Golf: Ryder Cup Betting Explained

The Ryder Cup is the most famous of golf's tournaments and we at Unibet are well placed to know just how highly esteemed the three-day spectacle is.

Golf betting fans may love the Masters, the Open and the battle for the FedEx Cup. But in reality the most tribal and hostile crowds gather to watch the Ryder Cup. Actually, it is a cup which carries so much history and brings out the very best (and worst!) in golf.

American and European players of golf fantasize about lifting the Ryder Cup. So we have devised this golf betting guide to spell out what it's all about.

You will learn what is the Ryder Cup, odds Ryder cup and the best ways to follow all the action. Once you’ve read this guide you’ll be in a better position to head over to the Unibet sportsbook and bet on the Ryder Cup.

What is the Ryder Cup?

Ryder Cup is an American and European golf match played every other year. It is a three-day game consisting of various rounds of golf, played in various formats. The Americans and the Europeans are competing for points, which are compiled into the total score. The nation with the most points at the end of the game wins the Ryder Cup.

There are three types of match used in Ryder Cup golf. They are:

• Foursomes: Players are twinned and play as two against another two players in one round of 18 holes. Both players of a team will take turns to play the same ball into the hole. Therefore, there are only two balls on course. If a team wins the hole, the go 'one up'. If they lose the next hole, their score resets to zero. The leading team after the 18th hole wins.
• Four-balls: Again, players are grouped in pairs to play a match against another pair. But there are now four balls on the course. Each player has his or her own ball and the player who puts the ball in first wins the hole for his or her team. Scoring is the same as Foursomes.
• Singles: On the last day of the Ryder Cup, both teams split themselves into 12 singles matches. This is now an on-one scenario where players attempt to beat their next opponent. Scoring is in the same manner as Foursomes and Four-balls.

There will be two rounds of Foursomes and two rounds of Four-balls throughout the weekend of a Ryder Cup, as listed. One singles round is also played. Each 12-player team structures this so the winning team is the first one to 14.5 points. The Ryder Cup was last evenly matched back in 1989.

USA and Europe take turns as the host of the Ryder Cup. Games are being staged in the northern hemisphere summer, usually in August or September.

How are players selected for the Ryder Cup?

Each Ryder Cup team has a captain who will be assigned a number of players selected in merit order from their position. But the captains both have a number of personal selections that they can make. The players will meet a week or so prior to the Ryder Cup starts in readiness for the tournament.

The captains are officially on the team but do not, in reality, play a round. They instead pick who of the 12 players will participate in each of the five matches. Players can play in all five matches, but it is not common.

How to watch the Ryder Cup

Ryder Cup is always broadcast on TV in the UK and North America. You may have to pay the broadcasters according to how much you want to watch the proceedings. But with us here at Unibet, you can bet on it all throughout In Play options in our sportsbook.

How to bet on Ryder Cup

Ryder Cup gambling is enormous as golf enthusiasts go partizan to their own team. Remember, there are three days and five rounds to go through, and you can wager on each match in succession, along with the singles on the Sunday. Here are a few of the big golf betting markets you will have on the Ryder Cup.

Match bets

This is just where you bet on who you believe is going to win a particular match. On a Ryder Cup's Friday and Saturday, this will be reduced to Foursomes and Four-balls match betting. On Sunday, you would bet on players individually on the Singles. With bet on Foursomes and Four-balls, you will bet on which side you believe is going to win a match. For example, in a game of Francisco Molinari / Alex Noren vs. Webb Simpson / Kevin Kisner, you would bet on Molinari/Noren to win if you think Europe is going to win the match point.

You can also wager on a draw in match betting, where the point is divided between Team USA and Team Europe. Both sides will gain 0.5 points that are added to their scores. That's the reason why sometimes the running score total will carry half points.

Correct score

This is a great way to follow a particular match over a round in the Ryder Cup. The correct score market runs on predicting what the overall outcome of the individual match will be. You can bet, for example, on Europe to win by one stroke (+1), or USA to win by six strokes (+6). Correct score odds will change in the Unibet sportsbook as we have In Play betting on the Ryder Cup. So you can always bet (bet against your bet) whenever odds are shifting. You can Cash Out at any time too.

Tournament bets

These are the longer wagers and are more interested in the final result of the whole tournament. You can, for example, bet on the winner of the Ryder Cup rather than a specific winning match. Occasionally the home team in the Ryder Cup are the favourites to enter the competition, because they receive support from partizan crowds. But it is not always that straightforward.

Also, be aware that the odds on tournament wagers do change. So it is well worth considering when the best time to put the bet on is.

Most points

You can also bet on who will gain most points for their team. This is particularly exciting if you like following a specific player. The odds will also typically be greater here because players do not play the same number of games. The captains must decide which to choose for the five games in the three days. Some leading players will play four or five games, and some will get only two or three games. But if one of those other players who do not get used that frequently makes three points, they can still become the top points scorer!

Hole in one

This is one of Unibet golf specials. The supporters like to have a bet on hole in one and this is very popular market. The chances are always large as there have been six holes in one throughout Ryder Cup history!