Masters 2017 Favorites
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The 2018 Masters is setting up to be one of the best tournaments in recent memory, with some of the world’s best players surging in the weeks leading up to the year’s first major and the return of an elite-level Tiger Woods to Augusta National Golf Club.
Tiger Woods’ career resurgence has made him one of the betting favorites to win The Masters in Vegas, but is the 42-year-old really the best pick to capture the green jacket on Sunday?
With the Masters field essentially locked in and just over a week left until the par-3 contest next Wednesday, here is our ranking of the 13 Masters betting favorites – from most to least likely to win.
All odds via Bovada.lv, as of Tuesday afternoon.
1. Bubba Watson (14/1)
Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson will come to Augusta National as the hottest player on the PGA Tour, with two wins in his last four starts. He missed the cut a year ago at The Masters, worn down by an illness that caused him to consider retirement, but Watson is fully healthy once again and brimming with confidence. His game has always suited Augusta National, and he was dominant in Austin last week.
2. Justin Thomas (9/1)
Thomas missed out on becoming the new World No. 1 at the Match Play and admitted after his loss that he was distracted by the possibility of being No. 1, but the reigning PGA Champion has been sensational over the last 12 months, with a total of four wins since the 2017 Masters. His only problem may be inexperience. Thomas has played a total of eight competitive rounds at Augusta, and his top finish is T22.
3. Justin Rose (14/1)
Rose’s last seven starts at The Masters: T11, T8, T25, T14, T2, T10, 2.
He’s in great form again in 2018, and is coming off consecutive top-5s at the Valspar Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Rose will tee it up again for a final tune-up in Houston this weekend. Even if he doesn’t win at Augusta, there’s a very good chance Rose will put himself in contention by Sunday afternoon.
4. Rory McIlroy (9/1)
Rory would have been near the bottom of this list a month ago, but the four-time major champion proved he’s back at the top of his game after a lost year in 2017 with an impressive win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
He’s on a run of four consecutive top-10s at The Masters, and needs a green jacket to become the sixth player in history to complete a career Grand Slam.
5. Phil Mickelson (18/1)
A few weeks ago I argued that Phil Mickelson was the best bet in the tournament – and that was before he became the oldest player to win a WGC event, ending a five-year victory drought at the WGC-Mexico Championship. Mickelson has four top-6 finishes since February, and will be playing this week at the Houston Open before heading to Augusta.
6. Dustin Johnson (9/1)
Dustin Johnson was the favorite to win last year’s Masters – until he injured himself falling down a set of stairs on the eve of the tournament.
2017 Masters Field
Johnson withdrew from the tournament, which came just after he dominated the 2017 Match Play event, where he never trailed for the entire tournament. In his last start before the 2018 Masters, Johnson was bounced out with an 0-3 record. Still, if he plays his best, Johnson can beat anyone.
7. Tiger Woods (9/1)
Tiger Woods, still only five events into his incredible return to golf, appears to be ready to win a PGA Tour event – but is he ready to win The Masters? Woods will certainly be the favorite among the patrons in attendance, but there are a few red flags in his not-yet-refined game. He’s been great around the greens and generally solid with his putter, but Tiger’s been wild off the tee (202nd in driving accuracy) and can’t afford to give away shots with one bad swing.
But, as David Feherty quipped on a broadcast a few weeks ago, “the only mistake I’ve ever made with Tiger Woods is when I underestimated him.“
8. Jordan Spieth (14/1)
Jordan Spieth seemingly always plays his best at Augusta – he’s never finished worse than 11th in four starts – but the 24-year-old hasn’t quite been himself in 2018. The guy who many have regarded as one of the best putters on Tour for years is 172nd in strokes gained putting, and his actually giving away shots relative to the field on the green. As Golf Digest notes, though, you don’t have to be a very good putter to win at Augusta.
9. Sergio Garcia (25/1)
The 2017 Masters champion and new father has played a lighter schedule than most this season, but has looked good in his four starts in 2018. Keep in mind that there have only been three back-to-back winners in Masters history: Jack Nicklaus (’65-’66), Nick Faldo (’89-’90) and Tiger Woods (’01-’02).
10. Paul Casey (22/1)
Casey played spoiler at the Valspar Championship, edging Tiger Woods by a shot to win his first PGA Tour event in nine years. He’s more of a gamble, but has been on a good run at Augusta National, with top-10s in each of the last three years.
11. Jason Day (18/1)
Day’s best finish at The Masters came seven years ago, when he finished two shots behind surprise winner Charl Schwartzel, and while he has a win and a second place finish on the PGA Tour this season, it’s exceedingly difficult to predict Day’s week-to-week form.
12. Rickie Fowler (20/1)
Fowler was on fire in the winter season, but missed the cut at Torrey Pines and PGA National. If Fowler can weather the first round – an issue he’s had at majors in the past – he’s proven he can contend at Augusta, but there’s not much of a reason to expect his breakout to come next weekend.
13. Jon Rahm (20/1)
Jon Rahm is arguably the best player on Tour without a major, a title the 23-year-old stole away from Rickie Fowler with an incredible run in 2017 that included three worldwide wins on the PGA Tour and European Tour. Rahm’s now the No. 3 golfer in the world, but he hasn’t been in contention since his last win in January, and he’ll only be making his second start at Augusta.
14. Hideki Matsuyama (33/1)
Hideki Matsuyama is going to win a major eventually, but his play hasn’t been especially inspiring since January. It wouldn’t qualify a shock to see the World No. 6 win at Augusta, but I’m not sure why you’d bet on him to realistically beat every other player on this list, either (aside from the fact that a 33/1 payout is great on a top-10 player).
