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Cape Town - We’re only a week out from the Masters and already the schemers are planning where to lay their pre-tournament bets for the 2018 edition at Augusta National.
Here’s a list of five fancied players heading into the tournament.
Green is going to look good on one of these five!
Jordan Spieth - 13/1
Not quite the now or never for Spieth as he looks to overcome his 12th hole voodoo. That episode was two years ago now and while not yet out of his mind completely, he is playing himself into top billing for Augusta. Already the Champion Golfer of the Year, the American will walk away with this if he brings a warm putter along.
Justin Rose - 15/1
If you are in the school that thinks Sergio Garcia’s win last year was fitting, then the man he beat in the playoff avenging that loss in 2018 would make for an equalling compelling script. The Englishman arrives at almost every Major as a strong contender and does so again now. His form through the last few months of 2017 (a bunch of wins and a stream of top 10 finishes) and in the absence of any of golf’s mega-stars arriving in sublime form, means the gritty Rose is the man to beat. Cue the South Africans reminding everyone he was born in Johannesburg.
Bubba Watson - 17/1
At the start of the year, no one in their right mind would’ve listed the tearful left-hander as a possible Masters winner. Suddenly he’s the only player to win twice on the Tour this year and the form horse. Things are certainly looking up for Bubba as he heads to Augusta National, a place where’s won twice before, playing the brand of golf that saw him win in 2012 and 2014. Four years might be the longest he’ll have to wait to add another Green Jacket to his wardrobe. Our warning, have the tissues waiting.
Alex Noren - 47/1
Now, here’s a player that has the game to cause the local crowd some heartache. Noren has the all-round game to make an impact despite his pretty poor record at Majors which includes a missed cut in his only appearance at Augusta which came last year. In 2018, he’s already lost a playoff to Jason Day (Farmers Insurance) and finished one shot out of another playoff (Honda Classic). At 47/1, the smooth swinging-Swede has value written all over him.
Marc Leishman - 57/1
Is the Australian golf’s most underrated player? He’s lost in a Major playoff (2015 Open), he’s won the Nedbank Golf Challenge, a FedEx Cup playoff event and is ranked safely inside the top 20 in the world. He famously pumped his fist in support of as fellow Aussie Adam Scott birdied the 72nd to win the Masters a few years back. This year, it may just be Scott returning the favour. Like Noren, he starts with irresistible odds.
Bet on pre-tournament, in-play, top player by nation and
three ball bets throughout Masters week!
