While golf continues on its unhappy hiatus, there are a number of long-term bets that look attractive. Betting markets are up for all of this year’s four Majors and also for the Ryder Cup so we can still take a wager on 2020’s five big tournaments.
There are also a few specials available including odds on individual golfers to win at least one Major this year. The concept is quite simple – pick a golfer and if they win one or more of the US Masters, the PGA Championship, the US Open and the Open Championship, you will land a profit.
Favorites
Rory McIlroy is the number one golfer in the world right now and the Northern Irishman is a favorite in all four Major events. Most operators, including BetOnline and Intertops, go +800 (8/1) on Rory to win the PGA Championship and that’s a similar price for all of the big four.
McIlroy has yet to win the Masters but he has claimed victory in the remaining three. Critics will point to the fact that his last Major triumph came in 2014 but he is the form golfer this season and has picked up four tournament wins since the start of March last year. Rory is on offer at +200 (2/1) with Bovada to win any Major and that’s the shortest figure for any player on Tour.
The closest challenger to the market leader is Brooks Koepka who is quoted at +275 (11/4) with BetOnline to claim any of the big four. Brooks has four Major titles under his belt and will be going for a third straight win at the PGA Championship. Injury has affected his performances over the last few months but the unscheduled rest can only help his chances of getting over the line. Remember that Koepka has also won the US Open on two previous occasions and he tied second at the Masters, one shot behind Tiger Woods last year.
Other players towards the top of the betting lines for this ‘To Win a Major’ market include Dustin Johnson at +300 (3/1) and Jon Rahm at +300, both with Bovada, plus Justin Thomas at +350 (7/2) with BetOnline. Rahm is our first non-Major winner but the Spaniard has the form to get over the line and, following some success in the UK and Ireland, he looks a good pick for the Open Championship at Royal St Georges.
This preview has not considered Tiger Woods as yet. The defending US Masters Champion is a good option at +400 (4/1) with BetOnline and we covered Tiger’s chances in full across last week’s preview.
Mid-Range Picks
The odds start to lengthen from this point but there should be some excellent value in this section of pro golfers. One player that interests us is Bryson DeChambeau who is listed at +800 (8/1) with Bovada and the fact that he drops to +550 (11/2) with other big U.S. betting outlets suggest that this is a player to follow.
There are some issues with backing The Scientist and his poor record in Majors is the initial concern. A best of a tie for 15th at the US Open in 2016 is all that we can offer but if he can hit the form that saw him dominate the FedEx series in 2018, those +800 odds will prove exceptional.
At shorter odds is former US Open Champion Justin Rose who can be claimed at +600 (6/1) with BetOnline. The Englishman is another player who enjoyed a strong FedEx run in the past and is tipped for another Major win down the line. Elsewhere, Rickie Fowler is on offer at +600, also with BetOnline while Jason Day is available at +800 (8/1) with Bovada. Fowler is now in the category of ‘best player without a Major win’ but a return to form could address that situation in 2020.
Finally in this section, punters may want to look at Xander Schauffele at +600 (6/1), Patrick Reed at +650 (13/2), both with Betonline, and Tommy Fleetwood at +700 with Bovada.
Outsider Punts
Shane Lowry’s victory at the Open Championship suggests that we could land a high-priced winner from a considerable list of outsiders. Lowry is in the frame once again at +1600 (16/1) with BetOnline while the same bookmaker has those same +1600 odds next to the name of 2018 Open Champion Francesco Molinari.
The 2019 US Open Champion Gary Woodland should also attract some interest. BetOnline have Woodland quoted at +1000 but Bovada go out to +1600 (16/1) and that’s a definite tempter. Not all players on Tour are mentioned and an ‘unnamed’ golfer could well come through but let’s now move on and discuss the names that we’ve touched on so far.
Our Preview’s Betting Picks’ Verdict for the ‘Who Will Win A Golf Major in 2020’ Odds
With golf taking this enforced break, it is very tough to assess where anyone’s game is right now. Those with good form at the start of 2020 have seen their progress interrupted while, at the same time, players such as Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson who were struggling with injury have a chance to build up their fitness.
We will start with Koepka who we feel will peak nicely towards the PGA and the US Open. He has won both before and has this happy tendency to raise his game for the Majors. Bryson DeChambeau is our second pick but it is a tentative one. The Scientist has that poor record in Majors and has maybe succumbed to run-ins with fellow players but the talent to win a big tournament is there.
As an alternative to Bryson, this preview suggest Rickie Fowler who can rise through the pack and win more than one Major moving forward. You could also take all three of these picks as we look ahead to golf getting back on the calendar. So here are our ‘who will win a Major in 2020’ predictions:
- Brooks Koepka @ +275 (11/4) with BetOnline.
- Rickie Fowler @ +600 (6/1) with BetOnline.
- Bryson DeChambeau @ +800 (8/1) with Bovada.
Matt Harris is a golf and soccer expert for USA Betting. His other area of specialist knowledge is cricket. He is well known in sports journalism and contributes articles to a plethora of big-name websites and media outlets. Titles that he writes or has written for include: Betfair, BetVictor, Unibet & Just Bookies.