Tour Championship betting tips and free bets – Best golf sign up offers for FedEx Cup Playoffs finale

The PGA Tour reaches its climax this weekend with the top 30 players battling it out for an $18million jackpot at the Tour Championship.

The handicap system - based on season-long performances in the FedEx Cup race -  means world No 1 Scottie Scheffler starts the week on ten under par, two shots ahead of nearest challenger Viktor Hovland.

Scheffler is three ahead of third place Rory McIlroy, and TEN clear of the men who just scraped into the field or Atlanta - which makes everything a bit complicated when trying to work out the best value.

As in previous years, I prefer to bet on the 72 hole stroke play market, in which everyone starts level.

Who is the favourite at the Tour Championship this week?

Rory McIlroy, who is eyeing a record fourth FedEx Cup triumph, is clearly the man to beat, and in a small field the 11-2 on offer seems reasonable. 

McIlroy is joint favourite with Scheffler, who may be more concerned with protecting his overall lead, something he failed to do a year ago.

The Ulsterman finished top in the 72 hole market last year, finishing 17 under par for the four rounds. He also managed to overturn a six shot deficit on Scheffler in the season-long standings to claim the top prize as well.  He simply loves the East Lake lay-out.

McIlroy continued his hot streak by finishing fourth in Chicago last week, his ninth top ten finish in a row. 

How to bet on the golf

Betting on golf is easier than you'd image and there are a host of interesting markets you can pick from.

Here are five easy steps for beginners.

1. Choose Your Favourite Sportsbook – there are plenty to choose from and most have their own app or mobile site.

2. Make a Deposit – each sportsbook will walk you through how to connect your bank account to their system including providing a list of all the safeguards they have set up to ensure the safety of your transactions.

3. Claim Your Bonuses – most sportsbooks offers bonuses to first time bettors in the form of free bets.

4. Place Your Bet – now it’s time to navigate through your sportsbook’s odds where they will offer a variety of options including outright winners, or top finishing positions, such as top 10 or 20, or even to make the cut. For the event this week each way odds are generally paid on the top eight players.

5. Collect Your Winnings – If you're successful you will be able to withdraw your winnings once the bet is complete. Some bookmakers offer cashout options on certain bets as well, which is worth keeping an eye on.

Where to find the best odds for the golf?

Lots of bookmakers have different options for betting on the golf this week, including competitive odds and different place markets.

We like the markets on bet365, including the price boosts on offer pre-tournament.

But it is worth shopping around to get the best value with each way odds and different places available throughout the market.

This week you can Jon Rahm to win boosted to 9/1 and Rory McIlroy to lead after round one and win the tournament at 9/1, too.

Bet on the golf with bet365 here

Golf tips for the Tour Championship

Most bookies are limiting their each way terms to four or five places - fair enough with just thirty players and no cut, but it makes it more difficult to settle on a few lively outsiders.

But Xander Schauffele could be decent value at 12-1, after overcoming a slow start to finish eight at the BMW last weekend.

The X-man is another East Lake specialist. His seventh place finish last year was the only time he has failed to make the top five in the 72 hole market in six attempts. And he has finished top of the pile twice, in 2017 and 2020.

Matt Fitzpatrick almost obliged for us at 50-1 in Chicago. It might be worth re-investing some of the each way returns at a reasonably generous 33-1 now that he is back in form.

Fitzpatrick was well down the field in Atlanta last year, but a first round 64 showed he has the game for this demanding par 70.

Wyndham Clark is also available at 33-1. First timers rarely do brilliantly at East Lake, but US Open champion Clark has been defying the odds all year, and he has to be on the shortlist too.

Elsewhere, there are only two more DP World Tour events before Ryder Cup qualification finishes in Europe, which adds a bit more interest to this week’s Czech Masters.

The European event is short on firepower, although Rome wannabes such as Adrian Meronk, Shane Lowry, and Robert MacIntyre will be desperate to impress Ryder Cup captain Luike Donald, Who is also in the field.

I like MacIntyre’s chances best among those ‘big’ names, especially at a reasonably generous 25-1. 

Lowry is making his first appearance at the event, but he has been installed as 12-1 joint favourite with Ludvig Aberg - who also looks ridiculously short-priced despite some decent performances on the PGA Tour.

Thriston Lawrence played well here a year ago and looks a good each way bet at 55-1.

He beat a similar field to win the BMW International a couple of months ago, while I would not rule out the chances of 50-1 shot Gavin Green - last year’s Czech runner-up - going one better this time.

And for those who like fancy prices, the 300-1 about Nacho Elvira - second at the Made in Himmerland event a couple of starts ago - might be worth a small interest.

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