Masters Odds 2014: Round-by-Round Predictions for Augusta
The year's first major arrives with plenty of strong favorites and even more question marks.
This year's Masters lacks a little thunder since Tiger Woods is not able to compete, but there are still enough exciting storylines and talented golfers to captivate an audience for four days.
As for the odds? There are a ton of intriguing and worthwhile bets.
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Have a look at all the golfers Oddsshark.com lists with odds lower than 100-1, and then I'll offer up my predictions on how it will all play out.
| Adam Scott | 9-1 |
| Rory McIlroy | 9-1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 12-1 |
| Jason Day | 14-1 |
| Matt Kuchar | 20-1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 22-1 |
| Sergio Garcia | 22-1 |
| Bubba Watson | 25-1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 25-1 |
| Justin Rose | 28-1 |
| Zach Johnson | 28-1 |
| Brandt Snedeker | 33-1 |
| Keegan Bradley | 33-1 |
| Charl Schwartzel | 35-1 |
| Hunter Mahan | 40-1 |
| Jason Dufner | 40-1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 40-1 |
| Lee Westwood | 40-1 |
| Angel Cabrera | 50-1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 50-1 |
| Ian Poulter | 55-1 |
| Luke Donald | 55-1 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 60-1 |
| Patrick Reed | 60-1 |
| Graeme McDowell | 66-1 |
| Graham Delaet | 66-1 |
| Harris English | 66-1 |
| Jim Furyk | 66-1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 70-1 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | 75-1 |
| Bill Haas | 80-1 |
| Steve Stricker | 80-1 |
| Victor Dubuisson | 80-1 |
| Webb Simpson | 80-1 |
Round 1: Picking Which Players Will Stumble out of the Gates
As has been said and will be said again, you can't win the Masters on Thursday, but you can lose it.
It is important to get off to a solid start.
This year, two top names will essentially play themselves out of competition on Thursday. Dustin Johnson and Jason Day will have a hard time shaking off rust and struggle out of the gate.
Johnson has been wonderful to start this season, but he's played just once since coming in fourth at the WGC Cadillac Championship in early March.
His lone tournament came in last week's Houston Open Houston Open, and he withdrew with no explanation after firing an 80 in the first round.
Golf Channel's Will Gray points out how that is a touch concerning:
Meanwhile, Jason Day also has had a tremendous start to the season, but Breaking Sports News gives us the good news/bad news of his situation:
Day injured his thumb while winning the WGC Match Play event in Arizona and hasn't played since. As Brian Wacker of PGATour.com passed along, Day is feeling good about the progress of his thumb, "Everything has progressed nicely."
Still, Day has been away from competitive golf, and he will lack consistency while having to adjust to tournament play in the most prestigious tournament on the planet.
Day and Johnson will enjoy good seasons, but not a good start to the Masters.
Round 2: Watson Will Look to Add 2nd Green Jacket
Speaking of Jason Day, he had the lead after 36 holes last year at six-under. Day held a lead late Sunday but gave way to surprise contender Angel Cabrera and eventual champ Adam Scott.
After 36 holes, Cabrera was one stroke back and Scott two.
In other words, if a player wants to make a run at the green jacket, it is good to have the lead in sight after two rounds.
Weather.com predicts a bit of a breeze over the first two rounds but solid conditions. I expect the leader to sit at seven-under. Bubba Watson will be the 36-hole leader.
The 2012 champ has been in good form this year. He has played in five PGA events in 2014. He's finished in the top 10 in four of those events, and that includes two seconds and a win. Watson's situation is a bit like Johnson's, however. His last tournament was the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and he withdrew after firing an 83 in the first round. Watson had the explanation:
Watson, however, was more active in February and April than Johnson, and his game was looking great.
In his three stroke-play PGA events leading into the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Watson finished with a mark of at least .841 in strokes gained-putting.
The booming lefty will keep that putting stroke going and ride it to the 36-hole lead.
Round 3: McIlroy Will Stumble; Other Favorites Will Surge
Rory McIlroy will be near the top of the leaderboard after the first two rounds, but it is in his third round where the co-favorite will drop off the pace.
The former No. 1 has enjoyed a solid season after lackluster a 2013, and he pumped up expectations by closing out last week's Houston Open in great form. Eye on Golf caught the moment:
Still, McIlroy has struggled to put four consecutive rounds together this season, or at the Masters.
The Northern Irishman has posted a score of 74 or worse in one round of each of his last four PGA events. At the Masters, he's had a round of 77 or worse in each of his last three trips to Augusta.
His bad round will come in the third round this time.
Meanwhile, Watson will drop off the pace just by a stroke, as Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott surge to share the lead after 54 holes.
Round 4: Lefty's Triumph
With a final pairing of Scott and Mickelson, we'll be set up for a magical Sunday.
Scott hasn't been fantastic this year, but he's been solid. He's also become, as ESPN's Justin Ray points out, the most consistent player in majors:
Meanwhile, Lefty almost always manages to bring his best at Augusta.
Since 1998 at this famed tournament, Mickelson has finished outside of the top 10 just three times. Sure, one of those came last year in an unusually poor performance at Augusta, but Mickelson will leave that poor effort in the past.
The 43-year-old is running out of legitimate shots to add a fourth green jacket, and he will seize the opportunity this year with some more astounding shot making on Sunday like he displayed in the below shot from the 2010 Masters:
Phil Mickelson will win the Masters at 10-under.
All stats via PGATour.com.
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