Golf betting odds

One of the most recognizable sports around the world, golf is no stranger to stunning swings, frustrated stomps, and tournament upsets as its countless pros vie for pole position on any given course.

Of course, dark horse victories in the Masters and dramatic comebacks in the Ryder Cup are certainly possible, and it’s all part of what makes golf odds so varied and unique. If there’s something you want to place a bet on, you can be sure there’s a golf betting market in Canada covering it. Golf betting online in Canada is far less daunting once the odds make sense, and that's what this page is here for.

Still, betting on golf isn’t as simple as putting a wager on your preferred player to win and calling it there. Instead, you’ll need to learn how to read Canadian golf odds and then make a plan for how best to spread your wager to maximize potential returns.

So, with all that in mind, here's how you can get started with golf betting in Canada. Whether you want to bet on golf for the first time or you already have a favourite market, we've got every angle covered, from the four majors to the Ryder Cup and the week-to-week tour events in between.

How to read golf betting odds

Although golf odds in Canada are calculated in the same manner as those in the UK and Europe, rather than using a fractional system, Canadian odds are displayed in a decimal style format. 

Here, decimal odds show what you would win if you were to put down a $1 wager. Case in point, if Nick Taylor or Brooke Henderson had odds of 10.00 to win, for every $1 you put in, you’d win $10, for a profit of $9 – make sense?

However, understanding the decimal system is only part of reading golf odds in Canada, and you’ll absolutely want to pay attention to how high your odds are, as the bigger the number, the less likely the outcome is considered to be.

You'll also see American odds on this side of the border, and they're just a different way of writing the same price. A plus number is the profit on a $100 bet, so a contender at +800 (9.00) returns $80 profit on a $10 wager, plus your stake. A minus number is what you'd risk to win $100, which is why a heavy favourite in a head-to-head might sit at -150 (1.67). Golf odds explained the quick way: +800 implies roughly an 11% chance, -150 about 60%. Fields are so deep that even the pre-tournament favourite is usually a plus number, which is exactly why an outright golf bet pays so well when it lands.

Popular golf betting markets

A sport dominated by personal skill rather than team dynamics, golf betting markets are quite varied in their betting options, allowing you to put money on everything from the number of holes a player will complete below par to which pro will be in the lead at the end of each day. Naturally, this can make choosing where to start tricky, so we’d suggest going with one of the following initially:

• Tournament winner – A bet on which player will win the tournament in question.
• Each-way bet – A bet where you choose a player to win, while also picking where they will end up placing in the rankings if they don’t.
• Top finish – A bet on which segment you think your chosen golfer will place in.
• Head-to-head – A bet that one player will do better than another, either in one round or for the whole tournament.
• First round leader – A bet on which player will be in the lead after the first day of play.

A few of these deserve a closer look. The outright winner market is the classic tournament winner bet and the one most people start with when they bet on golf: with anywhere from 70 to 156 players teeing it up, the prices are long. An each-way bet splits your stake into two portions, half on the win and half on a place, with the place part paying a fraction of the win odds (a fifth is common, but terms are set per event) if your golfer finishes inside the stated positions, say the top five. Head-to-head betting strips the field away, so you're only asking whether your player beats one named opponent over 18 or 72 holes. Top nationality markets ask which player from a given country finishes highest, a fun angle in a week when a Canadian is in the mix, and a first-round leader bet settles on Thursday night, which makes it the quickest golf bet on the board.

Most popular golf tournaments to bet on

Despite there being countless different golfing competitions to bet on, if you want to follow the biggest names in the sport, then you should look to stick with the 4 major championships that take place each year.

Including the likes of the Masters, PGA Championship, the US Open, and more, here’s what you need to know about placing bets on these tournaments so you can better inform your strategy ahead of time:

Masters golf betting

One of the oldest and most prestigious golfing tournaments that takes place each year, the Masters is the competition to watch if you want to see the world’s best golfers face off against each other on the hardest courses from around the world.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but each scuffed swing and failed drive in the Masters comes at a price, with every single player looking to capitalize on these errors to stay ahead of the competition and take the lead.

