Masters 2013: Updated Betting Lines for Golf's Biggest Names

With the Masters right around the corner, it is time to see what Vegas has to say about the odds of winning for golf’s superstars.

Every seasoned gambler is scrambling right now to find out who has the inside track for Augusta 2013 success. There are so many options and so few certainties.

Should you put your faith behind Tiger Woods, who finally reclaimed his spot as the number one golfer in the world? Maybe Rory McIlroy, who is nipping at Woods' heels on the world golf rankings, is the man to pick this year.

Then you have the likes of Phil Mickelson, Luke Donald, Bubba Watson, etc. If there is one thing that golf is not lacking, it is big names.

Before anyone tees off, the only thing that matters is the odds. So who has the best chance of taking home the green jacket this year? Let us take a look at the betting lines for Masters 2013.

Tiger Woods, USA

Vegas Odds: 3-1

After a long hiatus from relevancy outside of the tabloids, Woods is back on top of the golf world. That ascension has earned him a spot as the favorite to take the Masters by storm.

Based on his 2013 dominance, there is no reason to expect a letdown in Augusta. Woods has won three of his five tournaments so far this year and has earned a world-leading 1,605 FedEx Cup points.

He has made $3,787,600 in winnings so far this year, more than anyone else on the PGA Tour. On top of all that, Woods holds the second-best putting average (1.653) on the tour, right behind Kevin Na.

One major sign that Woods has his mojo back: He is going to have girlfriend Lindsey Vonn cheering him on all through the Masters.

The man has won at Augusta four times already, so he knows how to get it done there. The rest of the tournament field better hope that something pops up to distract Woods, because right now, he looks downright unbeatable again.

Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland

Vegas Odds: 15-1

McIlroy might be coming into the Masters with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Losing the title of number one golfer in the world will do that to you.

The second-ranked McIlroy enters the tournament behind both Woods and Mickelson in the Vegas odds. He may be feeling a little disrespected, which will sharpen his focus.

2013 has not been particularly flashy for McIlroy thus far. Of the five events that he has competed in this year, he has only made the top 10 in two and currently sits at No. 30 in the FedEx Cup rankings.

More importantly, he has yet to win an event this year. Could the Masters be the jump start that McIlroy desperately needs? Beating Woods might be enough to reclaim his spot at number one.  

Phil Mickelson, USA

Vegas Odds: 12-1

The Mickelson-Woods rivalry might be ready to take center stage again at the Masters. If both golfers play at the high levels that we know they can reach, this will easily be the story of the tournament.

Mickelson has had a respectable 2013 so far. He won the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February, coming within a putt of breaking 60 in the tournament’s first round.

He sits at fourth in the FedEx Cup standings with 797 points and fifth in money leaders with $1,746,359.88. He may only be 10th in the world golf rankings, but the Vegas oddsmakers have him as the second favorite to take home the green jacket.

If Mickelson can conjure the same magic that he used in his first three Augusta victories, he will be able to give Woods a serious run for his money.

Luke Donald, England

Vegas Odds: 30-1

Vegas has Donald in an eight-way tie with Louis Oosthuizen, Lee Westwood, Adam Scott, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Keegan Bradley.

For the fourth-ranked golfer in the world (only behind Woods, McIlroy and Justin Rose), those odds almost seem like a slight. Lower-ranked golfers like Brandt Snedeker and Charl Schwartzel were given higher chances of winning.

To be fair, Donald is not having an eye-popping season thus far. He has only placed in the top 10 in one out of four events and currently sits at No. 74 in the FedEx Cup rankings.

Like McIlroy, Donald needs to win something to earn respect from the golf statistics gods. A win at Augusta could do the trick.

Bubba Watson, USA

Vegas Odds: 30-1

As the defending Masters champion, Watson does not have unreasonably high expectations going into the 2013 tournament.

Remember, this is the man who hooked a 52-degree wedge out of the trees and onto the green during the second hole of a playoff with Oosthuizen during last year’s tournament. That was the lasting image of not only last year’s Masters, but of the entire PGA season.

Watson will be entering Augusta as the 14th-ranked player in the world and far, far down on the FedEx Cup standings. He has yet to win in 2013 and has only made the top 10 in two out of six events.

The thing about Watson is that we know he is capable of hitting ridiculous shots from practically anywhere on the course. A wild card is always exciting if nothing else, and Watson is sure to provide a highlight or two during the 2013 Masters.