Masters Odds 2012: Tiger Woods and Stars Getting Too Much Love

With the Masters getting ready to take center stage in the sports world, the favorites are going to start feeling the pressure of Augusta weigh them down so much that it will be difficult to have success on the course. 

One of the hardest things to do in sports is tell a player that he is a favorite or going to win, because there are so many things that can go wrong in a hurry that prevent it from happening. 

In a sport like golf, where you have to be precise with every shot, that pressure increases ten fold. 

Here are some of the favorites at the Masters that will find it hard to match their odds when things tee off on Thursday. 

(Odds courtesy of Bovada.lv)

Tiger Woods (9-2 Odds)

It should come as no surprise that Woods is the favorite to win the Masters. He is the biggest star in golf and coming off his first PGA Tour victory in two years at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. 

The problem with Woods is you still don't know what you are going to get from round to round. Most players have a distinct pattern they follow tournament after tournament. 

Woods, on the other hand, has found a way to play brilliant rounds this year, only to follow them up with something that makes you wonder what is wrong with him. 

The Masters is not a tournament where you can have that kind of inconsistency and be in contention on Sunday. 

Phil Mickelson (11-1)

Not one to be outdone by Woods, Mickelson will join him on this list because he has had no consistency to his game this season. 

Mickelson did have a nice finish at the Shell Houston Open last week, but before that he had a 24th place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and 43rd at the Cadillac Championships. 

The Masters does suit what Mickelson does well—hit the ball really hard, really far—but you have to have accuracy off the tee.

Mickelson doesn't show a lot of that, and it will ultimately lead to his undoing at Augusta. 

Lee Westwood (20-1)

Another big hitter who is still figuring out what is working for him this year, Westwood had a strong start to the year with back-to-back, top-four finishes in his first two PGA events. 

Things have gotten harder for Westwood in his last two events, with 21st and 29th place finishes. He hasn't played badly in any event, he just isn't playing well enough to breakthrough a deep, crowded field. 

Westwood is good enough to hang around for the first two rounds, but Saturday and Sunday will be his undoing. He has yet to make a move in the later stages of a tournament this year, so don't bank on Augusta being the first time. 

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