Masters 2017: Latest Betting Odds and Tips for Major Golf Tournament
Sometimes the cliches and sappy descriptors in sports are perfectly appropriate.
The Masters is one of four PGA majors, but its magnificent greens and dazzling azaleas serve as an annual reminder that warmer weather and summer is right around the corner. The event drips with history, be it the green jacket the previous year's winner puts on the champion, the entertaining par-three contest or Augusta National Golf Club itself as the permanent stage for the tournament.
It all comes together to create "A Tradition Unlike Any Other," which commentator Jim Nantz uses to describe the Masters and Augusta National Golf Club trademarked in 2015, per Darren Rovell and Bob Harig of ESPN.com.
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Such a prominent event naturally catches the eye of gamblers. With that in mind, here is a look at the odds (courtesy of OddsShark, as of Monday at 7 p.m. ET) and some betting tips.
Odds
| Dustin Johnson | 5.5-1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 7-1 |
| Rory McIlroy | 8-1 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | 18-1 |
| Jason Day | 18-1 |
| Jon Rahm | 18-1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 20-1 |
| Justin Rose | 25-1 |
| Justin Thomas | 25-1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 25-1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 28-1 |
| Adam Scott | 30-1 |
| Bubba Watson | 40-1 |
| Paul Casey | 40-1 |
| Sergio Garcia | 40-1 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | 40-1 |
| Brandt Snedeker | 50-1 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 55-1 |
| Brooks Koepka | 66-1 |
| Charl Schwartzel | 66-1 |
| Marc Leishman | 66-1 |
| Matthew Fitzpatrick | 66-1 |
| Thomas Pieters | 66-1 |
| Patrick Reed | 75-1 |
| Daniel Berger | 75-1 |
| Adam Hadwin | 80-1 |
| Lee Westwood | 80-1 |
| Matt Kuchar | 80-1 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | 80-1 |
| Russell Henley | 80-1 |
| Alexander Noren | 90-1 |
| Branden Grace | 90-1 |
| J.B. Holmes | 90-1 |
| Bill Haas | 100-1 |
| Danny Willett | 100-1 |
| Gary Woodland | 100-1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 100-1 |
| Kevin Kisner | 100-1 |
| Zach Johnson | 100-1 |
| Charley Hoffman | 125-1 |
| Emiliano Grillo | 125-1 |
| Martin Kaymer | 125-1 |
| Rafa Cabrera-Bello | 125-1 |
| Ross Fisher | 125-1 |
| Shane Lowry | 125-1 |
| Bernd Wiesberger | 150-1 |
| Brendan Steele | 150-1 |
| Byeong-Hun An | 150-1 |
| Francesco Molinari | 150-1 |
| Jason Dufner | 150-1 |
| Jim Furyk | 150-1 |
| Kevin Na | 150-1 |
| Pat Perez | 150-1 |
| Ryan Moore | 150-1 |
| Soren Kjeldsen | 150-1 |
| Andy Sullivan | 175-1 |
| Russell Knox | 175-1 |
Betting Tips
Target Talented Putters and Winning Experience at Augusta
This combination advice is all about the pressure at the Masters, which is essentially golf's version of the Super Bowl.
Kyle Porter of CBS Sports described it as "the reality of playing in your first Masters is always so overwhelming that any talk of winning the thing sounds like the dream of a Hollywood director who has had one too many beverages."
Porter noted a first-time participant has won the green jacket a mere three times, and those came way back in 1934 (Horton Smith), 1935 (Gene Sarazen) and 1979 (Fuzzy Zoeller). Considering the 1934 and 1935 Masters were the first two ever, the field will be much more formidable and deep this year.
The fact the pressure can be so overwhelming is something to consider when making bets. Don't back a first-time player (sorry, Tyrrell Hatton) and look toward those who have enjoyed success on the course in the past.
Past winners include Bubba Watson (2012 and 2014), Phil Mickelson (2004, 2006 and 2010) and Jordan Spieth (2015), but your pick doesn't necessarily need a green jacket on his resume. Someone who has even challenged for the title on Sundays will possess a deeper understanding of the scrutiny and pressure of every shot down the stretch and adapt accordingly this year.
Spieth is the perfect example.
He tied for second in 2014 in his first Masters and turned around and won the entire thing the next year. He previously said, "To know I was that close and really performed mentally better than I could have anticipated, that's very reassuring going forward," per Porter.
Look for someone who will feel that reassurance of past success when they line up on the first tee Thursday.
On the topic of pressure, nowhere is it more potent than on the putting green. Don't expect someone who is statistically a poor putter to suddenly turn things around while standing over their ball on the greens of Augusta.
Pay attention to the PGA Tour's strokes-gained-putting stats (Rickie Fowler jumps out at No. 9) and putts per round stats (Mickelson is No. 1) and make your picks accordingly. The golfers in the top 30 of those stats have proved capable of handling the pressure of the putting greens this year and should be well-equipped to do the same at the Masters.
Don't Over-Analyze and Ignore No. 1
It is tempting to look at last year's winner Danny Willett—who doesn't have a finish better than a tie for 39th this season—and think a surprise contender will challenge for and ultimately win this year's green jacket.
However, Dustin Johnson is on such a role it is hard to pick anyone else.
He is No. 1 in the FedEx Cup and official world golf rankings and won his last three appearances at the Genesis Open, World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship and World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.
According to his official PGA Tour profile, Johnson ranks No. 1 in driving distance and greens in regulation percentage. That means he will shorten the course with his booming hits off the tee and take advantage of those shots by consistently finding the greens.
He is also 29th in strokes gained putting, per his profile, which isn't eye popping but is solid enough to win the tournament given how often he hits the green in regulation.
Johnson also finished in a tie for sixth in 2015 and fourth in 2016, so he meets the experience contending for a green jacket requirement.
It may be boring and straightforward to back the favorite, but the prediction here is Johnson will triumph.
Predicted 2017 Masters winner: Dustin Johnson
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