Masters 2015: Updated Betting Lines and Tips for Major Golf Tournament
Rory McIlroy is a Masters victory away from creating history. A win at Augusta this weekend would see him complete a career Grand Slam aged just 25, joining the elite likes of Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.
There is little doubt that the Northern Irishman will surely complete the feat at some point in his already glittering career, but victory for McIlroy in the 2015 Masters is far from guaranteed.
He may have won the final two majors of last year, but his record at Augusta is not the best—last year's eighth place his highest finish yet—and the quality of the field is, as ever, very impressive.
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Here's a look at the odds ahead of Thursday's opening round, and an examination of some of the best bets for the year's first major.
| Rory McIlroy | 6-1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 8-1 |
| Bubba Watson | 11-1 |
| Jason Day | 14-1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 14-1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 20-1 |
| Adam Scott | 22-1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 22-1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 22-1 |
| Patrick Reed | 28-1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 28-1 |
| Tiger Woods | 28-1 |
| J B Holmes | 33-1 |
| Justin Rose | 33-1 |
| Matt Kuchar | 33-1 |
| Brandt Snedeker | 40-1 |
| Sergio Garcia | 40-1 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 40-1 |
| Lee Westwood | 50-1 |
| Billy Horschel | 50-1 |
| Jim Furyk | 60-1 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | 66-1 |
| Paul Casey | 66-1 |
| Keegan Bradley | 66-1 |
| Ryan Palmer | 75-1 |
| Brooks Koepka | 80-1 |
| Angel Cabrera | 80-1 |
| Martin Kaymer | 80-1 |
| Charl Schwartzel | 80-1 |
| Ian Poulter | 80-1 |
| Victor Dubuisson | 80-1 |
| Ryan Moore | 80-1 |
| Zach Johnson | 80-1 |
| Gary Woodland | 100-1 |
| Bill Haas | 100-1 |
| Hunter Mahan | 100-1 |
| Jason Dufner | 100-1 |
| Russell Henley | 125-1 |
| Webb Simpson | 125-1 |
| Shane Lowry | 125-1 |
| Padraig Harrington | 125-1 |
| Branden Grace | 150-1 |
| Chris Kirk | 150-1 |
| Kevin Na | 150-1 |
| Marc Leishman | 150-1 |
| Jonas Blixt | 150-1 |
| Graeme McDowell | 150-1 |
| Luke Donald | 150-1 |
| Steve Stricker | 150-1 |
| Jamie Donaldson | 150-1 |
McIlroy a Worthy Favourite
Though McIlroy has struggled at Augusta in the past, he certainly has the game to win the Masters. His 2011 final-round collapse was a result of youth and inexperience, but if he is still in contention after 54 holes this year, he will not make the same mistakes.
His 2014 Open Championship win was swiftly followed by US PGA triumph, and the lure of a career Grand Slam and a third consecutive major will surely drive McIlroy in Georgia this week.
At 6-1, he is a worthy favourite having returned to world No. 1 and his recent form, on the European Tour at least, is something to behold:
Tiger Woods' presence at Augusta is sure to take some of the heat off McIlroy in terms of media scrutiny. While the 14-time major champion should not trouble the top of the leaderboard, despite his assertions that he can compete for a fifth green jacket, per BBC Sport:
"I felt like I had to get my game into a spot where I could compete to win a golf tournament. And it's finally there."
It would be foolish to write Woods off completely, but after almost two decades of domination, McIlroy is now the man to beat, and he will surely be fighting it out at the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.
Day Worth a Look
Jason Day has come incredibly close to a first green jacket on two occasions, and he clearly loves Augusta.
Tied for second place in 2011, he went close again in 2013 as he finished third behind fellow Australian Adam Scott, per the Masters:
Placed fifth in the world, and with odds of 14-1, Day is certainly worth a punt considering his pedigree at the Masters—last year saw him finish an unglamorous but respectable 20th.
As ever, putting will be key at Augusta, and the 27-year-old is clearly leaving no stone unturned in preparation on the greens, per PGA Tour's Steve Elling:
It could be third time lucky for Day this year if he can set himself up well for the weekend with a solid return in the opening two rounds.
Branden Grace Set to Surprise
A massive long shot at 150-1, South Africa's Branden Grace has form in 2015 to trouble some of the more fancied players at the Masters this week.
A two-time winner on the European Tour already this season—at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the Qatar Masters—Grace's best finish at Augusta in two appearances was his tied 18th spot in 2013.
He returns this year a more experienced player with the capability to hold his nerve at the business end of tournaments.
The quality and pressure is obviously elevated at the Masters, but a decent start—improvement is desperately needed on his respective opening rounds of 78 and 84 in 2013 and 2014—could see him emerge as a surprise contender this week.
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