Masters 2018: Latest Odds and Betting Tips for Golf's Top Contenders
Forget about the NCAA Tournament and March Madness. One of the world's premier sporting events, the Masters, has arrived.
Full of drama and unpredictable outcomes, the Masters can be as chaotic as any NCAA Tournament game you'll see. And with the likes of a healthy Tiger Woods back in the fold, this year's Masters could be one of the most intriguing tournaments golf has had in recent years.
Going into Thursday's opening round, here's a look at the latest odds and information for this year's top contenders to win the green jacket:
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Date: Thursday, April 5
Time: 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET.
TV Info: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf, ESPN
Live Stream: Sky Go, BBC iPlayer, WatchESPN, CBS Sports App
Latest Odds for Top Players (Courtesy of OddsShark)
Jordan Spieth: 9-1
Rory McIlroy: 10-1
Justin Thomas: 11-1
Dustin Johnson: 11-1
Tiger Woods: 14-1
Justin Rose: 14-1
Bubba Watson: 16-1
Jason Day: 18-1
Phil Mickelson: 18-1
Jon Rahm: 22-1
Rickie Fowler: 22-1
Paul Casey: 22-1
Sergio Garcia: 28-1
Hideki Matsuyama: 33-1
Henrik Stenson: 33-1
Tommy Fleetwood: 45-1
Alexander Noren: 45-1
Patrick Reed: 50-1
Matt Kuchar: 50-1
Adam Scott: 60-1
Ian Poulter: 66-1
Thomas Pieters: 66-1
Marc Leishman: 66-1
Louis Oosthuizen: 66-1
Bryson DeChambeau: 80-1
Tyrrell Hatton: 80-1
Brian Harman: 100-1
Patrick Cantlay: 100-1
Kevin Chappell: 100-1
Kevin Kisner: 100-1
Charl Schwartzel: 100-1
Branden Grace: 100-1
Ryan Moore: 100-1
Charley Hoffman: 100-1
Rory McIlroy: 10-1
With a swing as powerful as Rory McIlroy's, it's difficult ever to count him out of a tournament, particularly on a course like Augusta.
McIlroy hasn't been in the best of form as of late, but with 10-1 odds going into Thursday's opening round, there's a lot to consider. While McIlory might not be in as good form as some of the Tour's other big names, Augusta has been a course at which he's performed well over recent years.
With four top-10 finishes at Augusta in the last four years, it's likely McIlory makes the cut and continues his play through Sunday. However, he'll have to be able to putt effectively this weekend and not rely on his power to get him out of trouble like we've seen in the past.
Justin Thomas: 11-1
Justin Thomas is coming off a Honda Classic victory, a second-place finish in the WGC-Mexico Championship and a semifinal appearance in the WGC-Dell Match Play.
To put it simply, Thomas is fine form.
At 11-1 odds entering Day 1 of play, Thomas isn't far from being the betting favorite in this year's Masters but should be given a lot more respect from the oddsmakers. After all, he did take home the PGA Championship just this past year.
If you're looking for a safer bet than putting money on the likes of McIlory, Thomas is your guy.
Dustin Johnson: 11-1
This time last year, everything went wrong for Dustin Johnson.
One year ago, Johnson was an overwhelming favorite at 5-1 to win the Masters until he suffered a freak accident that forced him out of the competition.
Nevertheless, Johnson rallied and is ready to make up for last year's disappointment, although his odds have slipped down to 11-1 this time around. Johnson has a lot to prove at this Masters after last year, so don't be shocked to see him wearing a green jacket after this weekend.
Tiger Woods: 14-1
It wouldn't be a Masters preview if we didn't talk about Tiger Woods just a little bit.
Woods has been in fine form since his return to the course after several back surgeries that has hindered his play over the years. While Woods still hasn't won a tournament since his return, everything is setting up well for the 42-year-old to put the sport on notice this weekend at Augusta.
A four-time winner of the Masters, Woods is looking for his first green jacket since 2005 and his first major victory since 2013.
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