United States, Favorite for the Ryder Cup: Betting Analysis
The 45th edition of the Ryder Cup is shaping up to be an exciting event, with the United States positioned as the favorite, according to bookmakers. The American team has a slight advantage over the talented European team, largely due to the vibrant atmosphere expected in the gallery. The initial odds give the United States a -150, while Europe is at +150. The draw option has odds of +1200 in the three-way line for the winner of the tournament. In the “To lift the trophy” two-way market, the United States maintains the same odds, while Europe is at +120, considering that a draw would favor the previous champion. The Ryder Cup, a biennial golf event, is distinguished by its limited possible outcomes to three options, unlike regular tournaments that have a single winner. Bookmakers adjust their strategies for this event. The vice president of strategy and growth of sports betting, highlighted the importance of managing these odds appropriately, as these two main markets concentrate the majority of the bets. As is customary in golf events, bookmakers consider the course, in this case, the challenging Bethpage Black, which hosted its last professional tournament in 2019 for the PGA Championship. They also evaluate the dynamics of the teams, including the chemistry of each squad and the home advantage, a rare factor in golf.Bookmakers also take into account the activity of bettors. Generally, bettors back the home team, with the United States receiving 57.5% of the bets and 50.9% of the money on the three-way line. However, Europe shows a positive betting ratio with 37.9% of the bets and 45.8% of the money. The draw option is not very popular among bettors, with only 4.6% of bets backing it. The most popular markets, in addition to the main lines, will be for the top point scorer, both for Europe and the United States, and overall. Scottie Scheffler leads the odds and handling for the last two in both bookmakers. Jon Rahm (+350) is the favorite to be the top European scorer, but Rory McIlroy (+375) and Tommy Fleetwood (+550) have received more money. Once the Friday matchups are announced, bookmakers will quickly set the head-to-head odds, at which point they expect betting to increase significantly. While it’s difficult to compare the Ryder Cup to other major golf events in terms of betting volume, bookmakers are optimistic that the 2025 edition will generate more interest, given that it will be held on American soil and the competitive balance between the teams. They also anticipate that live betting will be popular during the competition, especially if the score remains tight over the weekend. “If the teams are a few points apart on Sunday, I expect the tournament to generate more interest among casual bettors who follow the story,” commented an expert.“The New York crowds are going to be a little rowdy, I would say, so that should be an advantage for the American team”.
Sports betting director, Johnny Avello
