The odds on Kevin Kisner winning the Masters have soared dramatically as a result of his WGC-Dell Matchplay triumph.
The New Jersey bookmakers have elevated the American from 100/1 to 66/1 to win golf’s first major in 10 days time.
That doesn’t mean, however, that they see him as a potential Green Jacket winner. To the contrary, it merely sets him up as a respected outsider in a powerful field topped by Rory Mcllroy.
Although eliminated from the Dell Matchplay in the quarterfinals by Tiger Woods, McIlroy remains the Masters favorite.
Most New Jersey bookmakers currently have him between +700 (FanDuel) and +900 (William Hill). Dustin Johnson, the World No 1, is closest to him at between +1000 and +1100.
Woods and England’s current Olympic champion, Justin Rose, were next best, either singularly or together, at around 12/1.
If Mcllroy is up where he is, it is not because his four major triumphs include Masters Titles. They don’t. Although he has come close, it is in fact, the only major he has yet to win.
Rather it’s his strong start this season that seems to be having the greatest influence on the NJ bookmakers. There have been very few occasions if any when he has not finished among the top half dozen.
He has always been in contention and his important victory in last month’s ‘fifth major’, The Players, was especially telling.
Tiger, in the meantime, heads up the list of multi-Masters winners. He has won it four times, two less than Jack Nicklaus’s record six. Woods won his first Masters in 1997 when he finished 12 shots clear of the field. It was a record then and still is today. His most recent victory at Augusta National came in 2003.
That was all of 16 years ago. It says something, then that he is still considered to be a strong candidate and one of the favorites.
He’s not won a major since his 14th at the US Open in 2008. Personal problems and injuries have seen him stumble and fall in the years since then, but he is back now. He proved that with his victory against the best in the Tour Championship at the end of last season.
Don’t write him off. Nor should you write off Phil Mickelson. Here’s another dangerous 40-something. With three Green Jackets, he’s not a bad bet at 30-1.
Top 10 odds for 2019 Masters.
(As on Tuesday, April 2, 2019)
Rory Mcllroy NIR +700
Dustin Johnson USA +1100
Justin Rose ENG +1300
Tiger Woods USA +1500
John Rohm ESP +1700
Jordan Spieth USA +1700
Bryson DeChambeau USA +1700
Rickie Fowler USA +1900
Tommy Fleetwood ENG +1900