Mistakes to Avoid When Betting on Match Play Golf

Match play golf is one of the most exciting sports formats to follow because you get to watch such an intense personal game.  That is why it is also so much fun to wager on.  But match play golf also tends to get hyped up a lot in the press, and it is easy to be swayed too much by public opinion.  As a result, there are a number of mistakes you will want to take care to avoid.

• Assuming the more experienced, higher-profile player is always going to be the winner.  In match play, you may sometimes have two golfers with equally high profiles facing off, but more often than not, one player will be significantly more well-known than the other.  Avoid making the mistake of believing that the higher-profile player is always more skilled, more focused, and more likely to win.

• Siding with the favourite.  There is often going to be a very strong favourite in a golf match.  While it may sometimes make sense to bet on the favorite, it is not always the right decision.  Plus, sometimes the favorites' prices are so inflated that betting on him is not going to be all that profitable, even if he wins. 

• Putting less weight than you ought to on recent performance.  A golfer’s recent form is probably going to be his form in match play.  Sometimes a player can turn things around during a match, but quite often this is really hard to do.  So a player who has been having a hard time will continue to have a hard time during the match.  An exception might be a player who particularly excels at match play and has not been playing matches recently. 

• Discounting the importance of other factors.  Because match play is so focused on two individuals, it is easy to get tunnel vision when you are analysing the match and figuring out who to back.  But there are other important factors to consider.  Don’t forget that the course can have an impact on the match by lending one of the players an advantage.  Weather may also give one player an edge over the other.  Consider the crowd as well.  A player on his home turf may receive more support—but also be under greater pressure. And finally, keep in mind the impact of the match's location.

One last mistake to avoid when you are betting on match play is to try to bet on every match.  There is something about golf matches which just makes them extra tempting to punters.  You may feel a need to get on the action each and every time.  But there are a lot of golf matches over the course of the year, and you will run through your bankroll very quickly doing this.  So pick matches where you have solid analysis going for you and a reasonably good chance at winning—and where you will get a great value.  If you just focus on these matches, you will probably rake in the profits!