A Complete Guide To Each Way Betting On Golf
9 min read
Stephanie Sorrell
13 Nov 2026
Quick answer: each way betting is common in golf, and you’ll usually find multiple each way markets with different numbers of places for a tournament. It’s difficult to use each way bets on golf as part of a Matched Betting strategy, but it can be an effective tactic for Value Betting.
Each way betting is most closely associated with horse racing, where it’s one of the most popular bet types.
But horse racing isn’t the only sport that employs each way bets, and golf is another sport with a strong each way betting scene.
Because golf tournaments are ranked, each way betting works well, and most bookies will even offer multiple each way markets with different numbers of paid places and differing place fractions.
So how exactly does an each way bet on golf work? Is it possible to take advantage of golf each way betting with smart betting techniques? And are there any risks to be aware of?
Keep reading for the answers to all these questions, plus bonus additional methods you can use when golf betting to maximise your profits.
Data Insight
According to YouGov research, 9% of regular UK gamblers had placed a bet on golf in the previous 12 months. This placed golf ahead of several other sports, including boxing (8%), tennis (8%), rugby union (6%) and cricket (6%), demonstrating an established market for golf betting.
- YouGov
Each Way Betting In A Nutshell
An each way bet is effectively two bets in one:
- One bet on your selection to win
- One bet on your selection to hit a paid place
Because you’re placing two bets in one go, your stake is also doubled when you place an each way bet.
In terms of your returns, the win part of your part is paid out at the win odds, and the place part is paid at a certain fraction.
In horse racing, both the number of paid places and the place fraction are set as standard, depending on the number of horses running in a race.
In golf, however, things are more flexible. You’ll typically see multiple each way markets, with varying numbers of paid places and place fractions, allowing you to choose the one that suits you best.
An example of an each way bet on golf
You decide to bet on an upcoming golf tournament, and check the outright markets with your preferred bookmaker. You find the following choices below:
You decide to bet on Tommy Fleetwood. He’s not the favourite, but he could still win, and you like his chances of making the top five. You therefore decide to bet on the 5 place each way market, at odds of 10, with a place fraction of ¼.
You stake £10 each way on Tommy Fleetwood, making a total bet of £20. Then all that’s left is to cross your fingers and watch the tournament.
Depending on how things go, your possible outcomes are as follows:
| Outcome | Total Stake | Return | Overall Profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy Fleetwood wins | £20 | £132.50 | £112.50 |
| Tommy Fleetwood places 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th | £20 | £32.50 | £10.50 |
| Tommy Fleetwood is 6th or worse | £20 | £0 | -£20 |
As you can see, your returns are by far the most significant if Tommy Fleetwood wins, but you do still make a modest profit if he hits a paid place. Of course, if he fails to place 5th or higher, you’ll lose your full £20 stake.
How Can You Take Advantage Of Each Way Betting In Golf?
You’re a little limited as to how you can take advantage of this type of golf bet. Unlike in horse racing, you don’t tend to see extra place offers for golf, which means that it isn’t generally possible to make use of Matched Betting techniques.
However, it is possible for experienced bettors to exploit golf each way bets through Value Betting, which involves finding and betting on selections that have been overpriced, giving the bettor the edge, rather than the bookie.
Just as in horse racing, the bookie sets golf tournament odds primarily according to the player’s likelihood of a win, rather than the likelihood of them placing.
Admittedly, the odds you see are adjusted depending on the number of paid places in a market, but the amount of value held in the place part of the bet can still vary quite significantly, which results in potential positive expected value.
Expert Insight
‘One of the biggest mistakes in golf each way betting is judging a selection purely by its outright odds. A player’s suitability for a particular course, recent approach-play statistics and consistency across four rounds can all influence their chances of making the places, sometimes more than their chances of winning outright.’
If you really know your stuff when it comes to golf, you might be in a position to perform your own research to establish where value lies and which are the best bets to place. But if not - or if you’d prefer not to devote so much of your time to research - Outplayed’s Golf Master can do all this work for you.
It works much like the Extra Place Master in No Lay mode, tracking down selections where an each way bet holds real value. All you have to do is choose your bet and place it!
It’s important to note that this strategy does involve quite significant risk, especially considering the number of players who take part in a golf tournament. Any bet you place could easily lose, and you’re likely to experience downswings.
Data Insight
The number of players in a starting field of an open tournament can be as high as 144, illustrating why an each way golf bet can be risky even when there are as many as ten paid places.
- PGA Tour
However, in the long term, and with a large volume of bets, you are overall likely to see profits when using a tool like the Golf Master, especially when used alongside other powerful betting tools such as Outplayed’s Extra Place Master and Lucky Finder.
