Each-Way Golf Betting Rules & Strategy Tips
Picking the outright winner in a professional tournament can be tough - which is why many punters place each-way bets on golf at the best betting sites.
In this guide, we cover the top tips and strategies for each-way golf betting.
We'll also explain the payout rules for each-way golf bets and outline what happens your bet when golfers finish tied for places.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about each-way golf betting.
What is Each-Way Betting in Golf?
There are so many good players, so many variables out on the course, and so many other factors that can dictate who wins each week.
Field sizes rarely drop below 100 players for tournaments on the PGA Tour and European Tour, so backing the winner is extremely difficult.
However, there’s another way to bet on golf that provides a bettor with more options and more chances of collecting a return.
Each-way golf betting allows you to bet on a player not just to win, but also to place.
Essentially, you are placing two separate bets when you back a player each-way in a golf tournament - one on the golfer to win the whole event and the other on the player to finish near the top of the leaderboard.
The number of places bookies pay out for each-way golf bets varies depending on what tournament you're betting on and which bookmaker you're betting with.
Five is fairly standard, with six and seven places paid also being quite common. However, the best golf betting sites will pay out on 8-12 places for bigger tournaments like the majors. More on that later.
Each-Way Golf Betting Odds & Payouts
The odds you get on a player to place will obviously never be as high as the odds on that player to win a tournament. But on the flipside, the chances of a bettor cashing in are much better.
An each-way golf bet is a great way to reduce risk while still having the chance to collect a tidy return from the win part of the bet.
Taking the 2021 Masters Tournament as an example, here's how to calculate your each-way golf bets.
2021 Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama entered the first major of the year at Augusta National with outright Masters odds of 40/1.
Among the best Masters betting offers available was Coral's extra places deal, with this bookie paying out on 10 places at one-fifth of the outright odds.
If you staked €5 each-way (total of €10) on Matsuyama before the tournament, you would have won €250. Here's how:
- A €5 bet on Matsuyama to win at 40/1 returned €205 (5 x 40 + your original €5 stake)
- A €5 bet on Matsuyama to finish in the top 10 at 8/1 (one-fifth of the win odds) returned €45 (5 x 8 + your original €5 stake)
- €205 + €45 = €250
What Happens Each-Way Golf Bets if Players Finish Tied?
This is where things can sometimes get a little confusing for bettors, as players often finish tied for places in golf tournaments.
Dead-heat rules can vary from one betting site to the next, but you will be paid out less if your backed player is tied for a place in some instances.
To better understand dead-heat rules, take a look at the following example of a final leaderboard. In this example, the bookie is paying out five each-way places before the tournament starts at one-quarter of the outright odds.
If you backed Jordan Spieth here, you would win your each-way bet both ways - as Spieth was the outright tournament winner and finished in the top five places.
If you backed Scottie Scheffler or Jon Rahm, you would receive full payouts on the each-way part of your bet, as they are both inside the top five for the purposes of your bet.
However, If you backed McIlroy, Finau, or Leishman, you would be looking at reduced returns from your each-way bet.
You can work out your returns by dividing the number of places left in the top five by the number of players tied for those places. In this case, three players are tied, so that's 2/3 or 66.6%.
- If you placed €5 each-way on Finau, your stake now becomes two-thirds, or 66.6% of your original €5 stake, so €3.33 in this case
- Remember that in this example the bookmaker is paying out five places at one-quarter of the outright odds, so the 40/1 price for Finau becomes 10/1.
- Multiply €3.33 by 10 and you get €33.30 added to your original stake of €3.33, so your each-way bet in this case would return €36.63
Each-Way Golf Betting Tips
Every bettor's each-way golf betting strategy will differ slightly according to their preferences.
But there are a few key tips you should follow when placing your each-way golf bets.
Here are three of the each-way golf betting tips we've found most useful over the years.
Make The Most of Extra Each-Way Places
Take note of the betting sites that offer more each-way places than their competitors. It's far easier to predict a top-10 finish for a player than a top-five, so it's always smart to favour the bookies with the most places.
Extra each-way places is more common for the majors than for regular PGA Tour or European Tour events.
PGA Championship, Open Championship, Masters and US Open betting offers are always more generous and you can find tonnes of specials and promotions online.
BoyleSports, Ladbrokes and bet365 have some of the best each-way golf betting terms for the four major championships and regular tour events.
Always Remember - You Can Profit Without Your Player Winning
Each-way bets can act as a kind of insurance. If you do your research and spread your funds wisely over a few different contenders, you can land a tidy profit without any of your selections actually winning.
In the 2020 PGA Championship, Tony Finau was trading at odds of 20/1 to win and 5/1 each-way, meaning a bettor would have landed a €250 profit on a pair of €10 wagers had Finau went on to triumph.
Finau finished fourth that year - but the bettor still would have won €50, more than doubling their initial investment.
The big-hitting American has racked up lots of top 10 finishes and top fives over his career, but he had only ever won twice on the PGA Tour before that tournament (he has secured four more victories since).
When making an each-way bet, don't just look for winners. Consider players who regularly contend for titles but often come up short.
Look For Value
As always, research is key. Make sure to be aware of a player’s recent form entering a tournament. If a player is battling an injury or some other issue, strong past performances may not be as relevant.
Also take a look at a player's course history, which can often be a big pointer as to how they'll fare. Consider an outside shot like Canadian player Corey Conners, who has a strong record at Masters, meaning he is always a good each-way bet for the first major of the year at Augusta National.
The goal is to find value, as in any betting situation. Golf research materials are readily available online, and each-way betting widens the pool of prospective betting candidates, allowing punters to dig deep and unearth potentially lucrative opportunities.
