It is that time of year when the most exclusive golf club in the world welcomes a new member by adorning them with a new green jacket. It’s Masters week, when the globe’s best players descend upon Augusta, Georgia, for the first of golf’s four major championships.
And it is all of the best, as Jon Rahm, who made the move to the LIV Tour this year, will finally play against the best of the PGA and European Tours as he returns to Augusta to defend his title.
We also welcome back a little known golfer named Tiger Woods.
Favorites to Win Masters
Scottie Scheffler (+400)
Rory McIlroy (+1000)
Jon Rahm (+1200)
Xander Schauffele (+1600)
Brooks Koepka (+1800)
Jordan Spieth (+2200)
Hideki Matsuyama (+2200)
Joaquin Niemann (+2500)
Ludvig Aberg (+2800)
Cameron Smith (+3000)
Wyndham Clark (+3000)
Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer in the world, and he won here at Augusta in 2022, making him the more-than-logical choice to be the favorite. But Jon Rahm won here just a year ago, and he is no slouch when it comes to being ranked No. 1 in the world. He’s paying three times more than Scheffler, which has to make you ask the question, is Scheffler really three times more likely to win?
As we said, Scheffler should be the betting favorite. But he does not come with a lot of value at +400.
It’s also worth remembering that Hideki Matsuyama, down there at +2200, was the Masters winner in 2021. He is a good value bet at +2200, as well as +400 to finish in the top five.
Another of the top favorites to think about is Rory McIlroy. He is just a green jacket away from completing the career grand slam, and in 2022 and 2021, he finished in the top five. In his Masters career, he has seven top 10 finishes here, and he is +110 to make it eight. He’s +1000 to finally get the win.
You may not know the name Joaquin Niemann, but you should. He’s been one of the best golfers on the LIV Tour this year, winning in Mexico and Jeddah. In December, he won the Australian Open, which is how he got here to Augusta. He’s paying +2500 to win, and +500 to finish in the top five.
What to Expect From Tiger Woods
It was only five years ago that Tiger Woods made his magical run at the Masters and won his fifth green jacket. A lot has happened to him since then, including three more trips to Augusta that ended in disappointment – 38th, 47th, and last year’s withdrawal after two rounds.
He’s paying +13000 to win, +2200 to finish top five, and +850 to make the top 10. The reality is that none of those are good bets. He’s only played in 10 total events the last four seasons, and his last win was at the Zozo Championship in Japan in December of 2019.
It will be a win for Woods if he can make the cut and be healthy enough to finish out the weekend.
Longshots to Consider
If we’re not going to ride with Tiger Woods, which longshots are worth a wager?
Sahith Theegala is making just his second start at the Masters, which is why he’s paying +5000 to win and +1000 to finish top five. But in that one previous start a year ago, he finished T9. He’s also coming into this year’s Masters on a hot streak, having finished in the top 10 in three of his last five tournaments.
Viktor Hovland is a good golfer, as evidenced by him winning the FedEx Cup last year. So to get him at +3500 to win and +550 to finish top five feels like a steal. Last year at the Masters, he finished in seventh place, and he was tied for the lead after the first 18 holes.
Remember that when Matsuyama won his green jacket three years ago, he was +6000 to win.
With over 25 years of experience as a distinguished sports writer for renowned platforms such as Fox Sports and ESPN, Kyle Garlett is a sports betting specialist who has been at the forefront of documenting the global surge in sports betting and online gaming. Based in Denver, Colorado, Kyle hosts an NFL betting YouTube show and podcast. Kyle also has two sports books published by HarperCollins.
Kyle graduated the Azusa Pacific University in 1996 with a B.A. Degree in Communication and Journalism.
