Masters Odds 2015: Locating Top Vegas Bets in Thursday's Field
A wide-open field at the 2015 Masters makes it difficult to correctly predict a winner, but if you do, you could bring home a lot of money.
Rory McIlroy comes in as the favorite after winning both The Open Championship and PGA Championship to end last season. He is playing as well as he has in his entire career, and it always makes him a threat to take home a title.
However, that doesn't necessarily make him the top choice to win the green jacket. Here is a look at the top odds across the board entering Thursday as well as the best value picks on the list.
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| Rory McIlroy | 6-1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 8-1 |
| Bubba Watson | 11-1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 14-1 |
| Jason Day | 14-1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 20-1 |
| Adam Scott | 22-1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 22-1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 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 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 40-1 |
| Sergio Garcia | 40-1 |
| Billy Horschel | 50-1 |
| Lee Westwood | 50-1 |
| Jim Furyk | 60-1 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | 66-1 |
| Keegan Bradley | 66-1 |
| Paul Casey | 66-1 |
| Ryan Palmer | 75-1 |
| Angel Cabrera | 80-1 |
| Brooks Koepka | 80-1 |
| Charl Schwartzel | 80-1 |
| Ian Poulter | 80-1 |
| Martin Kaymer | 80-1 |
| Ryan Moore | 80-1 |
| Victor Dubuisson | 80-1 |
| Zach Johnson | 80-1 |
Bubba Watson (11-1)
Only three players in history have ever won a back-to-back title at the Masters. Bubba Watson wasn't able to defend his crown after 2012, but he now has a chance after winning in 2014.
One of the major problems for him the first time around was the inability to handle the success as the reigning champion. He recently discussed his improved comfort level this time around compared to 2013, via Paul Newberry of The Associated Press:
"I didn't know what to expect. I mean, I'm scared to death of the Champions Dinner in '13 because you're talking about great champions across the board, old and young, and now I'm getting to sit and have dinner with them and I'm making sure they like the food I picked out. The media attention, the atmosphere — even a year later — you're excited about your win. Sometimes you get away from your routine or you just use your energy in a different way. That's what I did.
This time, I know what to expect. Doesn't mean I'm going to play better, just I know what to expect.
"
His confidence should be a big plus for a player already faring well.
In five events this season, Watson has a win and four top-10 finishes. As long as he plays to his ability, he has a good chance of finishing high on the leaderboard this weekend.
Phil Mickelson (22-1)
There are plenty of reasons to pick against Phil Mickelson at Augusta. He missed the cut last year and isn't playing particularly well at the moment with only two of his last 12 rounds in the 60s.
However, you still can't count out the lefty when it comes to the Masters.
As Mike O'Malley of Golf Digest points out, Mickelson has fared well on this course before the past two seasons:
Unlike other majors that rotate every year, this tournament is always in the same spot. Familiarity helps, and Mickelson knows what it takes to excel and finish high on the leaderboard.
Even though he had a rough end to the Shell Houston Open last week, he still showed plenty of signs of life while in contention throughout much of the tournament. If he can play with more consistency on a course he knows how to beat, he will be in good shape.
Louis Oosthuizen (40-1)
Although he hasn't quite had as much success at the Masters as the others on this list, Louis Oosthuizen represents another top option to exceed his expectations.
The European Tour's Jamie Kennedy broke down the player's recent string of success:
While the odds have shrunk since that point (probably because everyone realized the value), Steve Elling of Golf Blotter is another person who likes this play:
Oosthuizen missed the cut at the Shell Houston Open, but he is still capable of big things. He also finished second at Augusta in 2012, so he is capable of a strong showing.
If he performs to his ability, he could be a quality sleeper that pays off big.
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