Masters Odds 2018: Locating Top Vegas Bets in Thursday's Field

The Masters gets under way on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. ET/1:30 p.m. BST, and it looks set to be another hotly contested battle for the green jacket.

The field is wide open, and with Tiger Woods returning for the first time in three years, there is plenty to look forward to at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.

"This is the perfect intersection of golf," Golf Channel host Mike Tirico told Omnisport (via Alec Brzezinski for Sporting News). "I've covered the sport since being the lead host in ABC in 1997. I don't remember a buildup like this entering the Masters."

Woods' return is dominating the headlines, but that is far from the only draw. Rory McIlroy is hoping to complete a Career Grand Slam, while the betting markets suggest there are at least 15 serious contenders.

Here is a list of the top 15 in the betting, per OddsShark, and below are our picks:

Jordan Spieth (+1000)

Rory McIlroy (+1000)

Justin Thomas (+1200)

Dustin Johnson (+1200)

Tiger Woods (+1400)

Justin Rose (+1400)

Bubba Watson (+1800)

Jason Day (+1800)

Phil Mickelson (+2000)

Rickie Fowler (+2200)

Jon Rahm (+2500)

Paul Casey (+2500)

Sergio Garcia (+3300)

Hideki Matsuyama (+3300)

Henrik Stenson (+4000)

A full list of the betting odds can be found here.

Jordan Spieth (+1000)

This year's favourite is also our pick for victory. Jordan Spieth has a fantastic record on this course, competing solidly in all four of his attempts, including a runner-up spot in 2014 and victory in 2015. His 2015 triumph was a joint-tournament record of 18 under par.

What's more, the Texan is back in form following a difficult year of putting. He finished third at the Houston Open on Sunday, providing him with a great confidence boost before this weekend.

Bubba Watson (+1800)

On form alone it is hard to look past Bubba Watson. He has already won two events this year, the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play and the Genesis Open, and the two-time Masters champion has a slight advantage on a course that traditionally favours left-handed players. 

"Bubba is arguably one of the hottest players in the game at the moment," Golf.com senior editor Jessica Marksbury said. "He's a fascinating character and has a game perfectly suited for Augusta."

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Tiger Woods (+1400)

All the buzz this year is around the 14-time major winner, who is in excellent form, scoring 72 or under in each of his last 12 rounds. His odds have shortened significantly since finishing joint-second at the Valspar Championship in March. 

"Tiger definitely can [win], mainly because of that incredible putter and short game," Golf.com associate editor Sean Zak said. "At Augusta, those tight lies and slippery greens seem very manageable for Tiger in his current form." 

However, at his odds—perhaps low due to the amount of public interest in his comeback—it isn't worth backing Woods.

Dustin Johnson (+1200)

Dustin Johnson is bidding to become Masters champion for the first time. He is also desperate to make an impact after withdrawing from last year's event with a back injury, suffered after falling down the stairs at his rental house just before the tournament began. The 33-year-old, who was favourite in 2017, is still right up there.

Having won two more PGA titles since then, Johnson holds the No. 1 spot in the world rankings. There is little doubt his all-round game is strong enough to be among the top 10, although winning the tournament might be a bridge too far for the American.