The Masters: Golf Odds And Predictions
What makes the Masters such a huge deal for most golf fans? It’s pretty simple: Once you see the azaleas blooming at Augusta, it’s clear that the long winter is over and spring is here.
The US Masters Background
Before we look at the Masters, the first of four Grand Slam golf tournaments of the season, one has to feel good for Ian Poulter. Two weeks ago at the WGC-Match Play, the Englishman was told that he had done enough in that tournament to qualify for the Masters. Except, Poulter found out that information was wrong – he need to reach the tournament’s semifinals — right before a quarterfinal match. It seemed to rattle Poulter as he was crushed by Kevin Kisner 8-and-6. That meant Poulter’s only chance of playing the Masters was to win this past weekend’s Houston Open. Poulter drained an epic 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force a playoff and then beat Beau Hossler in it to claim the final spot in the field at Augusta National. Poulter is +6000 to win on the golf odds.
The Masters always has by far the smallest field of the major championships. As of this writing, just 87 are set to tee it up Thursday. Six of those are amateurs, with Joaquin Niemann the +135 favourite to finish best among the six. He’s the top-ranked amateur in the world.
Masters Golf Player Odds
This is also the most anticipated Masters in years because Tiger Woods is healthy and playing well for the first time in years as Woods looks for his fifth green jacket and first since 2005. The only player with more is the legendary Jack Nicklaus with six. Tiger is +1200 to win. He has missed three of the past four Masters with back problems. Phil Mickelson, 47, has found the fountain of youth this year with a victory and several other top finishes as he looks for a fourth Masters title. Lefty is +1700.
Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson (+1600) has put a long slump behind him with two victories on the PGA Tour this season. Rory McIlroy (+900) looks for the career Grand Slam and is the favourite. He was in control of the 2011 Masters before imploding on the back-nine Sunday. Dustin Johnson (+1100) plays the Masters for the first time as the world No. 1. Last year, he was riding a three-tournament winning streak into Augusta as the No. 1 as well as the Sports Interaction favourite but was injured slipping on some stairs the day before the first round and had to withdraw. Jordan Spieth (+1000), the 2015 champion, could become No. 1 in the world this week. So could Justin Thomas (+1000).
Could Spain’s Sergio Garcia (+2800) become the first repeat winner of the Masters since Tiger in 2001-02? Garcia’s 2017 victory was his first major championship as he beat Justin Rose (+1400) in a playoff. A playoff at Augusta National is sudden-death, starting on the 18th hole. Could we see another in 2018? Yes is +220 and no -333. The lowest round in Masters history is 63 by Nick Price (1986) and Greg Norman (1996). That someone shoots 62 or better is yes-only at +1000.
Can Adam Hadwin (+12000) join Mike Weir (+250000) as the only Canadian Masters winners? Weir won in 2004, beating Len Mattiace in a playoff. Hadwin debuted last year at the Masters with a tie for 36th. Weir has missed the cut in six of the past seven Masters. Hadwin is +2000 to finish atop the “rest of the world” group that is led by Aussie Jason Day (+250). Sports Interaction has many, many more prop bets available.
US Masters Golf Predictions
As top American, go with Mickelson at +900. He’s worth a Top-10 wager as are Spieth and Rose – Rose is the winning pick. He’s overdue with two runners-up here in the past three years and has never missed a Masters cut.