usually seven days. Deposit Match Bonuses Deposit match bonuses are just that: The sportsbook matches the amount of your initial deposit in bet credits, up to a certain amount. Odds Boosts Odds boosts increase the odds of a certain wager, boosting potential winnings as well. Contest Offers Some online sportsbooks offer entry into contests or golf betting games that can have big payouts for the winner.
Golf Bets Available The great thing about learning how to bet on golf is that it allows a ton of ways to wager because of the number of players and tournaments. Moneyline PGA Tour fields can have players, and nobody wins every week.