The Masters Betting Preview: Johnson Favored
The first major of the PGA season arrives this weekend, as golf’s best gather at Augusta National for the Masters.
At the Bovada sportsbook the favorite to put on the green jacket this year is Dustin Johnson at +550. The reigning US Open winner and world No. 1 is still looking for his first win at Augusta with his best Masters finish coming last year when he tied for fourth.
Following Johnson on the Masters odds list at Bovada is another golfer looking for his first green jacket, Rory McIlroy, at +700. McIlroy needs a Masters title to complete the career slam and his best career finish at Augusta is fourth place in 2014.
Rounding out the top three golfers on the Masters odds, and the only other player getting triple digit odds, is Jordan Spieth at +800. Spieth won the Masters in 2015 and it looked like he had another green jacket in the bag last year before a total collapse on the back nine in his final round caused him to settle for second place.
If you’re looking for the odds on players that already have a green jacket or two in their closet you can get Phil Mickelson at +2800 and Bubba Watson at +4500. Mickelson, a three-time Masters champion, last won in 2010 and missed the cut at Augusta last year. Watson put on the green jacket in 2012 and 2014, but wasn’t in contention last year after tying for 37th place.
If you’re having trouble remembering who won at Augusta last year you’re probably not alone. Danny Willett recorded his first PGA victory at the Masters last season, which no one saw coming. Since his Masters win Willett has been a non-factor on the tour, and this season hasn’t cracked the Top 50 in an event that wasn’t a Match Play tournament. That’s why you’ll find Willett as a +12500 longshot to repeat as Masters champion.
Other former Masters champions looking for another green jacket this weekend include Adam Scott at +3500, Charl Schwartzel at +8000, Zach Johnson at +12500 and Angel Cabrera at +20000.
If you’re looking for value plays, consider Justin Rose and Jon Rahm at +2500. Rose has posted back-to-back Top 10 finishes at Augusta, including tying for second in 2015. Rahm posted his first PGA Tour win earlier this year and has finished in the Top 5 in five of his last seven tour stops.