Betting on golf is a fun experience because there are a ton of options, such as choosing the outright winner or taking a longshot to make the cut. There are not many better feelings in sports betting than watching your favorite pick win a tournament.
We now have a newcomer to the scene in the LIV Golf Tour, giving players another outlet to satisfy their hunger for golf betting.
In this article, we’ll describe the LIV Golf Tour and guide you toward the best online sportsbooks and promotions available across the industry.
What is the LIV Golf Tour?
The LIV Golf Tour is a newly minted startup league that is trying to compete with the PGA Tour. It is financially backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the government initially provided $400 million to get the ball rolling.
You may remember Greg Norman, former world no.1 and winner of two majors. He now works as CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf Investments. Expect to see more familiar faces throughout LIV as the tour continues to grow.
LIV is not an acronym, but the Roman numeral “54." The significance here is that this number is the lowest score you can get if you birdie every hole on a par-72 course. Each event is three rounds of 18 holes, which amounts to 54, which is another reason for this name.
The tour kicked off from London, England from June 9th through 11th. It will be interesting to see how things unfold with this league.
Why is the LIV Golf Tour So Controversial?
The LIV Golf Tour is so controversial because it’s funded by Saudi Arabia, a country with a government accused of several human rights violations, including rampant homophobia and misogyny. It’s a place where freedom of expression is prohibited, as evidenced by the government’s suspected involvement in the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Khashoggi was a columnist for the Washington Post along with other roles within Saudi Arabian media. He publicly criticized the Saudi government after moving to the United States to write for the Post in 2017. Khashoggi moved there out of fear of imprisonment for his views. On October 2nd, 2018, Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.
Critics of the LIV Tour point out how the Saudi government is using financial involvement in sports to deflect from their appalling track record in human rights. The PGA Tour has determined that any LIV players are ineligible for any future PGA events. It’s not yet decided if they’ll be allowed to return if they left LIV. There are even two tournaments that will take place at Donald Trump-owned courses. This has become the most controversial league in the sporting world.
Differences Between LIV and PGA Tour
There are a few key differences between the LIV and PGA Tour.
LIV has eight events scheduled for its inaugural campaign, consisting of seven regular-season competitions and one championship. PGA has 45 events that run from September 2021 to August 2022 with three FedEx Cup Playoff competitions.
There are only three 18-hole rounds at LIV, totaling 54, while PGA has four rounds of 18 holes, amounting to 72. Players in LIV will start at the same times, but at different holes. PGA golfers each have various tee times.
LIV events feature an individual and team element. Each golfer competes for their own individual score while also being grouped into one of 12 four-player teams, selected by a LIV-appointed captain. The top two scores for each team will count in the first two rounds, with the best three in the final round. The PGA only has the Ryder Cup which is similar to this style.
Who is Playing in the LIV Golf Tour?
There are a few notable names that will be playing in the LIV Golf Tour. Each of these players may be no longer eligible for any PGA tournaments for the rest of the season. However, an exemption has been granted for the U.S. Open. Any further repercussions are to be determined.
Here is the list:
- Dustin Johnson
- Bryson DeChambeau
- Patrick Reed
- Phil Mickelson
- Talor Gooch
- Matt Jones
- Sergio Garcia
- Kevin Na
- Louis Oosthuizen
- Ian Poulter
- Hudson Swafford
- Lee Westwood
Why did these players choose to leave the PGA Tour?
The reason why these players decided to leave was to earn more money. There is a $255 million prize pool spread across the eight competitions. Each regular-season tournament will award $20 million in individual winnings and $5 million for teams that finish in the top three.
There is an additional $30 million dispersed for the top three ranked players after the first seven events, with a minimum of four tournaments played. First place gets $18 million, second $8 million, and third $4 million. On top of that, $50 million will be in play at the team championship event.
To make it even better for these golfers, each event awards every golfer, including last-place, who gets $120,000. The winner of each tournament gets $4 million, which is a greater number than the winner of PGA’s U.S. Open, a tournament that has the largest prize pool among the four major competitions.
Players are even reportedly being offered exorbitant amounts of money with contracts just to participate in the league. LIV Golf Investments intends to put billions of dollars into this league, so there’s a ton of opportunity here.
