Ryder Cup 2021 Props – Odds on Top Points Scorer, Winning Margin, Top Rookie and More
By Chris Amberley in Golf
Updated: September 23, 2021 at 5:34 am EDTPublished:
- The 43rd Ryder Cup gets underway at Whistling Straits, in Sheboygan, WI on Friday, September 24th
- Team USA has won just two Ryder Cups in the past 20 years (2008, 20016), with both victories coming on home soil
- Read below for analysis of the event, and our favorite prop bets to target
The 43rd Ryder Cup is finally here. Delayed by a full year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Team Europe and Team USA will begin their biennial competition on Friday (September 24th) at picturesque Whistling Straits, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
The venue, which hosted the 2015, 2010 and 2004 PGA Championships, is a lengthy 7,390 yard Par 71 track, which should play to the Americans advantage. Team USA is a sizeable -165 favorite to win the Ryder Cup, but there’s more than one way to bet this tournament.
A handful of props have already been released for the event, all of which offer more favorable odds than just wagering on a side. Check out some of our favorite props below, starting with the Top Points scorer.
Top Points Scorer Odds
| Golfer | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jon Rahm | +700 |
| Justin Thomas | +900 |
| Jordan Spieth | +950 |
| Patrick Cantlay | +1000 |
| Dustin Johnson | +1100 |
| Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
| Xander Schauffele | +1200 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | +1800 |
| Viktor Hovland | +1800 |
| Brooks Koepka | +1800 |
| Collin Morikawa | +1800 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +2200 |
| Paul Casey | +2200 |
| Tony Finau | +2200 |
| Shane Lowry | +2600 |
| Ian Poulter | +2600 |
| Sergio Garcia | +2700 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | +2900 |
| Daniel Berger | +2900 |
| Matthew Fitzpatrick | +3100 |
| Scottie Scheffler | +3300 |
| Harris English | +3400 |
| Bernd Wiesberger | +6000 |
| Lee Westwood | +6500 |
All odds as of Sept. 20th at DraftKings and FanDuel.
Thomas Will Have Plenty of Opportunities
When trying to identify the top point scorer, top rookie or top wildcard, it’s imperative to take into account who’s going to play the most. Sure, guys like Scottie Scheffler and Bernd Wiesberger offer incredible returns, but they aren’t likely to play in all five sessions, drastically decreasing their chances of cashing you a big ticket.
One player who is going to be out there in all five sessions is Justin Thomas. The 14-time PGA Tour winner excelled in his only Ryder Cup appearance, posting a 4-1 record, and also went 3-1-1 at the 2019 Presidents Cup.
Justin Thomas was born for this. Born for it! #RyderCup #GoUSA pic.twitter.com/u92a9R5uA5
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 29, 2018
His form is strong coming in, with a pair of top-4 results in his past three events, and he fits this challenging course perfectly. Whistling Straits puts a heavy emphasis on ball striking, particularly off the tee and with long irons, two areas that Thomas excels in.
Over the past 24 rounds, JT ranks second in this 24-man field in proximity from 200+ yards, third in ball striking, and 10th in short game.
Pick: Justin Thomas Top Points Scorer (+900)
Hovland Is a Screaming Rookie Value
Any course that puts extra emphasis on ball striking will be a great setup for Viktor Hovland. The 23-year-old was one of only a handful of players in the Ryder Cup to finish inside the top-15 in both strokes gained on approach and off the tee during the 2021 season, and has an amazing match play record.
Top Rookie Points Scorer Odds
| Golfer | Odds |
|---|---|
| Xander Schauffele | +350 |
| Patrick Cantlay | +400 |
| Viktor Hovland | +600 |
| Collin Morikawa | +650 |
| Shane Lowry | +700 |
| Daniel Berger | +800 |
| Scottie Scheffler | +800 |
| Harris English | +800 |
| Bernd Wiesberger | +2000 |
Hovland won the 2018 U.S. Amateur, a match play competition, and went undefeated at Oklahoma State in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 NCAA Championships (6-0). He posted an 18-1 match play record during his collegiate career, and needed the third fewest holes since 1979 to close out the U.S. Am.
The key to the US winning the Ryder Cup this week: we must heckle Viktor Hovland until he stops smiling.
In other words, we are probably toast. pic.twitter.com/zANfQtO3ZF
— Michael Riley (@MRileyGolf) September 19, 2021
Like Thomas, he is a strong bet to play in all five sessions, and he’s also a world class long iron player. Hovland ranks first in proximity in this field from 175-200 yards over the past 50 rounds, and fourth from 200+ yards.
Pick: Viktor Hovland Top Rookie Points Scorer (+600)
Berger a Wildcard to Back
Our next target is Daniel Berger in the Wildcard category. This will be his inaugural Ryder Cup, but he fared well in his lone President’s Cup appearance, posting a 2-1 record under captain Steve Stricker.
Berger has won three times since the PGA Tour’s return to play last June, and posted 14 top-25 finishes in 23 events this season. He ranked top-five in both strokes gained off the tee and approach in 2021, and has a long history of excellence in heads up matches.
Daniel Berger’s swing pic.twitter.com/1mQHWSwGxE
— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) February 15, 2021
Dating back to his time as a teenager in Florida, Berger would hustle the top players at the club he caddied at, so you can bet there’s a serious competitive fire in him.
Also working in his favor is the close relationship he has with teammates Thomas, Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Cantlay, making him a versatile teammate for the fourball and foursome matches.
Pick: Daniel Berger Top Wildcard (+900)
Winning Margin
There hasn’t been a close Ryder Cup since 2012, and on paper it would appear like Team USA should dominate. The average world ranking on their roster is nine, while Team Europe’s is 20. Whistling Straits plays more to the Americans strengths, as they feature plenty more length off the tee and and a better collection of ball strikers, but there’s something to be said about the European experience factor.
In addition to Poulter, Team Europe also features the event’s all-time leading scorer Sergio Garcia and cagey veteran Lee Westwood, who’ll be making their 10th and 11th appearances respectively. Rory McIlroy will play in his sixth Ryder Cup, Paul Casey his fifth, and the team also features World No. 1 Jon Rahm.
Team USA meanwhile, is trotting out six rookies, while only Jordan Spieth, Koepka and DJ have made more than two appearances.
Ultimately, the talent is impossible to ignore, so although we’re backing the Americans, it’s going to be much closer than USA fans would hope.
Pick: Team USA to Win by 1-3 Points (+250)
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
