Masters Odds 2015: Latest Vegas Lines and Predictions for Final Round
Jordan Spieth set the 54-hole course record for a Masters tournament during the 2015 edition with a 16-under 200, but he actually showed signs of humanity Saturday. Those signs could be a glimmer of hope for gamblers looking to place their wagers on someone outside of the leader.
Spieth actually had three bogeys and a double-bogey during the third round, which was a far cry from the machine-like domination he displayed in the first two rounds when he finished with one combined bogey and 15 birdies. Of course, Spieth totaled seven birdies Saturday to remain four strokes clear of the rest of the field.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Here is a look at the latest odds heading into the final round for some of the noteworthy golfers, according to Oddschecker, as of 11 p.m. ET Saturday:
| Jordan Spieth | 4-9 |
| Justin Rose | 9-2 |
| Phil Mickelson | 11-2 |
| Charley Hoffman | 30-1 |
| Rory McIlroy | 80-1 |
| Tiger Woods | 125-1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 150-1 |
| Mark O'Meara | 300-1 |
| Kevin Na | 350-1 |
| Kevin Streelman | 400-1 |
Possible Betting Angles
Go with the Favorite
It’s not going to win you a lot of money, but nobody could blame you for riding Spieth. Sure, his round was a bit up-and-down Saturday, but he still has a healthy lead on the rest of the field and has a chance to turn in the greatest performance in Masters history with even just a solid round Sunday.
Spieth finished Saturday’s round with a two-under 70 to move his total score to 16 under for the tournament. Golf personality Shane Bacon pointed something out that isn’t going to make the rest of the field very confident heading into the last day of competition:
One word of warning, though, if you are going to back Spieth to win his first career green jacket. The 21-year-old held a multi-shot lead in the final round last year at Augusta but could not convert it into a title. Bubba Watson came from behind and won the championship, and Spieth had to settle for a tie for second place.
That performance will undoubtedly run through his mind at some point Sunday, especially if he faces any early adversity. The key to the entire tournament will be how he responds to that moment.
Trust in Phil Mickelson’s Magic
Another potential betting angle for Sunday is to trust in Phil Mickelson’s Augusta magic. He certainly looked capable of a comeback when he turned in a five-under 67 Saturday to bring himself to 11 under for the tournament and within five strokes of the lead.
One of the most memorable moments for anyone Saturday was a 41-foot birdie putt that Mickelson drained on No. 16. Mickelson is now in third place all by himself as a result.
This is nothing new for Mickelson at Augusta. He is a three-time green jacket winner (2004, 2006 and 2010) and counts 11 other top-10 finishes, including five third-place finishes, on his illustrious Masters resume. He certainly understands what it takes to win this tournament, and he has responded favorably to Sunday pressure at the Masters before.
Nick Schwartz of USA Today pointed out why Mickelson will be appointment viewing Sunday: “With five shots to make up on Spieth, Mickelson will have to be ultra-agressive, and there are few things as exciting as watching Mickelson in the final round of a major championship.”
If you want excitement with your bet, go with the lefty.
Roll with the Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods Pairing
If you are a fan of superstars, the Nike dream pairing is the one for you.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy both finished with four-under 68s Saturday to bring their tournament totals to six under for the tournament. They are tied for fifth place entering the final round and will play with each other Sunday.
Woods’ performance is rather incredible if you consider that he shot an 82 in a round in January and has not played in a tournament in more than two months. He isn’t even in the top 100 in the world rankings (although that will quickly change if he continues to golf like this), and he looked nothing like the incredible player from his prime.
All he did at the 2015 Masters was turn back the clock and shoot two straight rounds of under 70 for his first time since 2005.
Woods discussed his performance, per Steve DiMeglio of USA Today:
"Oh, man, it could have been something seriously low today. I had it really going. My goal was to get as close as I could to 10 (under), if not to 10. Just in case Jordan went off a little bit, at least I was within range. … So I'm going to have to put together a really special round of golf tomorrow. And you just never know.
Granted, I've got to shoot a super low one tomorrow, but at least I've given myself a chance.
"
As for McIlroy, he finished with a somewhat ironic performance in the second and third rounds. He had a terrible front nine (40) and an incredible back nine Friday (31) and then an excellent front nine (32) and a lackluster back nine (36) Saturday. If he can find a way to string together the front nine fans saw Saturday with the back nine he turned in Friday, perhaps McIlroy can put some pressure on Spieth.
That would certainly make Sunday all the more interesting.
Follow me on Twitter:
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
