Masters Odds 2018: Round-by-Round Predictions for Augusta
Predicting what happens during each round of the Masters is far from an exact science, especially when you look at all the big-name players circling Augusta National Golf Club like vultures.
Of course, the story everyone wants to talk about is the return of Tiger Woods, but there are many others worth watching.
Rory McIlroy is looking to complete the career Grand Slam, Phil Mickelson is searching for his first major victory since 2013, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson comes in on fire and Sergio Garcia is attempting to repeat after finally winning his first major.
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There's also Dustin Johnson's return to Augusta after he was forced to withdraw from the 2017 Masters due to a back injury suffered in a fall at a rental home.
Each one of the Masters participants has a different story worth rooting for, while there are others who looked so well in the buildup to the tournament that you are convinced it is going to continue at the year's first major.
Below is a look at how the four rounds at Augusta National Golf Club could play out.
Round-by-Round Predictions
1st Round
The last five first-round leaders at the Masters are a mix of golf's top stars and unexpected success stories.
A year ago, Charley Hoffman held the 18-hole lead thanks to a first-round 65, while William McGirt was the only other player under 70.
With so much attention being paid to Woods, McIlroy and others, it wouldn't come as a shock if a player with little to no pressure on his shoulders sets the tone for the tournament and throws down a low score.
Predicting who the unlikely first-round leader will be is a much more difficult process given all the variables involved at Augusta.
A few under-the-radar names to watch are Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrrell Hatton, Alex Noren and Shubhankar Sharma.
Sharma carries one of the most interesting stories, as he earned a special invitation to the tournament following his rapid rise to the stardom that included a tie for ninth at the World Golf Championships event in Mexico and two wins on the European Tour.
If you are looking for the ultimate unknown to steal the spotlight from Woods, McIlroy and others, Sharma is the man to do it.
The 35-year-old Noren is another candidate to put together a strong first round, as he is coming off a third-place finish at the Dell Match Play.
Of course, the favorites to capture the green jacket will also try to start strong, as we have seen Jordan Spieth lead after 18 holes twice in the last five years, while Sergio Garcia achieved the feat in 2013.
Prediction: Alex Noren leads after the first round
2nd Round
During the second round, we usually find out which players are going to be at the top of the leaderboard for the long haul.
It is not unusual to see the top contenders start out slow and climb the standings as the tournament progresses, with Spieth's wire-to-wire win in 2015 being a rare exception.
Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia and Thomas Pieters thrived in the second round a year ago, with Hoffman dropping back to the pack.
Of the top-10 finishers at the 2017 Masters, five were in the top 10 entering the weekend, while co-leaders Fowler and Hoffman dropped away from the top half of the leaderboard.
Some possible names worth watching in the second round are Bubba Watson, Johnson and Mickelson, all of whom are flying under the radar a bit with the attention circled around Woods, McIlroy, Spieth and Justin Thomas.
There is also the potential for 58-year-old Fred Couples to throw his name into the mix again. The 1992 Masters champion led after two rounds in 2012 and found himself in the top 10 after 36 holes in 2014 and 2017.
Prediction: Bubba Watson leads after the second round.
3rd Round
Saturday at the Masters is normally when most of the contenders make their runs at first place.
Garcia and Justin Rose, who squared off in a playoff in 2017, were in a tie at the top of the leaderboard after the third round a year ago.
Spieth topped the standings the two years before last, as he won in 2015 and collapsed in the final round in 2016.
Expect Spieth, Watson, Thomas, Woods, McIlroy and Mickelson to be involved in the chase for the lead, with the potential of one or two unlikely faces popping their head in.
In 2016, Smylie Kaufman fit that role, as he surged into second place with a third-round 69 before failing to finish in the top 10.
When the third round concludes, the leaderboard should featuring a smattering of top names, which opens up the possibility for dream pairings in the final round and Woods lurking in the background.
Prediction: Jordan Spieth leads after the third round.
Final Round
If everything goes right in the first three rounds, Sunday at Augusta is going to be must-see television with most of golf's top stars participating in a free-for-all similar to the final round in 2011, when eight different players held the lead.
Woods, Jason Day and Adam Scott were involved in one of the most dramatic final rounds in major history that ended up with Charl Schwartzel donning the green jacket.
Woods and Scott could be two of six former Masters champions in contention for the title Sunday.
Although everyone would love to see Woods complete his comeback by capturing his first Masters since 2005, he is going to come up just short while Spieth, Watson and McIlroy battle with Johnson and Thomas, who are both in search of their first Masters championships.
With so much star power at play Sunday, there is a high chance the final round comes down to the 72nd hole of the tournament.
As the gallery looks over the 18th green, Watson sinks a birdie putt to beat Spieth by one stroke and Thomas by two.
Prediction: Bubba Watson wins the Masters.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
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