- Tiger Woods – $9.00 into $4.50 – Arguably back to his best having won 3 of his last 5 tournaments. Those wins have come on courses that he has won at several times before, so it is no wonder he is a $4.50 favourite to take out this year’s Masters. I am sure he will be up there come Sunday.
- World Ranking – 1
- Recent Form – 1 – 1 – 37 – 33 (Matchplay) – 1
- Augusta National Form – 40 – 4 – 4 – 4 – 6
- Rory McIlroy - $14.00 into $10.00 – Rory has finally hit his straps with his new clubs. It has only taken the youngster 6 tournaments to show he has settled down into his new equipment. Rory’s final round 66 at the Texas Open last week was brilliant and he nearly pulled off a victory except for Martin Lairds outstanding 63 which got him in the Masters field. Rory seems to be firing at the right time but one can only imagine how much the 2011 Masters still haunts him, going into the back 9 on the final day with a lead that should have been unassailable, only to find himself finishing outside the top 10 by the end of play.
- World Ranking – 2
- Recent Form – 2 – 45 – 8 – WD – 33 (Matchplay) – MC
- Augusta National Form – 40 – 15 – MC – 20
- Phil Mickelson - $15.00 – Phil loves Augusta and it is easy to see why when you look at his results. Phil’s last victory came in 2010 with that miracle shot from the trees on the 13th to take a 2 putt for birdie. He has not played for 2 weeks since his 16th at the Houston Open, where he carded a 67 and 68 on the final 2 days. Out of 17 starts at Augusta Phil has finished inside the top ten 13 times with 3 wins to his resume.
- World Ranking - 10
- Recent Form – 16 – MC – 3 – 21 – 60 – 1 – 51 – 37
- Augusta National Form – 3 – 27 – 1 – 5 – 5
- Justin Rose - $26.00 to $19.00 – Justin Rose, is arguably in career best form. He has had some great tournaments this year forcing his price to settle around the $19.00 mark. Rose is reasonably long off the tee and hits plenty of greens. He is coming off a 2nd to Tiger Woods at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. England’s best hope!
- World Ranking - 3
- Recent Form – 2 – 8 – 4 – 17 (Matchplay) – 16 – 2
- Augusta National Form – 8 – 11 – 20 – 36 – 5
- Adam Scott - $23.00 – The best Aussie. He has not played since his 30th at the Tampa Bay Championship. Since then he has been working with a new driver and is using it this week at Augusta. Scott came agonisingly close 2 years ago to tie for 2nd with compatriot Jason Day, falling short to Charl Schwartzel who somehow managed to birdie the last 4 holes.
- World Ranking – 7
- Recent Form – 30 – 3 – 33 (Matchplay) – 10
- Augusta National Form – 8 – 2 – 18 – MC – 25
Sportingbet value tips
- Keegan Bradley – $29.00 or >. In fantastic form this year, having finished in the top ten 5 of 9 times. Is well suited to the course, and stats suggest he will be there come Sunday.
- Peter Hanson - $67.00 or >. The quiet achiever. Hanson is playing extremely well at the moment, had a shocking 3rd round last week of 78 but backed it up with a 66 in the final round. He is also coming off a 3rd in last year’s tournament.
- Lee Westwood - $26.00 or >. Has been lurking around for a major win some time now. Always thereabouts but he just seems unable to close it out. However he has been plodding along nicely this year and I believe the pressure will be off him here.