Masters wagers likely to remain alive until calendar switches to new year

Golf betting has essentially gone on hold while the world combats coronavirus, but plenty of punters are still seeking clarification on the status of long-term investments.

The main bones of contention concern the Masters, which has been postponed from its original April slot, and the two money-list markets – the Race to Dubai and the PGA Tour Money List.

A new date for the Masters seems a long way from being agreed – with an October slot being rumoured – so the betting community has been left wondering what happens to the ante-post wagers they have already placed.

Lots of layers insist they need more time to assess the situation and will make further announcements when Augusta officials do likewise.

Paddy Power, though, have been more forthcoming – their odds compiler Iain McLaughlin has outlined how bets stand at this stage, while accepting the possibility for fresh delays to change things. And Ladbrokes Coral followed with some excellent punter-friendly moves on the same matters.

McLaughlin said: “With the Masters being postponed and not cancelled, we are going to let bets stand until the tournament is played. We added the caveat over the weekend, though, that it must take place in 2020 for bets to stand.

"If it's postponed for the whole of 2020, we will be voiding all Masters bets and returning stakes.”

The US PGA Championship has also been postponed and is yet to be rescheduled, so Power will treat that Major the same.

Power are treating the Race to Dubai, PGA Tour Money List and FedEx Cup the same – bets will be settled in line with the official finishing results for each tour.

McLaughlin added: “Again, if these are subject to change, we will react accordingly. If there is no more golf to be played in 2020 and the season is made null and void, we will void bets on these markets.”

Simon Clare, Ladbrokes Coral PR Director, said: “Ante-post bets placed on the Masters stand as the 2020 event has been delayed to a later date. If it is cancelled, bets will be refunded. If, however, any customer wishes to void their ante-post bet now, we will accommodate them.”

And in a further boost to punters, Clare added: “Given the unique and unprecedented circumstance of what is happening to the Race to Dubai and PGA Tour Money List, in the interests of fairness we will pay out on the eventual winners and void all losing bets on these markets.”

Markets for this year's final two Majors and the Ryder Cup scheduled for September are still active, but with the public well aware of the chance that none of these events take place, turnover with all bookmakers has inevitably ebbed to almost nothing.

Winged Foot, which is due to stage the US Open in June, closed indefinitely on Sunday night, so what was supposed to be the third Major of the season will almost certainly be postponed.

The Open in July remains on the schedule, but with huge question marks against it.

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