It’s a tradition (on For The Win) like no other.
Each year, we get members of the site staff throw in their picks with odds for the Masters. With the action teeing off at the 2019 event at Augusta National on Thursday, it’s time for us to give another bunch of choices in the hopes it’ll win you some money.
As a reminder: We pick one player with short odds (up to 20/1), medium odds (21/1 to 99/1) and we dive deep to take one longshot (100/1 and above) who could come out of relative obscurity (hello, Danny Willett in 2016!) and get a green jacket.
All odds courtesy of PointsBet:
Short odds
Dustin Johnson, 10/1
I don’t like picking against Rory McIlroy when he looks in the zone, but I keep getting this weird feeling that DJ will take it home this weekend. He crushes the ball, he’s had experience now with Augusta, and the last three times he’s played the Masters (other than 2017 when he had that freak injury falling down the staircase) he’s T6, T4, and T10. It’s his time. — Nate Scott
Justin Rose, 12/1
That’s right, we’re going right back here again until he wins it. With a history of near-wins and consistent results at Augusta (did you know he’s finished outside of the top 25 just twice in 13 Masters appearances and hasn’t missed the cut once?), along with good form (eighth place at The Players Championship last month), he’s a lock to contend for a green jacket. He’s an all-time ball-striker. What more do you want? — Charles Curtis
Jordan Spieth, 16/1
Jordan Spieth is having a bad season, and the three-time major champion is struggling with multiple facets of his game. Spieth is an alarming 172nd on tour in strokes gained tee to green, and 70th in strokes gained putting.
Still, there’s something special about Spieth at Augusta. In five starts, he’s never finished worse than a tie for 11th, and he’s posted four top-3 finishes. I have little doubt that Spieth can be mediocre everywhere else, yet show up at Augusta National on Thursday and shoot a 67. He’s going to be a contender over the weekend. — Nick Schwartz
Tiger Woods, 12/1
I did not realize I was working with cowards. If nobody else is going to take the plunge, I guess I will: I’m going with Tiger. His 2019 numbers aren’t impressive, but we know he has a game suited for Augusta, as evidenced by the 65 (!) he shot at a practice round this week. There better players you can put your money on, but betting is supposed to be fun and you’re not going to have more fun betting on another guy. And what if he wins!?!? — Steven Ruiz
Medium odds
Masters 2017 Favorites 2020
Brooks Koepka, 22/1
Koepka at +2200? What am I missing here? A win here and he would pass Jordan Spieth on the career majors list. He would tie Rory. He’s coming off a PGA Championship win, a PGA Tour Player of the Year award last year, and it’s not like he’s been bad at Augusta – he finished T11 last year. He’s entering the tournament ticked off at the lack of coverage and respect he’s getting. This is my favorite pick. — NaS
I’m with Nate here. This is probably the best bet to make this weekend. And, sure, it’s a boring pick, but I’ve already used my fun pick on Tiger Woods. Here’s my advice: Bet on Tiger for fun and back it up with a bet on boring old Brooks.
2017 Masters Standings
A bonus pick: Hideki Matsuyama (33/1). He ranks third in strokes gained tee-to-green and has already racked up three top-10 finishes this season. — SR
Francesco Molinari, 22/1
Come on aboard! There’s plenty of room on this bandwagon. The 36-year-old Italian who’s one half of Moliwood had an unbelievable run since last June: He won three times (including the British Open) last season, blew away everyone at the Ryder Cup and bested the field at the Arnold Palmer just a month ago. He’s on fire and the buzz is too much to ignore, especially at those odds. — CC
Tommy Fleetwood, 28/1
Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm and Rickie Fowler are wrestling for the title of best player without a major, and it’s just a matter of time before all three break through. Fleetwood doesn’t have much experience at Augusta – he’s missed the cut and finished T17 over the last two years – but he’s one of the best drivers and ball strikers in the field. The only thing holding Fleetwood back is his putter, but if he can get hot for a few rounds, this could be his weekend. — NiS
Long Odds
Charley Hoffman (100/1)
Every year we do this. Every year we discount Hoffman’s track record at the Masters, and every year we glance at the leaderboard on Day 3 and see Hoffman in fourth place, or, in that one glorious year in 2015, leading the tournament. He’s never finished outside of the top 30 at Augusta, has a top-10 and a T12 last year. For a long shot, why not put a buck or two on the guy who clearly loves this course? — NaS
Si Woo Kim, 100/1
Who Won The 2017 Masters
24-year-old Si Woo Kim posted a T24 in his second start at The Masters last year, and he’s coming to Augusta just a few days removed from a T4 in Texas last weekend. Kim, the 2017 Players Championship winner, has proven he can deliver on big stages, and the stats say Kim has the game to contend. On the season, Kim is 47th in strokes gained tee to green, 9th in strokes gained around the green, 31st in strokes gained putting. — NiS
Matthew Fitzpatrick, 100/1
A bit of a Captain Obvious pick given his near-win at Bay Hill. But he’s played well at the Masters (T7 in 2016) and was T12 at the 2018 U.S. Open. Putting wins at Augusta, and if he hits well on the lightning-fast greens, look out. — CC
Charles Howell III, 100/1
Chuck Three Sticks! Howell has had a hard time qualifying for the Masters — this will be his first appearance since 2012 — but the hometown kid knows the course, which is enough for me to take a chance on him. The last time he played in the tournament, he finished in the top-20. — SR