Rory Mcllroy was the clear Masters favorite of the 13 New Jersey Sportsbooks in the final hours before Thursday’s tee-off.
Most odds on him were at +800 (8-1). Some, like Play SugarHouse, however, had him at +750 and fewer like FanDuel at a low +650.
And why not? Consistency and form coming into a major have always been rated as key factors by golf’s best tipsters. Right now McIlroy has plenty of both.
For one thing, he hasn’t finished lower than 6th all season. For another, he recently beat a field as strong as you’ll get in any major at The Players.
The fact that the Masters is the only major he’s yet to win could also be a driving force in his favor. On the other hand, it might not be.
He has played Augusta National enough times (10) to know this magnificent golf course well. Does it say something about his fit with it, perhaps, that his best finish so far was his 4th in 2015?
Ten of last 13 Masters winners carried odds of more than +2000
Also not in his favor; 10 of the last 13 Masters winners had pre-tournament odds that were worse than +2000 (20-1).
When all is said and done, though, at 8-1 the Ulsterman isn’t a bad shot for a last-minute bet. It’s certainly better than putting money on say, a badly out of form Jordan Spieth at +1600.
Dustin Johnson (+1100), Justin Rose (+1400), Rickie Fowler (+1500) and Tiger Woods (+1600) are also better bets than Spieth, but are they better than Mcllroy?
If you are going to be daring, why not go for players with pre-tournament odds of between 20 and 30.
After all, for more than a decade, as already stated, they’ve produced many more winners than the groups above them.
Don’t be surprised, then, if 20-1 shots Brooks Koepke, Francisco Molinari, Jon Rahm, and Justin Thomas come home in front.
Casey and DeChambeau could be good long-shots
If you are going to making any last-minute bets, think hard too about Paul Casey and Bryson DeChambeau.
Casey and Chambeau both carry odds of +3000 and right now each one has the form and whatever else it takes to win a Green Jacket.
Other longer shots who should come into the picture heading into Sunday are Bubba Watson, Jason Day, Matt Kuchar and Tony Finau at +3500
Major winners Louis Oosthuizen at +4000 and Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson at +45000 could also be up there.
THE BOOKIES TOP TEN FOR THE MASTERS*
Rory McIlroy: 8 to 1
Dustin Johnson: 11 to 1
Justin Rose: 14 to 1
Rickie Fowler: 15 to 1
Jordan Spieth: 16 to 1
Tiger Woods: 16 to 1
Brooks Koepka: 20 to 1
Francesco Molinari: 20 to 1
Jon Rahm: 20 to 1
Justin Thomas: 20 to 1
*The New Jersey sportsbooks’ first-day odds varied in places, but the above reflect the general picture.
