What to Know When PGA Players Move to the European Tour

If you follow golf, you may follow both the European Tour and the PGA.  While the European Tour is obviously a high-profile event here, the PGA Tour is much more famous worldwide.  PGA players switch to the European Tour for a lot of different reasons.  Sometimes it is to embrace a new challenge, other times it is to pursue courses that better fit their playing style, and still other times it has to do with a change of pace.  The European Tour is usually considered easier than the PGA Tour, so some players will switch if they are injured or tired.  What should you know before betting on these players?

Firstly, you should figure out why the golfer is moving to the European Tour.  With so many different possible motives, some situations are optimistic, while others are a cause for concern.  If a golfer is struggling, switching to the European Tour may help him perform better, but it isn’t really a reason to get excited about his play.  If however a strong player switches to the European Tour to challenge himself, he may represent a great betting value.

If you do think a player shows promise switching over from PGA, think about how the change will impact his game play.  There are differences in the courses between Europe and the USA which will take some adjustment.  Some players may actually find that the European courses fit with their play style better than the US courses did, but others will struggle. 

Look back at the player’s history, and there is a good chance that you will see he has played internationally before at some point.  If this is the case, how did he do before?  Where did he play?  How quickly did he adapt?  Remember, even though the PGA Tour is typically considered more challenging than the European Tour, the difficulties adapting can hold back golfers you would expect to excel. 

Consider the attitude of the golfer who is making the leap as well.  Does he seem to be treating the European Tour as a kind of extended vacation, or is it something he takes really seriously?  Be very wary of players who do not seem to be taking the tournament seriously. 

Finally, don’t ignore recent performance.  With so many additional factors to consider, it is easy to overlook the basics that you would usually look at to assess a golfer going into a familiar tournament.  Switching from one tour to another doesn’t change the importance of recent play. 

Never make any assumptions when you see a golfer switching tours.  Instead, do your homework.  Look up recent play statistics, injury news, and interviews.  See how they are treating the move, try to establish their motive, and then consider how the different courses and play requirements will impact them based on their individual play style.  Once you have done the analysis, you will be able to make smart betting decisions and place a variety of golf bets on an online betting site.