2014 US MASTERS BETTING PREVIEW from Adam White - rsn.net.au/whiteyswinners This year looks a very open US Masters. The betting market is wide open without Tiger Woods in the field but with several other of the best players in the world either out of form or under injury clouds, its hard to narrow the field down. My suggestion is to have an outright play on Adam Scott and an eachway play on Henrik Stenson as a value option. I dont like making the favourite my top pick in a major championship because it usually doesnt represent any value. But Scotts good recent form and his impeccable record at the Masters over the last three years simply cant be ignored. But only have small wagers because I wouldnt mind looking at either 18 or 36 holes to get a feel for the tournament before having my big play. Especially with the likes of Jason Day and Phil Mickelson coming into the event under an injury clouds. I will give a betting update again after 36 holes on the website. My top five chances in order of preference... Adam Scott - $11 Adam Scott has to be the man to beat this week. After winning the Masters last year, T8 in 2012 and T2 in 2011, Scott clearly loves the golf course. While he has only won the one major, he has put together an incredible record in major championship over the last three years with nine top 15 finishes in the last twelve majors. And he recent form is also good. After his golden summer in Australia, Scott has finished in the top 25 in the six tournaments hes played this year. At his last start at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, Scott shot 62 on the Thursday and 68 on the Friday. While he had an horrific 76 in the final round to gift the event to Matt Every, Scott still heads to Augusta knowing hes in good form and knows how to win around Augusta. He has to be the top pick and $11 is actually a good price. Henrik Stenson - $29 Henrik Stenson is not playing to the same amazing level he was in the second half of last year, but there have been enough encouraging signs recently to suggest hes not far away from his best form. He finished T16 in the WGC Cadillac Championship last month before finishing T5 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Last week wasnt so good when he finished T54 in Houston, but that wont worry him too much. Stenson finished in the top three in the last two majors and has finished in the top 18 three times, including a T17 last year. He has never won a major, but I will be surprised if he doesnt win won this year. At $29 he is very good value in what looks an open year. Zach Johnson - $34 Zach Johnson is another former winner of the green jacket that is a winning chance this week. Hes already had a win and three other top ten finishes this year on the PGA Tour to go with his brilliant season last year. Johnson also finished in the top ten in two of the major championships last year. While hes not a big hitter like most of the big chances this year, his wedge play and his putting abilities put him right in the frame at a very generous price. What I also like about him is that hes not afraid of winning. Bubba Watson - $26 I wouldnt normally put him in my selections, but Bubba Watson cant be dismissed this week. I never thought hed be able to win around Augusta, but after doing it two years ago, there is no reason he cant do it again. His form recently has been very good. He won earlier this year at the Northern Trust Open and has also had a T2 at the Phoenix Open and a T2 at the WGC Cadillac Championship. While he withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational after an 83 in the first round, there should be enough confidence in his game to be a threat this week. Sergio Garcia - $21 Sergio Garcia comes into the Masters under the radar. He has been in outstanding form over the last nine months. In fact, he hasnt finished outside the top 16 in any tournament hes played around the world since October last year. Hes also had a win at the Qatar Open which was a strong field on the European Tour and was third in the Houston Open in his last event. He has finished in the top ten at the Masters three times over his career and was T8 last year and T12 the year before. More information on the RSN website
Posted on: Thu, 10 Apr 2014 09:30:54 +0000