Masters 2013 Odds: Vegas Odds for Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and More

Golf is one of the most unpredictable sports in the world, especially when you have a deep field like we do in 2013.

Case in point: Tiger Woods placed 40th at the Masters last year in his comeback campaign. In his forgettable 2010 and 2011 seasons, he tied for fourth at Augusta.

Martin Laird just punched his ticket to Augusta by winning the Valero Texas Open. He had missed the cut in four out of eight previous tournaments headed into TPC San Antonio, but posted a nine-under par 63 on the final day to stun just about everybody.

Still, all you can do is look at a tournament and its field logically and hope the golf gods don't do anything too crazy.

Here's a look at the top five contenders at the 2013 Masters (according to odds at VegasInsider.com). 

Are the odds for each golfer just right, too high or too low?

Read on.

Tiger Woods (3/1)

My Take: Just Right

Golf can be a weird game. Martin Laird winning the Valero Texas Open over the weekend by shooting nine-under par on Sunday is proof.

But, using simple logic, how can you not say Tiger Woods is the favorite at the 2013 Masters this year?

The four-time Masters champion already has three wins in four stroke play PGA Tour events this year and he's coming off a victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He's also posted six top-10 finishes at Augusta in the last seven years since 2005.

And, yes, he placed an uncharacteristic 40th last year at Augusta, but his putting game has been spectacular early in the campaign (ranked first on tour in strokes gained). As Karen Crouse of the New York Times noted, Woods has made 35 putts longer than eight feet in his last 144 holes.

Tiger also ranks first on tour in scoring average, first in holes per eagle, third in birdie average and 26th in driving distance this year, via PGATour.com. 

Phil Mickelson (12/1)

My Take: Just Right

Some may say Rory McIlroy should be the No. 2 contender, especially after his strong showing at the Valero Texas Open, but it's hard to call him the No. 2 contender when he hasn't finished better than 15th at Augusta in his career. 

It never seems to matter how Phil Mickelson is doing before the Masters—he almost always excels at Augusta. The three-time Masters champion has 14 career top-10 finishes at the Masters, including a third-place finish last year.

Mickelson had placed 30th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and 35th at the Houston Open in 2010 before winning the Masters. The 42-year-old is always a threat at Augusta.

Mickelson has posted two top-10 finishes this year, including a victory at the Phoenix Open.

Rory McIlroy (15/1)

My Take: Just Right

While McIlroy has yet to notch a top-10 finish at Augusta, that's not to say he can't win it. He posted a six-under par 66 on the last day at TPC San Antonio and would have won if it wasn't for Martin Laird magically looking like the No. 1 player in the world.

A week ago, I would have been hesitant to say McIlroy had a legitimate chance against Tiger at the Masters this year. But after his performance at the Valero Texas Open, I'm having second thoughts. McIlroy finished at TPC San Antonio with a birdie.

It is worth noting that the 23-year-old has been inconsistent this year. He placed 45th at the Houston Open before placing second at TPC San Antonio. He could either explode at Augusta or tank. I personally think he's turned a corner and will be in contention on the final day of the historic tournament.

Brandt Snedeker (20/1)

My Take: Too High

Is Brandt Snedeker one of the top players in the world? Of course he is.

But I'm having a hard time figuring out why people are so high on him at the 2013 Masters.

Snedeker started 2013 red hot, with four top-three finishes in his first five PGA Tour events, including a win at Pebble Beach. 

But the 32-year-old has not been on his game lately, missing the cut in consecutive tournaments (Arnold Palmer Invitational, Houston Open). It would be some kind of turnaround to go from that to winning the Masters.

Plus, Snedeker hasn't finished better than 15th in his last three appearances at Augusta and he finished 19th last year.

I just don't see it.

Justin Rose (25/1)

My Take: Too Low

I would put Justin Rose right behind McIlroy in the odds this year. The 32-year-old finished eighth at the Masters last year after finishing 11th at Augusta in 2011. He also finished third at the PGA Championship last year.

Beyond that, Rose has three top-10 finishes in three stroke play PGA Tour events this year. That includes a second-place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.

Anything can happen at Augusta, obviously, but I would be surprised if Rose didn't push the leaders on Day 4 at the 2013 Masters.