The odds for betting this year’s Masters are wide still wide open but Tiger Wood’s performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational has made him a clear favorite with sportsbooks
McIlroy led through three rounds in 2011 and will look for his first Green Jacket in 2012
When Tiger Woods wins, the sports betting public move quickly and online sportsbooks, who are one step ahead of the game more often than not, must be quick to react. The odds to win at Augusta on Monday morning have a much different look than numbers posted six weeks ago.
MASTERS ODDS
Tiger was climbing the charts early in the season when books offered the former No. 1 at 4-to-1 but his fourth round 75 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am followed by an early withdrawal at the World Golf Championships gave reason for concern.
After Woods was Rory McIlroy (7/1), but the new kid on the block made a move into the driver’s seat after winning the Honda Classic with four consecutive sub-70 rounds, shooting 12-under.
Current prices offer Woods (+399), McIlroy (+597), Phil Mickelson (+1246), Luke Donald (+1416) and rounding out the top five, Lee Westwood (+1617).
TO WIN, OR NOT TO WIN
Pinnacle Sports is yet to release Masters matchups for PGA betting but for doubters, there is one option on betting whether Tiger, Rory or Phil will not win the event, they just come with a big price.
Woods is -451, McIlroy is -670 and Mickelson is listed at an almost absurd price of -1570.
Before last year’s event, the Masters champ had come from the final pairing in 19 of the past 20 tournaments (95-percent). Zach Johnson is the one exception in 2007 but with odds like that, betting one of the top five to win is probably a better play at this point.
Golf Betting Tip: Since 2000, all 12 Masters Champions were ranked in the top 5 through 36 holes and only one winner (Woods, 2005), was ranked outside the top 15 after Thursday’s round
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