The first major championship of the year, the Masters is the only one played on the same course every April, which is a gift for anyone who likes course history. Its field is also the smallest of the four majors, usually around 90 players, so outright winner markets are the most popular way in: fewer names means shorter prices than at a 156-player event, though even a favourite can be around +800 (9.00). Alongside the outright, you'll find markets such as each-way, head-to-head and first-round leader, and Masters golf betting tends to reward those who know Augusta well. Rory McIlroy went back-to-back in 2025 and 2026, the first player to keep the green jacket since Tiger Woods.

The US Open

Considered the premier US golfing event of the season, the US Open is held in similarly high esteem to the Masters. However, this event is not limited to the top 50 golfers in the world and often sees top-tier amateurs making the cut to play alongside household names.

Like the Masters, the US Open is definitely one tournament to watch if you’re hoping to see the pros battle it out across hard routes and freshly clipped greens while betting on those more niche golf markets.

Ryder Cup betting odds

The yearly showdown between the best US and European golfers, the Ryder Cup is the only team competition out of the 5 majors, meaning its betting markets may look a little different to those you’re already familiar with.

Naturally, all of the typical betting options will still be available for you to choose from, though these will be joined with Ryder Cup-specific alternatives, such as daily team leads, where you can decide which party is more likely to be in first by the end of each day of play.

What makes Ryder Cup betting different is the format. Instead of stroke play, every point is decided by match play: foursomes and fourballs over the first two days, then 12 singles matches on Sunday, with 28 points on the table and 14.5 needed to win outright. So Ryder Cup odds cover far more than the overall winner. You can bet on session results, on the outcome of each individual match (either side to win, or a tie), and, where in-play golf betting is available, hole by hole as a match swings. As a rough guide, the home side is usually favoured, so Ryder Cup golf betting odds might show the hosts at around -140 (1.71) and the visitors at +120 (2.20) before the first tee shot, with the tie a long price behind both. Europe are the holders after a 15-13 win at Bethpage Black in 2025, and the next edition is at Adare Manor in Ireland from 17 to 19 September 2027, which leaves plenty of time to get comfortable with the market if you're betting golf's team event for the first time.

The Open Championship

The official oldest golfing championship in history, the Open Championship takes place over 4 days and allows up to 156 golfers to compete at the same time on some of the hardest links golf course that Great Britain and Ireland has to offer.

An elimination event in many regards, not every player will actually make it to the final two days of the competition, with only the 70 best golfers present being allowed to progress to the end for a chance to win the trophy.

The PGA Championship

Much like the Open Championship, the PGA Championship welcomes 156 golfers to the stage each year.

Held exclusively in the US, the PGA Championship is again known for having tricky courses that truly test the skills of those who compete, and many of the best players have had hard times retaining their lead over the tournament full length.

Where can I find the latest golf odds?

Just like your local bookie, you can find the latest golf odds for every major tournament and more right here at Betway!

Dedicated to giving you the best golfing odds possible, we put every ounce of consideration into our calculations and conclusions, helping you to stay informed of any likely outcomes and what potential twists might occur after play begins.

To get started betting, simply sign up or log into your Betway account, make sure you’re verified, and once you’re ready, you can browse through each of our main fixtures until you find one you like the look of. And don’t forget that you can also visit our exclusive blog for expert analysis, stats, and golf betting tips before all those feet hit the green!

Betway is a licensed and regulated online sportsbook, so players of legal age in their province can place a golf bet on the majors, the Ryder Cup and the regular tour stops with the protections of a regulated sportsbook, including deposit limits and other responsible gambling tools. Set a budget before the first round, and don't chase a missed cut.

Can I use the Betway app to bet on golf?

Whether you prefer pre-tournament bets or in-play action, the Betway Sports app lets you stay ahead of all the action! Download it now from the Play Store or the App Store today to enjoy live betting, real-time updates, and exclusive offers right at your fingertips.