There are almost too many golf tournaments to keep track of during the calendar year, but this means there are many betting possibilities to consider. You are never going to be short of an event to bet on, that’s for sure.

With this in mind, here are four tips to getting started in the world of golf betting.

Look beyond the majors

As already mentioned, there are many tournaments to bet on in golf. Of course, the four major tournaments are worth a look but you should look beyond these when you can. Cast an eye over the players taking part in less high-profile PGA or European tour events.

Bet on failure

Perhaps more so than in any other sport, top players can have a bad day. When it isn’t your day on the golf course, anyone can beat you. Nobody is too good to be the whipping boy. With this in mind, how about you bet on one of the world’s top players not making the cut every now and then?

You will get good odds on Tiger Woods failing to make the cut at the US Open for example, so it is surely worth a couple of quid. Especially if you are happy watching the American struggle!

Cast an eye over the world rankings

Your betting doesn’t have to be tournament specific. The world rankings are changing quite a bit at the moment and perhaps it is worth backing someone to be World No.1 at the turn of the year. Who do you think will finish strongest out of Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Phil Mickelson? Put your money where your mouth is.

If you have heard of a young player on the circuit too, someone who has the ability to be world-class, why not back them to be a top ten player at some stage during their career? Take your time by assessing the field and make your choice.

Back the outsider

In football, there is no way that San Marino will ever win the World Cup. In cricket, there is no way Kenya will ever be the best team in the world. In rugby...you get the idea.

The beauty of golf though is that players can come from nowhere to win a major tournament. So, why not pick a player you haven’t heard of available at long odds, do a bit of research on him and take a punt.

If you had done that for Simon Khan before the 2010 PGA Championship you would have been in the money as the player ranked 471 in the world shocked everyone by winning the tournament. Never rule anybody out in golf.

In a sport not exactly known for its scruples when it comes to betting, Boxing can be a minefield for a novice to navigate through. While the sweet science is not exactly as it is depicted in films; brown envelopes of cash swapping hands and fixed fights, it can be tricky to understand, especially when dealing with something as subjective as a points decision. Here are a few tips to not only help you dodge and weave the pitfalls of boxing, but land a knockout blow on the bookmakers.

It’s not good enough to win; you must win convincingly

This is one of the trickiest concepts to understand in boxing; when is a win not a win? The history of the sport is littered with contentious decision that seemingly fly in the face of logic; just ask Lennox Lewis how he felt after judges scored his first fight against Evander Holyfield a draw in 1999.

If a fight comes down to points, it really could be anyone’s game. The old saying goes that to beat a champion you must knock him out, such is the difficulty of convincing judges if goes to points that the challenger has out-boxed the champion – even more so if it is on home turf.

So make sure you protect your bet by being wary of the home crowd advantage, or any judges with a history of giving contentious decisions – this is one area boxing really lets itself down in.

 It’s a two horse race, so look for other markets

As with all two horse races, it is often difficult to muster much of a return betting on the outright winner. When this is the case, it is a good idea to delve into the other markets on offer. Bet by the round with in-game betting, or back the fighter with the highest work-rate and bet on who will land the most punches.

Who has gone 12 rounds most often before? Who has been involved in too many wars? This is one area really doing your research will pay dividends and you can clean up if you know your stuff.

Actions speak louder than words

How often before a fight do we see one fighter mouthing off in a press conference before being battered into submission in the ring? All too often in boxing punters are convinced by the antics of a fighter to part with their cash, only to see it evaporate into thin air as their man hits the canvas.

Audely Harrison’s fight against David Haye was a prime example of this – the Olympic Champion went into the fight with a terrible record but was able to convince some that it didn’t matter and that he was the man to stop Haye – and he was fairly successful in doing so too.

What he wasn’t successful in was putting up a fight however as he wilted within three rounds to the groans of the unlucky few that backed Harrison.  

Most of it is PR to sell the fight, some of it is genuine fear; either way, don’t be swayed by what you hear, only by what you see.