Masters Odds 2015: Latest Vegas Lines for Underrated Sleepers in the Field
As the year's first major, the Masters typically allows for sleepers who have taken big steps in the offseason to surprisingly contend for the green jacket. Don't expect 2015 to be any different.
While up-and-coming young players such as Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler have already been identified and are no longer big sleepers, others are flying under the radar entering Augusta National. You can bet that a number of favorites will be in the mix come Sunday, but it's inevitable that one or two names few people have heard of will be right there as well.
Betting on Rory McIlroy or Bubba Watson may be safer, but there's more reward in banking on one of a few sleepers being overlooked. Here's a glance at the top odds and a closer look at some underrated gems.
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2015 Masters Odds
| Rory McIlroy | 11-2 |
| Jordan Spieth | 8-1 |
| Bubba Watson | 10-1 |
| Jason Day | 14-1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 16-1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 18-1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 18-1 |
| Adam Scott | 20-1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 22-1 |
| Patrick Reed | 28-1 |
| Justin Rose | 33-1 |
| Matt Kuchar | 33-1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 33-1 |
| Tiger Woods | 33-1 |
| Brandt Snedeker | 40-1 |
| J.B. Holmes | 40-1 |
| Lee Westwood | 40-1 |
| Sergio Garcia | 40-1 |
| Billy Horschel | 50-1 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 50-1 |
| Brooks Koepka | 66-1 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | 66-1 |
| Jim Furyk | 66-1 |
| Keegan Bradley | 66-1 |
| Paul Casey | 66-1 |
Note: Full list of Masters odds at Odds Shark. Last updated April 6.
Underrated Sleepers
Billy Horschel (50-1)
There's no doubt McIlroy was the top dog in golf in 2014 with two straight major wins, but if anybody could rival McIlroy's season, it's Billy Horschel.
The 28-year-old picked up a cool $10 million prize by winning the FedEx Cup, taking two victories in the PGA Tour season and five top-10 finishes as the best golfer on tour in 2014. It will be just his second start in the Masters after a 37th-place finish last year, but nerves were never a factor, per his interview with Cameron Morfit of Golf.com.
"I wasn't intimidated at all," Horschel said. "A golf course is a golf course, a fairway is a fairway, a green is a green, a hole is a hole. It's got some cool history with Bobby Jones and all, but nothing I felt in awe of. I think this year I'll feel a little more comfortable."
Horschel should feel more comfortable with the spotlight, and he'll come in much more confident of his game after improving immensely throughout 2014. No PGA Tour accolades can match the feeling of a major championship, so Horschel's recent success should bring out his best play as he goes after the year's first major.
Martin Kaymer (80-1)
He's a former world No. 1 and a two-time major champion, with one coming in the last year, but it's not hard to see why expectations are low for Martin Kaymer at Augusta.
The Masters has not been kind to the 30-year-old. In seven appearances, he's never finished better than a tie for 31st—which came last year.
But right after that, Kaymer entered the U.S. Open under the radar and won his second major championship. The German has won two of the three American majors, with one green jacket missing from his trophy cabinet.
Kaymer's game went to another level last season amid a swing change, but it could be his reliable putting that makes the difference again, as he told Dave Shedloski of Golf World:
At 80-1, Kaymer is easily the best bet if you're looking for a reach. But if you take a look at his career accolades and his well-rounded game, it's not much of a reach after all.
J.B. Holmes (40-1)
On the heels of a playoff win at the Houston Open last weekend, J.B. Holmes comes into Augusta hot and hoping to continue his recent spurt.
The 32-year-old has three top-two finishes since the calendar turned to 2015, coming in as a runner-up at the Farmers Insurance Open and the WGC-Cadillac Championship before breaking through in Houston for his fourth career PGA Tour victory. He's shot eight under par or better in four of his nine tournaments in 2015. There simply isn't a hotter golfer in the early parts of the season.
Holmes has a huge swing, which will bode well for him on some of Augusta's long fairways, but he has also showcased stellar putting this year, which is perhaps even more crucial at the Masters.
Months ago, Holmes likely could have been picked up on a massive spread in triple digits. But his late dominance has not gone unnoticed, and his chances of victory are climbing accordingly.
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