What Are The Risks And Downsides Of Each Way Betting On Golf?
Each way betting on golf does have its advantages, especially for value bettors, but there are risks and downsides that it’s important to be aware of as well.
| Risk | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Losing money | Placing a straightforward each way bet on golf leaves you open to losing your full stake if the tournament doesn’t go your way. |
| Doubled stakes | Your stake is doubled when you make your bet each way, which means you’re risking twice as much money with every bet. |
| Risk of over-confidence | The knowledge that you could still see a return even if you don’t win could lead you to underestimate the possibility of losing money altogether. |
| Lower returns | Because the place part of your bet is paid at a fraction of the win odds, the returns you see if your player wins are lower than you would get from a win-only bet on that player. |
Expert Insight
‘Golf tournaments can be particularly unforgiving when it comes to bankroll management because even well-researched selections will regularly miss the cut or finish outside the paid places. Keeping stakes consistent and assessing results across a substantial number of bets helps prevent a short run of disappointing finishes from distorting your overall strategy.’
Are There Any Other Strategies You Can Use When Betting On Golf To Maximise Your Profits?
It isn’t always easy to employ smart betting techniques on golf, but there are techniques and strategies you can use to optimise your betting.
Matched Betting
Especially during major tournaments, you may well encounter offers on golf, and many can be capitalised on with Matched Betting.
Matched Betting involves placing bets both for and against the same outcome, which on a standard bet roughly means they cancel each other out and you roughly break even.
By making use of bookie offers, such as free bets, price boosts and other rewards, you can use Matched Betting techniques to lock in a profit, so that you make money no matter who ends up winning the tournament you’re betting on.
Matched Betting is ideal for beginners, as it’s extremely low risk. Although there’s a bit of a learning curve, Outplayed’s clear guides walk you through the process, and our expert support is always around to lend a hand if you get stuck.
To find out more, take a look at the Outplayed Beginner’s Guide to Matched Betting for all the information you need to get started.
Arbitrage Betting
Another possibility is arbitrage betting, a very similar technique to Matched Betting. With arbing, you still place bets for and against the same outcome, but you make money by looking for pairs of back odds with a bookmaker that are higher than the lay odds at the exchange, which allows you to lock in an immediate profit.
The main difficulty when it comes to arbing on golf will be finding good arbitrage opportunities. Outplayed members, though, have access to the Outplayed Oddsmatcher, which can be used to locate good matches for arbitrage bets on golf.
To find out more about how arbitrage works, take a look at the dedicated Outplayed guide.
Value Betting
As we’ve touched on above, Value Betting can be a great way to get the most out of golf.
Each way betting is actually the best option in this case, as tools like Outplayed’s Golf Master are designed to exploit positive expected value in each way markets specifically.
Expert value bettors may well also be able to locate other +EV golf bets by relying on their own experience and research, of course, but if you don’t have that kind of experience, this may not be a viable route for you.
To find out more about Value Betting generally, take a look at the dedicated Outplayed guide.
Summary
Each way betting is most common in horse racing, but it’s also a popular type of bet on golf, with multiple each way markets available for major tournaments with most bookies.
It’s difficult to exploit each way bets with Matched Betting, but value bettors can use tools like Outplayed’s Golf Master to make golf each ways bets part of a lucrative Value Betting strategy.
If you’re more of a newcomer to sports betting, you’ll probably find it easier to start with straightforward Matched Betting, which is more beginner-friendly and very low risk.
And the Outplayed free trial is the perfect place to start! When you register, you’ll gain immediate access to over 40 sign up offers, worth over £800 in profit.
sign up nowFAQs
1. Is each way betting on golf beginner-friendly?
It certainly isn’t difficult to place an each way bet on golf! However, it is fairly high risk, so if you’re looking to optimise your betting strategy as a beginner, we’d recommend starting with Matched Betting.
2. Can I guarantee a profit with an each way bet on golf?
No, it is always possible to lose your bet, even on a player who seems to have an excellent chance of winning or hitting a paid place. And because there generally aren’t any extra place offers for golf, it’s rarely possible to use Matched Betting techniques with each way bets on golf.
3. Is Value Betting each way on golf risk-free?
No, it is still a fairly high risk strategy. However, in the long run you are statistically likely to end up making a profit.
4. How do I get access to the Golf Master?
With an Outplayed Elite membership, our highest membership tier, which is tailor-made for serious value bettors.
5. Should I always bet each way on golf?
Not necessarily; it’s only worth doing if an each way bet holds actual value. And if you’ve found a golf offer and want to take advantage of it using Matched Betting techniques, you’re likely to have a much easier time placing a straightforward single bet.
Updated: 13 Nov 2026