Masters Odds 2012: Ranking the Chances of Golf's Top American Golfers

The 2012 Masters Tournament is almost here, and there are some American golfers with an excellent chance to come away with the victory.

That being said, there have only been six Americans who've won at Augusta National Golf Club since 1990: Ben Crenshaw, Fred Couples, Mark O'Meara, Zach Johnson, Phil Mickelson (three times) and Tiger Woods (four times).

That's 11 American winners in the last 22 years. 

It seems safe to say that the chances of an American winning this year's tournament are approximately 50 percent.

It sure doesn't hurt their chances that many of America's top golfers are coming into the 2012 Masters on hot streaks.

I will rank the chances the top 10 American golfers will have to don the Green Jacket on Easter Sunday.

Note: All odds given in this post are of my own creation.

10. Webb Simpson

Webb Simpson is the world's 10th-ranked golfer.

His 2012 season hasn't been very productive, though, and he is the least likely out of the top 10 American golfers to win the Masters this year.

After starting out the new year with an eighth-place finish at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Simpson has failed to contend in three out of his four appearances since.

Simpson has never played at Augusta in this tournament. As such, it's hardly fair to expect him to dominate the field this year.

Odds Simpson wins the Masters in 2012: 100/1

9. Nick Watney

Nick Watney is the world's 20th-ranked golfer.

Watney has had moderate success in the past in this tournament, posting a seventh-place finish in 2010.

He will need to seriously step up his game if he wants to compete against the top golfers in the world this week at Augusta.

Watney has entered eight tournaments so far this season and made eight consecutive cuts, an impressive feat. The only problem is that he's only finished in the top 10 once.

Odds Watney wins the Masters in 2012: 100/1

8. Brandt Snedeker

Brandt Snedeker is the world's 22nd-ranked golfer.

He has had some tremendous success in the beginning of the year, winning the Farmer's Insurance Open and finishing in the top 10 at two other tournaments.

Since then, however, Snedeker has struggled to find his groove, finishing outside the top 45 in three tournaments.

He's gotten close to a Masters victory in the past, coming in third place in 2008. 

Odds Snedeker wins the Masters in 2012: 90/1

7. Keegan Bradley

Since coming onto the tour last year, Keegan Bradley has proven to be a worthy competitor on any stage. He is the world's 19th-ranked golfer and was the 2011 PGA Rookie of the Year.

Bradley doesn't shrink on the big stage, as his 2011 PGA Championship victory clearly proves.

In nine events thus far in 2012, Bradley has collected three top-10 finishes.

He's never before faced Augusta for the Masters, though, and I will be pleasantly surprised if he manages to conquer this monumental challenge so early in his career against such stiff competition.

Odds Bradley wins the Masters in 2012: 75/1

6. Matt Kuchar

Matt Kuchar is currently the world's 19th-ranked golfer.

He has had a successful year on the PGA tour, racking up three top-10 finishes. Those top 10s have come in Kuchar's last three appearances, making him one of the hottest golfers entering the 2012 Masters.

Kuchar has competed at Augusta twice before, posting respectable scores and finishing in the mid-20s.

If he can find a way to keep his hot streak going and maybe catch a few breaks along the way, it's not out of the question for Kuchar to win this year's Masters.

Odds Kuchar wins the Masters in 2012: 60/1

5. Steve Stricker

Steve Stricker's career resembles a fine wine: He just gets better with age.

Stricker is currently the world's No. 5 ranked golfer.

He has played in five tournaments so far in 2012, winning one and finishing in the top 10 two other times. 

Stricker has never won a major championship, though he has come close a few times, posting top-10 finishes nine times in his career.

Augusta National hasn't been kind to Stricker, and he has been cut five times in the past. Still, you can't count out the old dog. He should be one of the contenders this year.

Odds Stricker wins the Masters in 2012: 50/1

4. Bubba Watson

Bubba Watson is due.

He is currently the world's 16th-ranked golfer.

Watson has been knocking on the door for a win on tour all year long. In seven appearances this year, Bubba has finished in the top 10 three times while finishing in the top 20 all seven times.

He hasn't ever come close to winning at Augusta National Golf Club, but Watson has all the tools to get the job done.

To win the Masters, you need to be able to shape the ball, hit primo recovery shots and have a silky-smooth putting stroke. Watson has these skills on lockdown, and his chances of winning the Masters are looking good this year.

Odds Watson wins the Masters in 2012: 30/1

3. Hunter Mahan

Hunter Mahan is one of the hottest golfers on tour these days. 

He is currently ranked No. 4 in the world golf rankings.

Mayan has already tallied two wins on the PGA tour this year, winning the Shell Houston Open in preparation for the Masters and winning the prestigious WGC: Accenture Match play tournament at the end of February.

He has also experienced a measure of success at Augusta in the past, finishing in the top 10 twice.

Mayan has a fantastic chance to conquer Augusta and the rest of the field this year, and if his hot streak continues, it won't be long before he's the No. 1 player in the world.

Odds Mayan wins the Masters in 2012: 15/1

2. Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson is always a threat to win the Masters. 

He is currently the world's 14th-ranked golfer.

Thus far in 2012, Mickelson has won once, at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He has also finished in the top four in two other tournaments.

Mickelson has won at Augusta three times in the last six years, and there isn't another golfer in the field more capable of pulling it off again.

The thing about Phil is that you never know what you're going to get, though. He could come out guns blazing to romp the field, or he could come out spraying the ball all over the course.

Whatever he does, it's always entertaining to see what Mickelson comes up with.

Odds Mickelson wins the Masters in 2012: 12/1

1. Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods finally won for the first time in 30 months with a victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago.

He is currently the world's No. 7 ranked golfer, though that could change again very soon.

Woods has been creeping back into his old form in 2012, winning Arnold's tournament and finishing in the top 10 once more. 

Besides having to withdraw from the WGC: Accenture Match play event due to a strained Achilles tendon, Woods has been a contender in every tournament he's played in this year.

It doesn't hurt his chances this week that Tiger is a four-time champion at Augusta National.

The odds are still stacked against him to win, as they are for every golfer every single week, but Woods has the best chance out of all the American golfers to win the Masters in 2012.

Odds Woods wins the Masters in 2012: 8/1

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