Overview
Making golf picks can be one of the most exciting bets. However, it can seem like luck at times. How can we predict if there will be an albatross, wire-to-wire winner or the number of golfers under par? There are some trends we can use to aid our golf specials predictions. Check out some of the most helpful information for upcoming golf tournaments.
An albatross is one of the most rare results in golf, which requires three-under par on a hole. Believe it or not, this occurs far less than hole-in-ones. Since 1983, the PGA TOUR has had 132 albatrosses. The latest was Xander Schauffele’s at PGA West in January 2023. This was the first albatross on the Tour since Stephan Jaeger did it in the 2022 John Deere Classic.
In the four major PGA tournaments, The Masters, PGA Championship, The Open Championship, and the US Open, we have seen 18 albatrosses. Nick Watney had the last one at the U.S. Open in 2012. That gives a perspective of how rare this is. We have not seen an albatross in over 10 years in some of the most prominent golf tournaments in the world. Ultimately, we cannot rely on specific players to cash in an albatross bet. Place the bet and cross your fingers (good luck).
Which players have been playing well and are capable of a dominant performance? For the PGA Tour, Joe Rahm and Scottie Scheffler are landing in plenty of golf specials news with their exceptional play. Rahm has four tournament wins and eight top-10 finishes in 12 events. He leads the FedExCup standings. Scheffler is in second place with two wins and eight top-10 finishes in 12 events.
Like albatrosses, wire-to-wire winners are a rarity. Remember, the PGA Tour features 72-hole tournaments. What are the Golf odds someone leads from start to finish? In the four major PGA tournaments, it has happened 43 times. The Masters has only five wire-to-wire winners. Jordan Spieth is the most recent to do it in 2015. Tiger Woods has the most wire-to-wire wins in major PGA tournaments with four. McIlroy has also displayed stretches of dominance with two wire-to-wire wins in the majors.
Other golf specials are far more common, like hole-in-ones. In fact, the PGA Tour averages around 30 to 35 hole-in-ones during each season. This is one of the more favorable special options among golf odds. However, the odds are much shorter compared to albatrosses and wire-to-wire winners.
Special bets take a unique angle, giving gamblers an opportunity to shake it up. BetUS offers many golf betting specials.
For example, the Icons Series features famous athletes and entertainers going head-to-head; this falls outside golf betting’s traditional parameters. Special tournaments typically follow traditional betting, which simply means picking a winner.
Special prop bets, like hole-in-ones or wire-to-wire winners, are another option. Prop bets are focused on an individual player or event, rather than picking a winner. Nearly every major tournament, like the US Open, offers special prop wagers.
How do Golf Specials Odds Work?
Golf odds are similar to betting in most sports. The premise of betting is attempting to predict a victor or event. In the case of specials, most wagers deal with an event rather than a winner.
The chances of the event occurring are represented by the odds. The favorite pick will have a negative number, while the underdog gets the positive. The greater the number, the bigger the favorite or underdog. For instance, a -600 is a heavier favorite than -100, or a +800 is a larger underdog than a +200.
An albatross line will ask, “Will there be an albatross in the tournament?” The Golf odds could be YES (+2000) or NO (-1000). This is straightforward with only two options.
The most popular specials are props for major tournaments. With its popularity and infinite possibilities, there are many choices.
Other specials are the traditional bet with a winner predicted. For instance, a bet for the Icon Series would simply ask for a winner. Let’s say the favorite is -125 while the underdog is +200. For the -125 favorite, a $125 bet is required for a $100 profit. The underdog pick would net a $200 profit on a $100 wager.
Golf special odds are straightforward. Many props will only give two options as yes or no questions. Traditional bets on tournaments like the Icon Series pick a winner.
Most Important Players
Golf is full of parity, giving bettors a wide variety of choices. Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Patrick Cantlay have been mainstays on the PGA TOUR.
Going forward, there is a youth movement in golf. Tiger Woods is attempting to get his footing as he returns to golf. Phil Mickelson has moved to LIV Golf, meaning he’s suspended from PGA play.
In 2022, new players have emerged. Sam Burns and Cameron Smith have played well this season. Within two months, Scottie Scheffler went from no PGA wins to holding the top spot in rankings. He tallied four PGA wins from February-April 2022, including a Masters victory.
Golf bettors have a wealth of players to choose from.
