The Masters

[fatshaft]

Best tournament of the year imo, starts Thursday

Okay, here are my picks in order -

Goosen - Missed the cut last year after a first round 76, but from 2002 went 2nd, 13th, 13th, 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, 17th, MC. Good form this year and a consistent Augusta performer which counts more than anything. My top pick - 25/1

Ross Fisher - creditable 30th place at the first attempt last year, despite a second round 76. Vying with McIlroy to be the next British major winner. Matured tremendously over the last couple of years and should improve on last year's showing. Great price @ 66/1

Villegas - 4th time here, MC, MC then 13th last year after 73, 69, 71, 69. Lad seems to be growing year on year in general, and last year found his way around. He's a bit short priced, but small bet - 35/1

Geoff Ogilvie - 4 Masters, made the cut in them all. Best finish last year in 15th, after a closing 69. Bit of a streaky player, but when he's hot he can run away with it. He'll see you safely into the weekend for your wager, can he step up to a challenge this year? 45/1


Westwood - Good finish this week in Houston, but a mixed Masters track record, though he's been on the form of is career over the last two seasons, his putting, as so much evidenced in last year's Open, has let him down. He's in danger of following Monty and Darren down the great European player that couldn't close out a major path. Expect to show, but not push the winner, a small bet at poor odds that are too short - 22/1

2008 winner (and 5th in 2005) Immelman is available at 200/1. Although not having much of a season, that is way too overpriced.

[William the White]

Those all seem really long odds, fatshaft.

Who's the favourite?

[fatshaft]

Those all seem really long odds, fatshaft.

Who's the favourite?

Not really, Westwood is 5th in the betting.

Tiger around 9/2 now, Mickelson 10/1, Els 12ish, Padraig 18/1

[Dujon]

An interesting site if you are keen on following the odds:

http://www.oddschecker.com/golf/us-masters/win-market

[Dr Hotdog]

Schwartzel is a good punt, he's in top form.
I'd love to see Westwood, Fisher, Casey or Els win it.
I'm going to watch as much of it as possible!

[jimbo]

I'd hate to see Casey win it. He's one of those people I have a dislike of that I don't really know where it comes from.

I'm still not sure how I want Tiger to fare. If he could win it after 5 months out then that would be a hell of a story. Maybe playing without the things bottled up inside him will allow him to be freer and more relaxed.

[Bruce Rioja]

I'll have my cyber fiver on either Villegas or that chinky looking one with the jazzy belt.

[Dr Hotdog]

Casey is a top boy. Almost as nice as my mate Ross! hahaha.

Mike, you probably mean Anthony Kim. He won in Houston on Sunday and last year equalled the birdie record at Augusta (11 in the second or third round). A good shout, but I don't want an American to win. I am very confident that Villegas wont make the weekend.

[TANGODANCER]

I won't be ruling out Furik, Vijay or Mickelsen. Westwood? Depends on holding his game throughout. He could do it. Oh, and add Jiminez in there.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

You mean there are others playing?

Come on Tiger, let's make it 5 green jackets. Instinct will take over if he's in the hunt come the weekend.

[jimbo]

Casey is a top boy.

Not convinced!

[ratbert]

Tiger will either win the thing or finish way off the pace. Depends on his first round.

Heart wants Ernie Els but head suggests middle-ranking American a-la Zach Johnson will win.

[Little Green Man]

Instinct will take over if he's in the hunt come the weekend.

He's going to be dirty dancing with a bevvy of scantily-clad escort girls?

Augusta won't like that!

[Dr Hotdog]

Casey is a top boy.

Not convinced!

Haha! Understandable!

[blurred]

Kim and Mickelson both over-priced for me. Tiger's a massive swerve at those odds. 5 months out of the game and you expect him to win a major? Not for me. 9/2's a massive lay on old Eldrick.

[Dujon]

I agree with you, blurred. All the bookies on the link I provided have him at fours, 9/2 or fives at the moment. I have to wonder whether they are covering their backsides rather than allowing the money to dictate the odds.

[fatshaft]

I agree with you, blurred. All the bookies on the link I provided have him at fours, 9/2 or fives at the moment. I have to wonder whether they are covering their backsides rather than allowing the money to dictate the odds.

They covered their backsides by having him generally at 3s when the book opened, it's pretty clear that the money is giving him a swerve, hence the pretty substantial drift out to what is for him, unheralded prices.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I agree with you, blurred. All the bookies on the link I provided have him at fours, 9/2 or fives at the moment. I have to wonder whether they are covering their backsides rather than allowing the money to dictate the odds.

They covered their backsides by having him generally at 3s when the book opened, it's pretty clear that the money is giving him a swerve, hence the pretty substantial drift out to what is for him, unheralded prices.

Exactly, he routinely starts majors at 2/1.

[Montreal Wanderer]

You mean there are others playing?

Come on Tiger, let's make it 5 green jackets. Instinct will take over if he's in the hunt come the weekend.

I admired him very much as a golfer but I've gone off him as any sort of role model. I don't want him to win - Tiger's back and all is forgotten (right) - he needs to pay more dues. I don't think he will win though.

[blurred]

I agree with you, blurred. All the bookies on the link I provided have him at fours, 9/2 or fives at the moment. I have to wonder whether they are covering their backsides rather than allowing the money to dictate the odds.

They covered their backsides by having him generally at 3s when the book opened, it's pretty clear that the money is giving him a swerve, hence the pretty substantial drift out to what is for him, unheralded prices.

Exactly, he routinely starts majors at 2/1.

Yes, but he routinely starts golf tournaments, which he hasn't this year.

Amazing talent though he is, even 5/1 is a ridiculous price for someone who hasn't played any competitive golf for half a year, whether through injury, rest, or 'other'. If Mickleson had had 6 months out coming in to the Masters, what price do you reckon the bookies would make him? A little more than 2/3 points out from his usual starting price, I'd fancy.