Never mind the fact that Patrick Reed won the green jacket last year or that Rory McIlroy is the hottest golfer in the world, all eyes will be on Tiger Woods at Augusta National on April 11-14.
A field of about 100 golfers will tee it up in the first major of the year — the 83rd Masters in Augusta, Ga. This invitational event has the smallest field of the four majors, but it is stacked with the best talent in the world.
Woods (+1000) may be ranked 14th in the world currently, but he is always among the betting favorites. The 80-time PGA Tour winner and arguably the best golfer of all time has won 14 majors. The 43-year-old is also enjoying his best health in years after debilitating back injuries and spinal fusion surgery.
McIlroy (+800) is currently the top pick in Masters Golf 2019 Odds, followed by Woods and Dustin Johnson (+1000), who sits at No. 1 in the World Golf Rankings (Masters Golf Players Odds provided by Bovada). McIlroy and Johnson have never won the green jacket, while Woods owns four of them.
Unlike the other majors — PGA, U.S. Open and British Open — there are no alternates or qualifying tournaments for the Masters. It is an invitational event, with invitations largely issued on an automatic basis to players who meet published criteria.
Vegas Odds Golf Masters are determined by oddsmakers based on current play, history and the amount of money wagered on each player. How much can you win betting on the Masters champion? With about 100 entrants, the answer is quite a bit. The favorite is McIlroy (+800 or 8-1), while Vijay Singh (+50000 or 500-1) is the longest shot on the board.
The +800 for McIlroy indicates how much profit a bettor would earn on a $100 bet ($100 bet + $800 profit = $900 total return). A $10 bet on McIlroy at 8-1 odds would earn a total return of $90 ($10 bet + $80 profit = $90 total return).
Let’s take a look at the Top 10 favorites, including last year’s finish (Masters Golf Tournament Odds provided by Bovada):
(Tied fifth) He’s also the only player to finish in the Top 10 in each of the past five Masters. The four-time major champion is one of four players to win three majors by the age of 25.
(Tied 10th) Johnson may be ranked at the top of the world, but his play has looked shaky of late. Also, Johnson’s best Masters finish in eight tries is a tie for fourth in 2016.
(Tied 32nd) This is the tournament Woods gears his schedule towards every year. He would like nothing more than to win Major No. 15 in his quest to top the record of 18 set by Jack Nicklaus.
(Tied 12th) If you’re looking for the most consistent golfer in the world, you have found your player. He has 11 Top 25s at Augusta and five Top 10s, including two seconds (2015, 2017).
(Second) Fowler just ran out of time last year. He played the last two rounds in -12 and lost the championship by a shot. He’s finished in the Top 12 in four of the last five Masters.
(Injured, did not play) The reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year has not finished in the Top 10 at the Masters in three tries. However, the 28-year-old has won three of last of the last six majors.
(Third) The 2015 Masters champ shot -14 in the first and final round last year. It was the two mediocre middle rounds that cost him the tourney. He’s in the midst of a terrible slump this year.
(Tied 17th) This 25-year-old had his best finish at the Masters last year. He must improve dramatically to reach the winner’s circle at Augusta, especially eliminating those over-par rounds.
(Fourth) The Spaniard has the game to win a major, but he still lacks maturity in his attitude and decision-making. Half of his career rounds at Augusta have been over par.
(Tied 20th) Day finished in the Top 5 in two of his first three appearances at the Masters. He hasn’t been close since. The 2015 PGA champ has six Top 25s in eight attempts.
The longshot value play at the Masters is Tony Finau (+3300). This young gun led the PGA Tour in Top 10 finishes last season.
The odds of the last three winners of the green jacket are: 2018 champion Patrick Reed (+2500), 2017 champion Sergio Garcia (+4000) and 2016 champion Danny Willett (+10000).
Tiger Woods’ game has not been anything close to his celebrated victory at the Tour Championship last September. But of all the majors, this is the one that Tiger has the best chance of winning. He has finished in the Top 5 in more than half (11/21, 52.4%) of his career starts at Augusta and the Tiger roars can intimidate even the best in the world.
However, Rory McIlroy has elevated his game this year, if that was even possible for the 24-time winner. The 29-year-old has finished in the Top 10 in each of the last five Masters, but he finally completes the Career Grand Slam with a green jacket in 2019.
Pick — Rory McIlroy (+800)
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