Read More: The best new betting sites - ranked and reviewed by our experts
Each-Way Golf Betting - Summary
Each-way golf bets can ramp up the excitement when you're watching a tournament. They can also be profitable if you employ the right strategy and luck is on your side.
One of the best things about each-way betting on golf is that you'll always get a good run for your money if a player you've backed is contending - and fun is what golf betting should be all about at the end of the day.
Best of luck with your each-way golf bets!
Recommended Betting Sites
- Our Top Pick118+. T&C Apply
- 218+. T&C Apply
- 318+ Play Safe. New customers using Promo code BB40 only. Min €10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 4 x €10, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 7 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below. gamblingtherapy.org
- 418+. T&C Apply
- 518+. Full T&Cs apply. New customers online only. €5 min stake (if EW then min €5 Win + €5 Place). Receive €20 Tote Credit and 50 Free Spins on selected game within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. Valid up to 7 days after registration. Dunlewey.org
- 618+. T&C Apply. Promo code: PRIBET100
- 718+. T&C's apply
- 818+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply
- 918+. T&C Apply
- 1018+. Min deposit €10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least €10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • Bonus valid on selected Casino games only • Bonus wins capped at €500, excluding Jackpot wins • You must wager Bonus amount x40 – this requirement varies by game T&Cs apply.
- 18+. T&C Apply
- 1218+. New Depositors Only. Min. Dep: €10. Max Bonus €100 + 10 Spins on Book of Dead. The welcome offer requires 1 deposit. Welcome bonus must be used within 14 days or it expires. spins expire after 24h. Bonus subject to 9x wagering with min. Odds 2.00 per single bet or 1.40 per combo bet selection. Spins subject to 35x wagering
- 1318+ T&C's Apply
- 14IRE/NI new customers only. Min Deposit €/£10. Min stake €/£10. Min odds Evs. Free Bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. Free Bets expire in 7 days. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment method restrictions. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. T&Cs apply.
- 1518+. T&C Apply
- 1618+ New Customers opt in, deposit and bet up to €100 at odds of 2.00 or greater within 7 days of registration, excludes deposits via PayPal & excludes cashed out bets. Matched bonus paid in free bets; 7 day expiry. Geo Restrictions. T&Cs Apply See Below. Please Gamble Responsibly.
- 1718+. T&C's Apply.
- 1818+. New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of $/€10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: $/€200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms Apply.
- 1918+. New customers only. Min deposit €10, maximum bonus that can be awarded in this promotion is €100. T&C's apply.
- 2018+. T&C Apply
- 2118+. New Customers only, Min deposit €20. min odds 1.5. T &Cs apply.
- 2218+. T&C Apply
- 2318+ T&C's Apply
- 2418+ T&C's Apply
- 2518+ New Players only. Bonus Code: PLAY10. Gamble responsibly. www.begambleaware.org
- 2618+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: €10, max €10 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. Full T&Cs Apply.
- 2718+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first €5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x €5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
- 2818+. New Players Only. Min £10 qualifying bets stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of £10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply.
- 2918+. Promo Code: ZB100S. T&C's Apply.
- 3018+. T&C Apply
- 3118+. T&C Apply
- 3218+. T&C Apply
- 3318+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: €10, max €10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply
- 3418+, New Customers Only, Play Responsibly, T&C Apply.
- 35Welcome Bonus Bet - Bet €10 Get €15 terms. This offer is for new sports customers only and is available once per household. Max. Bonus Bet amount €15. Minimum wagering on the sport to activate the Bonus Bet is €10 (which can be achieved from a Min deposit of €10). Offer valid only to customers wagering on sport €10 or more and make a qualifying bet in accordance with the Bonus Bet Specific Terms and Conditions below. 1st Place Prize: €1000. Prizes granted up to 48h after the tournament ends. Bonus Bet does not contribute towards the leaderboard. Click to see full T&Cs
- 3618+ New customers only. Opt in & bet up to €50 (min. €20) on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get up to 2x €25 in free bets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
- 3718+. T&C Apply
- 38Min. bet €10 to receive €20 Free Bet (placed 10 days from registration). Min. odds of 1.6. Free Bet credited at qualifying bet settlement and placed within 10 days.
- 3918+. T&C Apply
- 4018+, New Customers Only, Play Responsibly, T&C Apply.
- 4118+. T&C Apply
- 4218+ New players only. Opt-in Required. Min stake £/€/$ 10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wagering the winnings from the free bet. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £/€/$ 200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Excluded Skrill deposits. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Full Terms Apply.
- 4318+. T&C's apply
- 4418+ Ts&Cs Apply
- 4519+. New Customers only. Minimum deposit €20 & minimum odds 1.50. T&C's apply.
- 4618+ | ΙΕ new customers only | Max €100 free bet | Min bet €30 | Min odds 7/10 (1.70) | Bonus Code: BET30GET100 | Free bet stake is not returned | Offer valid until 31.12.2024 | Free bet valid for 7 days | T&Cs Apply
- 4718+. T&C Apply
- 4818+. T&C Apply
- 49NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. MAX ONE €10 FREE BETS. QUALIFYING BETS MUST BE PLACED AT ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. PAID AS BONUS TOKEN WITH MIN 4/5 ODDS REQ. SKRILL, NETELLER & PAYPAL NOT ELIGIBLE T&CS APPLY. 18+
- 5018+. T&C's apply.
Stay In The Loop With Free Bets, Insider Tips & More!
Live Betting. Sports Promos. Sent Weekly.