LIV Golf Tour Schedule
The LIV Golf Tour season goes on from June until October. It doesn’t conflict with any PGA majors, which is great news for golf fans, but there is some overlap with other events, like the RBC Canadian Open, John Deere Classic, and Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Five of the eight events will take place in the United States.
Here’s how it looks:
- June 9-11: Centurion Club, London, U.K.
- June 30-July 2: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Portland, OR
- July 29-31: Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster, NJ
- Sept 2-4: The International, Boston, MA
- Sept 16-18: Rich Harvest Farms, Chicago, IL
- Oct 7-9: Stonehill Golf Club, Bangkok, Thailand
- Oct 14-16: Royal Greens Golf Club, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Oct 28-30: Trump National Doral, Miami, FL
Benefits of Betting LIV Online
There are tons of benefits to enjoy when betting LIV online, such as the following:
- You’ll be able to quickly place a wager from the comfort of your personal electronic device, whether it’s a desktop, laptop, tablet, or cell phone.
- It’s easier to research your preferred bet because you’ll already be on the Internet, so you’ll have quick access to pertinent information.
- Online sportsbooks provide lucrative welcome offers that help you stack your bankroll with bet credits, putting you in a strong position for a successful betting venture.
- If you run into any technical issues, the customer support team is generally available on a 24/7 basis.
- Live betting requires you to act quickly, something that can only be done when betting online.
Best LIV Betting Sites
There are several betting sites to choose from, but here are some of our favorites:
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook has become a titan in the iGaming industry, especially following their acquisition of popular European operator William Hill in 2021. You can always feel at ease depositing funds into such a reputable brand.
The site is renowned for its lucrative welcome bonus along with useful promotions like odds boosts, which enhance the moneylines of selected golfers.
There is even a virtually unmatched VIP rewards system, where points can be redeemed for cool prizes like hotel stays or fine dining at Caesars properties.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook was a pioneer as a daily fantasy sports provider and eventually parlayed that innovative nature into developing a betting site that invented Same Game Parlays, which have spread throughout the industry.
You’re able to enjoy a robust selection of player and futures props here, in an app that gets high grades for its functionality. There are numerous promos to take advantage of, such as odds boosts.
There’s a reason why FanDuel has emerged as the most popular operator in the country. Take advantage of their terrific platform when placing your LIV wagers.
BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers Sportsbook is run by Rush Street Interactive, which is a seasoned veteran in the iGaming space, running online casinos throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The site is critically acclaimed for its numerous betting markets and expansive live betting platform, but the best part is its welcome bonus. You’ll find some of the lowest wagering requirements in the industry at BetRivers, which means that it’s easier to convert your bonus funds into cash.
You’ll also enjoy an organized layout throughout the page, making it easy to find your preferred wager.
PointsBet Sportsbook
PointsBet Sportsbook was started in Australia, making it so impressive to see how they’ve established a foothold in the U.S. market. The main reason for their rise to prominence is their innovation.
The site created its own style of wagering, known as PointsBetting. This is a higher risk, greater reward style of playing, where users win more if their pick has a greater winning margin and vice versa if it loses.
Apart from that, you’ll find the usual key components at PointsBet, including a sleek aesthetic that gives the page a vibrant look as well as a comprehensive selection of betting markets.
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM Sportsbook emerged out of a partnership with MGM Resorts and Entain Holdings, two reputable companies that will have you feeling safe and secure when depositing funds into your account.
The site boasts a terrific live betting section that includes live streaming on selected events, allowing you to sweat out our wager in real-time. There are also odds boosts and other helpful promotions throughout the year.
BetMGM is often one of the first operators to emerge in real markets because of its appealing platform.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook started off as a daily fantasy sports provider that is now a successful sportsbook that features tons of betting markets, including a virtually unmatched selection of props.
The site is easy to navigate and there are numerous banking methods to make the payment process more convenient. You’ll also find different promos like odds boosts along with several options for your golf bets.
Be sure to make DraftKings one of your main choices when betting on the LIV Tour.
How To Pick the Best LIV Betting Sites
Here are some factors to consider when choosing your LIV betting site:
- Bet Types: You want there to be several options, including Outright Winner, Make the Cut, and more.
