It’s been 14 months since Ryder Cup odds first hit the betting board, with the event postponed a year due to COVID-19 concerns. Perhaps that delay worked to the advantage of the US team, which hasn’t fared well of late in the every-two-years event, but has a hefty 11-5 lead after Saturday’s slate of eight matches.
Dating to 2002, Europe is 7-2 in retaining the Cup, including 4-1 in the last five matches. Team USA captain Steve Stricker hopes home-course advantage means change is in the air this weekend at Whistling Straits.
Multiple sportsbook insiders provided intel and insights on Ryder Cup odds.
Ryder Cup Betting Action
UPDATE 11:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: From the oddsmakers’ perspective, this Ryder Cup is all over save for the champagne spraying to come Sunday night at Whistling Straits. On Saturday, Team USA took three of four morning matches and split the afternoon’s 4 points to take a commanding 11-5 lead.
In Sunday’s 12 singles matches, all the Americans need are four wins to take back the trophy. In The SuperBook’s two-way betting on which team will lift the trophy–Europe retains it if somehow there’s a 14-14 tie–Team USA is -5,000 to Europe’s +2,000. In three-way betting, the US is -5,000, Europe is +4,000 and Draw +4,000.
“Europe is getting dominated, so there’s limited interest in the adjusted two-way and three-way betting,” SuperBook risk manager Neil Fitzroy said. “The US is a small loser for us.”
UPDATE MIDNIGHT ET FRIDAY: Team USA went off as a -190 favorite Friday morning at BetMGM Nevada. The Americans promptly took three of the four foursome matches, then scratched out two wins and two halves in the afternoon four-ball matchups to nab a 6-2 lead.
Now, the US is out to a hefty -900 chalk to reach 14.5 points this weekend, with Europe +850 and Draw +1,600 on the three-way moneyline.
“Tickets and money are still about 1.5/1 on Europe,” BetMGM Nevada’s Scott Shelton said. “We’re a small loser to Europe and a small winner to the US. Draw is a decent five-figure winner for us, but it’s not gonna happen.”
UPDATE 11:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Back in July 2020, The SuperBook opened 2021 Ryder Cup odds at USA -150/Europe +130. On the eve of Friday’s opening matches, the US is out to -200, with Europe +175.
“There’s more ticket count on the US, but some bigger wagers on the Euros,” Fitzroy said of action in the Ryder Cup to-lift-the-trophy market. “Currently, we need the US in the two-way betting, but it’s not a very big decision. It could very well change by the time play starts, and we could need the Euros.”
With Europe the defending champ, it can retain the Ryder Cup by taking at least 14 of the 28 points, as a tie goes to the current trophy holder. But much like soccer, The SuperBook is also offering a three-way moneyline market, which opened in July 2020 at USA -150/Europe +175/Draw +1,400. It’s now USA -200/Europe +240/Draw +1,200.
“For the three-way, we need the Euros or a tie,” Fitzroy said. “We took a couple of bigger bets on Monday for the US at -185 and -190. We also took a bigger bet on the tie at 14/1 from a name we respect.”
Of course, barring some unanticipated outcomes Friday and Saturday, the 12 Sunday singles matches will decide who lifts the trophy. All 12 of those matches will go on the Ryder Cup odds board Saturday night.
As for who hoists the Cup, Fitzroy said it’ll be a matter of what wins out: team chemistry or talent.
“The event seems to mean more to the Euros. The Euros might have better team chemistry,” Fitzroy said. “But the US is a much more talented team on paper. And Whistling Straits is probably a better fit for the US. We’ll see how it unfolds. We expect the Sunday singles matches to attract the most betting interest.”
Ryder Cup Prop Betting
Along with a full-event three-way moneyline, The SuperBook is offering a three-way moneyline each day of the three-day competition. Neither that nor the market for exact final score have drawn much attention yet.
The market for top European and US point scorers is also drawing limited action thus far, though it’s only been up since Monday. But Bryson DeChambeau is getting a little interest at +900 to lead Team USA, while Team Europe’s Jon Rahm is seeing money at +350.