Its two days until they ring the bell at Augusta and we’ve updated the odds to win with at look at matchups and some of the other golf betting options offered at sportsbooks
Lee Westwood is favored fifth overall but said that he feels this year’s Masters is much more than a two-horse race
The first major of the season often marks the beginning of PGA betting for a lot of players and now that Tiger Woods has a win under his belt, he’s getting attention for the right reasons once again.
Tiger has not won at Augusta since 2005 but he’s literally favored by every online sportsbooks in the world and the ballpark price is just over 5 to 1 odds. We covered the top favorites last month in our 2012 Masters Odds feature and there have been a few subtle adjustments, notably with Woods and Rory McIlroy.
Tiger was 4 to 1 on March 26 while McIlroy paid back at +597. Current prices are +503 and +606, respectively, and a lot of that can be attributed to Phil Mickelson’s 130-point shift up to +1115.
BIGGEST LINE MOVES
The two biggest moves up the ladder belong to Adam Scott (+2757 from +3032) and Keegan Bradley (+3089 from +4041). Bradley has finished top 20 in eight of nine events this year with his best finish coming last weekend at the Shell Houston Open (12-under, T-4). It’s his first time at the Masters but Bradley won the PGA Championship last year in his first go there.
Bradley is offered in Masters Matchups vs. Justin Rose (-124), Hunter Mahan (+102) and Adam Scott (-118). Tough competition to be sure, but Bradley plays his first two rounds with defending Masters Champ, Charl Schwartzel (+4085).
Downward golf betting trends belong to Lee Westwood (+1970 from +1617) and Schwartzel (+4085 from +3536). Westwood has taken a bit of a backseat to the McIlroy, Mickelson and Woods parade this week but the World No. 3 did finish second here in 2010 and he’s looked fairly consistent this year.
Westwood’s only four matchups are against the Big 4 (Donald) but odds on finishing top 5 (+372) are worth strong consideration. Westwood was 11th in 2011 and this will be his 13th appearance at Augusta but he is yet to win any major championship.
TIGER TUTORIAL
It’s almost impossible to ignore the hype surrounding Tiger Woods at this year’s Masters and with four green jackets hanging in his closet, Woods certainly deserves recognition. But from a handicapping standpoint, there are a few things to consider before placing any serious wagers.
First, remember that three of Tiger’s four wins at Augusta were between 1997 and 2002. That means from 2003 to now he has just one, and it was in 2005. Tiger has lost nearly 20 yards off his drive from the heyday, hits two fewer fairways per day and reaches fewer greens in regulation, which is a key stat at Augusta.
Bottom line is his stats on par 3, 4 and 5’s have fallen off the primetime days and bettors need to make sure they keep that in mind when pricing Woods against opponents with considerable talent.
WEATHER WATCH
Augusta may have the most difficult winds to judge out of all courses in the world but as of Tuesday, it looks like precipitation could be bigger concern. The course is already soft from rain over the past weekend and there is a 50-percent chance of showers on Thursday and Friday. The weekend looks good with highs in the 70’s and 5-10 mph winds but check tee-times and give extra consideration to those teeing off early in the day.
Tom Watson once said that for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out how the winds at Augusta could change so dramatically from one hole to the next
INJURY NOTE
Dustin Johnson, the 12th ranked golfer in the world, has withdrawn from the Masters with an undisclosed injury. It reduces this year’s field to 96 players.
Other betting options for this year’s Masters include top 5/10/20 finish, group betting and straight-up prices on whether or not golfers will make the cut. Online sportsbooks also offer a wide selection of general props and it’s worth taking some time to get familiar. You can also stop by the EveryEdge sports betting forum where a few of our top cappers are posting picks and thoughts.
Check PGA Masters Odds and follow EveryEdge on Twitter!