Masters Favorites 2015: Updated Betting Odds for Golf's Biggest Names
The plush backdrop of the iconic Augusta National Golf Club will once again play host to the Masters, as the finest players in the world look to get their hands on one of those coveted green jackets.
The first major championship of the campaign always gets the pulses racing a little bit quicker, but with Rory McIlroy chasing a remarkable career Grand Slam at just 25 years old, there’s even more anticipation in the air as the start of the competition edges ever closer.
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The world No. 1 naturally leads the betting ahead of the competition getting underway, but there are a host of quality players who will feel they also have a fine chance of sampling glory in the Southeast this week. Here’s a closer look at who could be top of the pile come Sunday evening:
| Rory McIlroy | 11-2 |
| Jordan Spieth | 10 |
| Bubba Watson | 11 |
| Jason Day | 14 |
| Dustin Johnson | 16 |
| Henrik Stenson | 18 |
| Phil Mickelson | 18 |
| Adam Scott | 20 |
| Jimmy Walker | 22 |
| Matt Kuchar | 33 |
Odds accurate as of 8:30 a.m. BST (3:30 a.m. ET), Sunday April 5. Click here for full listing.
Rory McIlroy Chasing History at Augusta
After a magnificent 2014 yielded two major titles and a Ryder Cup win for the Northern Irishman, there is history ready to be seized in Augusta this week. Indeed, victory for McIlroy would complete the box set in terms of major titles and would see him holding all four of the most coveted trophies in the sport.
As we can see here courtesy of the European Tour Twitter account, he’s been in pretty remarkable form on the cusp of the tournament, too:
While that’s all well and good, the pressure really can bite when it comes to the showpiece events, as McIlroy knows just as well as anyone. But he’s developed a penchant for thriving in these kinds of instances at big tournaments, and while there’s going to be immense focus on him in the build-up to the event, it’s a spotlight he should flourish under.
McIlroy thinks winning in Augusta would show that he has little to prove, per Derek Lawrenson of the Daliy Mail:
"You have shown you can win majors in different conditions on different golf courses and over different set-ups. It feels like there wouldn't be anything else that you could show you could do.
It was funny growing up — although I set my targets high I didn't think about history or the record books.
...
Now you look at how rarely the Grand Slam has been achieved and who you would be putting yourself alongside if you won . . . yes, I think you can safely say you would have nothing left to prove.
"
McIlroy hasn’t got the best record at the Masters, though. Up to now his best finish at the iconic venue was eighth, when he finished eight strokes back on eventual winner Bubba Watson last year.
But even over the past 12 months, there have been improvements to McIlroy’s game. Now he emits the aura of a champion, and having won all four of his majors in completely contrasting circumstances, he’s a player who's showcased a serene versatility and a composed head under massive pressure.
Even though 11-2 is very short for a player to win in such a massive field, McIlroy’s showcased as of late that he’s a cut above the rest. But in Jordan Spieth, he could have a worthy competitor.
As noted by Ron Mintz of the PGA Tour, the omens are good for the young American coming into this one:
Indeed, the 21-year-old Spieth has showcased remarkable consistency as of late, and after a breakthrough 2014 he’ll be hoping to make another step in his career by sampling major glory. After a strong performance at the Masters 12 months ago—when he finished joint runner-up—there’s potentially plenty of value to be had in backing him at 10-1.
While the aforementioned young stars are hotly tipped, an experienced head could prove to be key as the players stroll up Magnolia Lane. Reigning champion Watson will certainly be a tough man to beat after winning two of the last three times here, while Phil Mickleson’s three victories at Augusta will surely stand him in excellent stead.
But at the moment, it’s tough to see past Rory romping it. The Northern Irishman seems to take everything insouciantly in his stride, and while the course may not be a natural fit for his game, the refinements he’s made in terms of adaptability and mindset will see him donning the green jacket come Sunday evening.
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