Bubba Watson's WGC win saw his Masters odds tumble, but he's not the only market mover in the outright odds for Augusta.
Watson’s WGC Match Play Championship win in Texas saw his Masters price cut as he added his name to the list of candidates for victory at Augusta, but he’s not the only big name who’s been playing their way into contention of late.
Most notably, of course, Tiger Woods will be driving back down Magnolia Lane again next week after missing the last two editions of the event he’s managed to win four times already. He seems like he’s back for good this time and is 9/1 joint second favourite.
Sky Bet are paying 10 places on the Masters outright market
While Tiger has been rolling back the years, some of the other leading contenders have been putting their hats into the ring for the first major of the year, with Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Phil Mickelson and Jason Day all winners in 2018.
Tiger Woods 33/1 into 9/1
Tiger has not managed to win again in his latest comeback but he’s been in contention twice and has raised hopes of what would be an incredible fifth green jacket at Augusta. The TV companies are as pleased as anyone to see him back in action, and punters have been turned into believers as they steam in.
He’s joint second favourite after a real run on his price during his second place at the Valspar, and it dipped even further when he threatened at Bay Hill a week later. Now finally fit and back at one of his favourite tracks, Woods may even go off as favourite come the first round next Thursday.
Rory McIlroy 16/1 into 8/1
The Masters favourite with Sky Bet, McIlroy is going in search of the one major that’s eluded him so far to complete the career grand slam – and banish a few Augusta demons at the same time.
The ever-popular McIlroy has always been well fancied for the Masters and was a similar price to this at the turn of the year, but some muddling form saw him drift out to around 16/1 by the start of March.
He came flying back to form at Bay Hill though to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational and that was enough to cut his odds in half from the top price available to head the betting as we close in on the first round.
Bubba Watson 66/1 into 14/1
Bubba’s now a two-time winner this year and has already won twice around Augusta so any other year you wouldn’t perhaps anywhere near the 14/1 on offer right now – but this is no ordinary year.
The left-hander was as big as 66/1 in places before his Genesis Open victory in February that saw his odds slashed to around 25/1, and they’ve been slowly coming in ever since, before one more bump after his Match Play victory at the weekend.
Phil Mickelson 50/1 into 16/1
The three-time winner had not been in the best of shape as his odds were drifting around the 50/1 mark in February, but the popular American then produced his form of old to win the WGC-Mexico Championship in March.
That brought his odds crashing down as he’s a great lover of Augusta and just needs to be in decent shape to give a good account of himself in the Masters. He’ll probably shorten up again before the start given his popularity and winning record.
