Purse: $8,000,000
odds on the exchanges
Updated Wednesday 4th April
Woods or McIlroy?
Woods: Paired with Miguel Angel Jimenez and Sang Moon Bae.McIlroy: Paired with Bubba Watson and Angel Cabrera
I’m going to get this out of the way first and foremost by choosing between Tiger Woods at 6/1 and Rory McIlroy at 8/1. Both are just too short odds for me pre-tournament but I certainly don’t want to chicken out of a decision. I’m a McIlroy fan and he played three rounds like a champ last year and though most will remember his final round 80, he bounced back in style showing grit and determination to win the US Open.
On this occasion however I have to go with Woods even though I’m still very wary of his tendency to flash the odd tee shot wide. Woods is an honours student of Augusta with his four wins. Some will argue he hasn’t produced the goods since his last win in 2005, but in his six attempts since, he’s never been outside the top six. I believe he achieved those results mainly with course knowledge and determination. This year Woods brings all that plus a win, a swing, a putting stroke and an experienced Augusta caddie in Joey LeCava. Things rarely pan out as you might expect but all the odds seem stacked in Woods favour this time around. Especially those given by the bookies. In the past few days all the money on the exchanges has come for Woods. Rory has slipped from 7's to a very generous 8/1.
View my new 2012 What’s In The Bag Tiger Woods Post Here
View my 2012 What’s In The Bag Rory McIlroy Post Here
Keegan Bradley 38/1 (was 44/1)
Paired with Charl Schwartzel and Kelly Kraft.
They say that experience is vital when it comes to winning The Masters but Keegan Bradley is something very special. I love his approach to the game, I love his work ethic, I love his concentration levels. For a man that has only played in 38 tournaments as a professional, in an era of Woods and McIlory he has achieved much. Closed out the USPGA at Atlanta Athletic Club like a veteran and I would not be at all surprised to see him finish in a place at Augusta. Insiders say Keegan has put in some serious amount of Augusta practice with Phil Mickelson. And with Mickelson stating at his press conference on Tuesday that the unusually soft conditions negates the need for experience somewhat, it further strengthens Bradley's credentials.Adam Scott 34/1 (was 42/1)
Paired with Bo Van Pelt and Martin Kaymer.Somewhat of a veteran now in his 11th Masters. A pair of 67’s at the weekend last year saw Scott finish in a tie for second, his best Augusta finish yet. He always had the repetitive swing to contend at Majors, now he has the putter and the caddie to boot. Struggled last time out at the weekend from a promising position at the WGC Cadillac but I fancy this guy has a Major in him and why not now?
Reported to be playing well during the practice rounds after weeks training in the Bahamas and odds have come in.
Geoff Ogilvy 90/1 (was 120/1)
Paired with Matt Kuchar and YE Yang
Although last year’s Masters was dominated by Adam Scott and Jason Day, I thought another Aussie Geoff Ogilvy had a fine week. I liked his whole approach to the tournament considering he had only played in five Masters until last year. Two great rounds were followed by a stumble down the leaderboard on Saturday before a final round 67 elevated him again into a tie for fourth. Ogilvy found a modicum of form at the recent Transitions and his Sunday 66 brought back memories of his super cool US Open win in 2006. With the same approach to this year’s Masters Ogilvy could have another great week. Best Of The Rest Preview
Luke Donald 18/1 tied for fourth here last year and will be happy to grind away and let Rory and Tiger take all the headlines. At the end of the day though Luke is the world number one and deservedly so. Donald ranks fifth on the PGA Tour scrambling stats and first in strokes gained putting. He may not be the guy who birdies five holes in a row to win but the green jacket over the years has come via many routes. Bo Van Pelt 75/1 (was 120/1) was one over par heading into his second round last year and finished up tying for eighth. He putts just about as good as anyone on the Tour and has already clocked up top-10’s this year at Scottsdale, Riviera, Doral and Innisbrook. Look for odds for Bo to finish in the top-10. Paired with Scott and Kaymer which should help his cause also.
Hunter Mahan 36/1 (was 65/1) sees his odds halved after winning in Houston. Long off the tee and extremely accurate he’s been in the top 10 in two out of the last three years. Mahan proved he knows how to win big in the desert and with most bookies paying out for the top six places Mahan is worth a punt. The only possible question is is his new Ping Nome putter that little bit too heavy for the slick Augusta greens?
The way Augusta is going distance is all important and converting on the par fives. Bubba Watson 55/1 (50/1) hits it crazy long, he’s number one on the PGA stats and surprisingly also tops the greens in regulation count. Bubba's odds have lengthened a little after practice, I would have thought they would move the opposite direction after all the rain at the course.
Nick Watney 65/1 (was 70/1) plays his fifth Masters this year and on paper has the game for Augusta. Didn’t break par any day last year but in his three appearances prior to that has always been inside the top 20.
![ernie els funny pic[5]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JwaQMZWSEn8/T3QY2coUgEI/AAAAAAAAII4/YfUj9RKVTSA/s1600-h/ernie%252520els%252520funny%252520pic%25255B5%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg "ernie els funny pic[5]")
![stricker[4]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0DmBPDqFmYg/T3BLy2sHyII/AAAAAAAAIG0/xo91cDLOEYc/s1600-h/stricker%25255B4%25255D%25255B5%25255D.jpg "stricker[4]")
