Ben Coley assesses the situation at the halfway stage of the Masters, where four players are tied for the lead.
Recommended bets: Masters round three
2pts Bill Haas to beat Jimmy Walker at 21/20 - rock-solid Haas a far more reliable proposition
In accepting the absence of Tiger Woods and, more pertinently, world number one Dustin Johnson, it would be hard to conjure a more enticing leaderboard than that which awaits the start of round three at the Masters.
Four players share the lead, and none have won a major championship before. Rickie Fowler - who has our financial support having been advised as the standout bet - brings the best recent and Augusta form, and rightly heads the market at this point. His short-game is the best in the world right now and his Friday 67 was a masterclass.
But my emotional support, and that of so many, will be with Sergio Garcia. Five years ago, the Spaniard declared himself short of the fortitude required for winning majors as he slumped to a disappointing second round at this very course. Now, a happier, healthier, more mature version of the Spaniard declares that he's good enough to win more than one.
And he might be right. At 37, Sergio's mind is as strong as it has ever been and while he's won higher-profile events, the way he held off Henrik Stenson to land the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year was as impressive as anything he's ever done on a Sunday.
This Sunday would've been Seve's birthday, and while easy to get lost in the emotional storyline, don't dismiss the idea that it could fundamentally help Garcia on the golf course. Stenson attributed the level of calm he displayed at Troon last summer to having said goodbye to a good friend on the eve of the tournament and if Sergio is still up there tomorrow, perhaps he'll find it easier to remember that golf is just a game.
That's very much the party line from Thomas Pieters, whose ice-cool demeanour continues to confuse those unwilling to accept that young, first-time Masters contenders can be so aloof. It's a strength, as is the Belgian's power which seems sure to be suited by the calmer conditions forecast for this weekend.
And then there's Charley Hoffman, who gave away shots hand over fist midway through his second round only to steady the ship nicely towards the end. You sense, though, that the nerves which appeared to threaten his position on Friday will find a way to ruin it either on Saturday or Sunday, despite his quality.
If there's value among this quartet, it's Pieters at 8/1 - the same price offered about Jordan Spieth, who is a clear danger at four adrift having quietly made his way into things before noisily signing off with a birdie last night.
Stalking rather than leading is just fine for Spieth, especially given what happened a year ago, and alongside him today is Phil Mickelson. It's easy to imagine a scenario in which this pair, who combine for four Green Jackets, feed off each other and rapidly ascend the leaderboard.
Justin Rose is the man most likely to stick around as he extends this remarkably consistent Augusta run of his, but any easing of conditions and quickening of greens is against him and the same goes for Adam Scott, whose Friday scorecard was tormented by putting mistakes. Ball-striking is always the route to long-term success, but in a weekend shootout at Augusta, perhaps these two will come up short.
No mention yet of Ryan Moore or William McGirt, the third-last two-ball. They're both neat and tidy and Moore has a strong history here, so don't assume they will crumble. But the depth of this leaderboard only enhances the feeling that both would represent shock winners, more so than, say, Charl Schwartzel and Danny Willett were.
And so to the other key contenders, who played alongside each other in the first two rounds.
Jon Rahm is, typically, thriving on his first visit to Augusta and the fact that he's played the front nine so well means we could see an early move from him, alongside Fred Couples in a two-ball of past, present and future.
But it's Rory McIlroy who I think could produce the final piece of this jigsaw by fully confirming himself as a contender with a low third round. He's driven abysmally by his standards and would still be under-par for the event were it not for an unfortunate break on the 36th hole. I find it hard to believe he will continue to struggle with the driver.
The stage is set and I'm not adding a further bet at this point. Were I approaching the event with a blank slate, Pieters would get marginal preference over McIlroy, but I'm prepared to see what Augusta brings today and have another look tomorrow.
For two-ball punters, there are plenty of options to consider.
Stan James bet even-money about PGA Tour professional Brian Stuard beating part-time golfer Stewart Hagestad, which is plainly too big.
Curtis Luck is, like Hagestad, an amateur. The difference is he has an enormous future as a professional and after a very good Friday round to make the weekend, he looks banker material at 8/13 to beat Larry Mize, a 58-year-old who we can firmly expect shoot a couple of over-par rounds this weekend.
Martin Kaymer cost us a winning double on Friday and I count that as unfortunate, the German breaking 70 at Augusta for the first time in what was his 28th attempt to beat Spieth by one.
It's unlikely he does so again and that makes Hideki Matsuyama worthy of consideration at 8/11, but the best bet on the coupon is Bill Haas to beat Jimmy Walker at a shade of odds-against.
Haas has never missed a cut here - his active streak is second only to Rose - and yesterday's 72 was a very competitive score in the conditions.
Walker beat it by one despite a double-bogey, but the Texan has been struggling with illness, his form is far less impressive and Haas, who has hit more greens, is far more likely to turn up and shoot something close to 70, which I expect will do the job.
Posted at 1155 BST on 08/04/17.
