Masters Odds 2017: Predictions for Top Favorites Heading into Augusta

Dustin Johnson is the man to beat this weekend, as the world's No. 1 player is the oddsmakers' favorite to take the green jacket at the 2017 Masters.

Johnson is joined by several other of the sport's top names, including Jordan Spieth and his third-best odds. Spieth should have plenty of motivation, as he let a late lead slip away last season after an epic collapse on the 12th hole. 

Let us take a look at the latest odds for the top contenders at Augusta, according to OddsShark. Also, continue reading for a breakdown and predictions for some key players to keep an eye on ahead of Thursday's tee-off.

Player	Odds
Dustin Johnson	11-2
Rory McIlroy	7-1
Jordan Spieth	8-1
Hideki Matsuyama	18-1
Jason Day	18-1
Rickie Fowler	18-1
Jon Rahm	25-1
Justin Rose	25-1
Phil Mickelson	28-1
Henrik Stenson	30-1
Justin Thomas	35-1
Adam Scott	35-1

Judging by the most recent odds, three men are clearly the main contenders this weekend.

Johnson has eight top-six finishes since finally getting over the hump with his first major win at last year's U.S. Open. In 2017, he leads the PGA Tour in total earnings with five top-six results, including three wins. Two of those victories came in the last two tournaments he played in, meaning Johnson is feeling pretty good about his game heading into the Masters.

The 32-year-old also proved he can put himself in the hunt at Augusta. He finished fourth a year ago to go along with a sixth-place result in 2015. As a matter of fact, Johnson has been a contender at most majors over the last two seasons, per ESPN.com's Chris Fallica:

Given Johnson's 2017 play and his propensity for relevance in major tournaments, he has to be considered a favorite this weekend. He should have no problem getting himself in position to move atop the leaderboard, as he leads the tour in driving average (316.2 yards) and greens in regulation percentage (75.3).

This should set up plenty of birdie and eagle opportunities. Johnson has not been great with the putter this season, ranking 80th on the tour with an average of 1.76 putts per hole. If he can even marginally improve that number this weekend, he should be a surefire bet to land in the top five.

As for Spieth, his recent run has not been as promising.

He missed the cut last weekend at the Shell Houston Open, and he finished outside the top 10 in his previous two tournaments. Spieth played well earlier in the season, though, running off a top-five finish in four of his first five appearances.

Putting is the reason Spieth is so dangerous, as he usually makes the most of the good opportunities on the green. He ranks sixth in the PGA with a putting average of 1.71, and he also proved he can putt well at Augusta, having set a course mark in 2015, per the European Tour:

Before his collapse at last year's Masters, Spieth finished in the top five of the previous four majors in addition to his second-place mark last season. He has yet to find the top 10 since, so there is some concern about how he has rebounded.

However, Augusta seems to treat him well. Spieth finished at least second in all three of his Masters appearances, so there is little reason to believe he will not contend this season. Look for him to battle Johnson near the top of the leaderboard.

Lastly, Rory McIlroy is back at the Masters looking to claim the last major remaining in his quest for the career Grand Slam.

It has not been an easy year for McIlroy, as he missed nearly two months with a rib injury. Yet, he did return in March to finish seventh at the World Golf Championships in Mexico, and he followed that up with a fourth-place result at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. 

According to Paul McGinley, an Irish professional golfer who captained the 2014 European Ryder Cup team, the Northern Irishman's physical abilities should remain fine at the Masters. It is his mental acuity that must remain sharp, via Sky Sports:

"

It's about creating that mindset he had when he came from behind to take down Dustin Johnson and win the FedEx last September. He was 100 percent mentally engaged to win that tournament. He was inspired. That will dictate how well he does at Augusta.

That creativeness that has allowed him to play at such a high level, also sees him switch off now and again and lose focus.

That will always be his challenge. It's one of the things that makes him so enthralling.

"

McIlroy has shown to be engaged in the last three Masters, finishing in the top 10 each time. Still, he never placed better than fourth.

Due to his periodic inconsistency, McIlroy is a tough bet to place total confidence to be near the top come Sunday. He usually seems to turn in one clunker round at Augusta, as he scored at 77 or worse in a round in four of his last five Masters appearances.

McIlroy will probably still end up in the top 10, but do not expect him to be in the mix with Johnson or Spieth for a green jacket.

Statistics are courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise noted.