Barclays Betting Guide
Sports’ betting has become a huge industry, and is enjoying unprecedented growth fuelled by the internet, increased media interest and the growing popularity of in-game betting.
In fact, it was recently quoted in Sports Illustrated that Internet sports betting is almost 10 times higher than those placed on traditional sports books. The magazine claimed that in 2003 sports betting online totalled $1 billion in comparison to $110 million for the sports books.
The game of golf is no different to other sports – there are literally hundreds of thousands of punters who are willing to part with a bob or two in the hope that they will have backed a winner.
In Barclays betting there are basically two popular betting options available to the prospective punter:
- Outright bets – the punter must pick the winner of the Barclays. Odds will differ for each golfer, the more experienced and successful they are, the shorter the odds. For example, the odds offered on Tiger Woods winning at the Westchester Country Club may be 2-1, whereas the odds offered on Stuart Appleby, currently ranked 37th in the world, will be appreciably higher, perhaps 20-1. Thus, if you have bet £100 on Tiger Woods clinching the Barclays 2008, you will win £200 plus your original wager of £100. If, however, Stuart Appleby clinches the title at Rye, and you have placed £100 for a win, then you will pocket a whopping £2000 plus your original bet.
- Matchups – the sports bookmaker will offer odds on two golfers competing against each other head-to-head on the golf betting odds boards. One possible matchup for the Barclays could be Justin Rose versus Padraig Harrington. Both are in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking, Rose at number six, and Harrington at number ten. Consequently Rose may be given odds of -120 and Harrington +60. The punter will risk £120 for every £100 he wants to win on Rose, and gets back £60 for every £100 he bets on Harrington.
Although these are the main types of bets available to punters, bookies will take bets for almost every aspect of the game including the longest drive or putt or closest to the pin.
To be successful at sports betting it is imperative to be as informed as possible about the players, the golf course, the expected weather conditions, and any other variables that may affect the outcome of the tournament. Many golfers change their equipment and caddies from time to time, and this too may affect their play.
Now that you have looked at our Barclays betting guide, try your hand at picking a winner.
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