- Welcome Bonus: Each site has a bonus, but first deposit matches with low wagering requirements are best.
- Promotions: Odds boosts are helpful and golf-specific promos are an added bonus.
- Payment: The more payment types, the more convenient the process becomes.
- Odds: You want to make sure that the odds align with the rest of the market.
- Live Betting: There should be a detailed live betting section because it’s a great way to find value.
Why You Should Avoid Illegal Betting Sites
Avoid illegal betting sites at all costs. Here’s why:
- They have inflated moneylines that cause you to risk more money on your selection.
- The site is not regulated to the same standards nor is it properly vetted for integrity.
- Payments will show up as different names to hide the site’s identity since it’s illegal.
- Customer support is difficult to contact and often unreliable.
- There aren’t the same type of welcome bonuses or promotions to add bet credits to your bankroll.
- You may even experience delays in settled wagers, causing you to feel insecure with the platform.
LIV Betting Promo Offers To Keep in Mind
There are several betting promos to be mindful of with LIV betting, such as:
First-Deposit Bonus
First-Deposit Bonus is when a sportsbook matches your initial funding up to a maximum amount. This figure is usually capped between $200-$1,000. Most of these offers are 100% matches.
Each site has different wagering requirements that must be fulfilled, so keep that in mind.
Here’s an example:
Let’s say that I put in $500 in my 100% deposit bonus up to $500 with a 3x wagering requirement. This means that I’d now have $1,000 in my balance ($500 deposit, $500 bet credits). The 3x multiplier means that I need to rack up $1,500 in cumulative wagers since that is three times my first deposit (500 x 3 = 1500). Once that is done, I’d be able to withdraw my bet credits.
Some sites don’t allow you to use the credits until the wagering requirements are met, while others enable you to bet with them right away.
Risk-Free Bet
Risk-Free Bet, also known as First Bet Insurance, is an offer that takes away some of the financial risk involved in sports betting. Your first bet is refunded up to a maximum amount if it loses. If you win, you’ll receive that profit and there won’t be any credits provided.
The distribution of this reimbursement is different among sites. Some may provide you with a single bet token matching your initial wager, others could give it in smaller denominations.
There are also minimum odds requirements here, so you won’t be able to just take the heaviest favorite. It’s usually around -200 odds.
As with other offers, you’ll need to play through your initial bet a number of times before the credits are withdrawable.
For example, if I put a $500 wager on a site with a risk-free bet of up to $500 and it loses, I may get one single $500 bet or perhaps five $100 wagers, depending on the sportsbook.
No Deposit Bonus/Free Bet
No Deposit Bonus is exactly what it sounds like. Simply register for an account and you’ll be provided with bet credits. There is no need to put any money into your account. This is usually in smaller dollar amounts, ranging from $5 to $20.
Free Bets are usually provided as loyalty rewards to active users. They could also be given to generate interest toward a major event, like a LIV Golf Tour tournament. You’ll find that online sportsbooks hand some of these out throughout the year.
An example of a No Deposit Bonus can be $10 in bet credits, which can be used on any market.
A Free Bet could be $10 on any LIV Golf wager. These are usually focused on specific sports.
Bet & Get
Bet & Get is an offer that requires participation in order to obtain bet credits. There is no need for your wager to win, you just need to follow the instructions.
These are often handed out as welcome bonuses, but they may also be provided to entice users to bet on a specific sport.
An example of this could be “Bet $25+ on a LIV Golf Tournament, Get $25 in Free Bets."
Where Can I Legally Bet on the LIV Online?
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington D.C
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Choose More Than One LIV Betting Site
Be sure to choose more than one LIV betting site. This allows you to take advantage of multiple welcome bonuses. You can really build your bankroll by obtaining credits for numerous platforms. Get a first deposit match at one site while enjoying a risk-free bet at another.
Remember to try to max out these offers because they can only be used once.
It’s also great to compare sportsbooks to shop around for the best odds. One golfer may be +500 to win a tournament at one site, but +750 at another. Be sure to capitalize on these discrepancies.
Finally, it’s a good way to optimize the betting experience. Each site specializes in something different. One may be great for its live betting, while another may have tons of player props. Enjoy the best of what each sportsbook has to offer.
