The handicap system was first implemented in golf in the 1930s. Since then, it has grown in popularity and is now used across many sports, including tennis, cricket, and horse racing. It is a way of giving everyone an equal chance of winning, regardless of skill or experience. In sports, a handicap is usually a number that acts as a score that is adjusted upwards or downwards depending on certain criteria. In tennis, for example, the handicapping system can be used to determine the players’ scores after each game. The system is usually based on the average number of sets won by each player over the course of several games. In the United Kingdom, where the above example is from, golf handicaps are usually adjusted after each round according to the number of strokes a player has taken. For instance, a player who shoots 68 in a round will have his/her handicap increased by 2 compared to the player who shoots 70 in the same round. This is to even out the playing field and ensure that everyone has an equal chance of winning.
The main purpose of the handicap is to create an even playing field for all competitors. Since everybody is starting with an even hand, there is no advantage to be gained by being cunning or being the first to hit the ball. In many cases, golf handicaps can be used to determine prizes and championships. For example, the Masters is often presented as the PGA Championship of golf, but it is actually a combination of several smaller tournaments that together make up the full Masters. The smaller tournaments are for amateur players and are held all over the world. The winner of the Masters receives the prestigious Green Jacket. To put this in perspective, here is a list of all the majors and how much they pay:
How Much Do The Majors Pay?
- The Masters – $3 million
- The US Open – $3 million
- The Open Championship – $2.9 million
- The PGA Championship – $2.75 million
- The French Open – $2.5 million
- The Australian Open – $2.25 million
- The BBC Sports Personality of the Year – $2 million
- The Grand Slam – $1.9 million
You may be wondering why some of the above events are not on this list. The reason is that they do not pay out in cash. Instead, the sponsorships that they generate help pay for the prize money and for the running of the games. These events are also recognized as the ‘fifth major’ because they contribute to the build-up to the Grand Slam. However, even these events have minimum cash payouts. For instance, the Women’s Singles at the 2016 Olympic Games had a minimum payout of $125,000. This is because the event was not officially ranked as a major in the first place. The same can be said for the Junior British Open, which is an Open Championship qualifier and does not pay out any prize money. The list of majors and their respective payout is as follows (in USD):
Majors With Payouts
- Masters – $3 million
- The Open Championship – $2.75 million
- The PGA Championship – $2.75 million
- The French Open – $2.5 million
- The Australian Open – $2.25 million
- The US Open – $2 million
- The BBC Sports Personality of the Year – $2 million
- The Grand Slam – $1.9 million
As you can see above, the majors and their associated secondary competitions generally pay out millions of dollars and can give you a good shot at winning big. If you want to get ahead in life, getting involved in online betting with the latest news, odds, and results is the way forward. The above list of majors and how much they pay out in prize money may be helpful for you to get started.