It's Masters week and the world's greatest golfers are facing an Augusta course that once again promises to be tougher than before and longer than before. This year's news is that they've even allowed some rough to grow! The "new" Augusta is now the second longest course on Tour and with the prospect of having to hit long irons into treacherously small targets, it's really not a week for playing safe with a 3 wood up the middle.
Nicklaus says that real tournament golf only properly starts on the back nine of a Major. That's possibly most true of the Masters and every year, come Sunday afternoon, the proverbial golfing cream always rises to the top.
Whilst we normally dedicate our lives to finding the big priced outsider this is a week to enjoy a feast of TV golf and some unusually "sensible" punting.
This week's stand out!
Our betting guide starts, inevitably, with a certain Mr Tiger Woods.
This week's stand out!
Our betting guide starts, inevitably, with a certain Mr Tiger Woods.
Since the book on the Masters opened a year ago, Tiger has been the clear favourite, he's the defending champion and in racing parlance, four time winner over "course and distance". Last year he started at 5/1 favourite and despite shooting 76 on day one, still got up to finish first over Chris 'pumping fist" Di Marco.
Despite personal family issues, his season to date will have been timed to peak here and even at a short price Tiger simply cannot be opposed and should be backed to win. If you can get 5/1 anywhere in the world have a few shillings on for us....
Our sporting selections
Tiger being such a short price pretty much makes everybody else good value...For all of our selections, take the eachway price, especially with Betfair who pay on the first five and do look for bookies betting "without the favourite". Then, if Tiger streaks away, admire his golf and still collect as your man finishes a distant second, just like our members did when Monty netted us a beautiful 80/1 payday at St Andrews, despite finishing runner up to you know who....
I'd dearly love to see Colin Montgomerie win at Augusta. He's had a few difficult years, but last year's Ryder Cup showed that the locals have grown to love him and he's a much better player when he's smiling. He'll have spent the Winter planning for this and with his new lease of life and being a proven clutch putter on fast greens, I rate him the best outsider at 3 figure odds. He'd be a hugely popular winner on both sides of the Atlantic and the perfect start to a Ryder Cup year.
Luke Donald is a popular tip and a fine finishing round of 66 last week has set him up for a tilt at the big one. His long iron play is top drawer and whilst he's a little shorter than many off the tee, with each win under his belt he continues to mature. He's on many journo shortlists because of his 3rd place finish here last year. I just worry that the bookies have his number and would like to see at least 40/1 to put value into the each way.
K J Choi was 3rd here in the year that Mickelson won and 15th the year before. I'll not be at all surprised to see his name on the leaderboard come Sunday afternoon and he's well priced at 50/1. Just not sure he can actually win, but 10/1 a place is worth having as insurance.
The punters choice for this week has to be someone who:
Our sporting selections
Tiger being such a short price pretty much makes everybody else good value...For all of our selections, take the eachway price, especially with Betfair who pay on the first five and do look for bookies betting "without the favourite". Then, if Tiger streaks away, admire his golf and still collect as your man finishes a distant second, just like our members did when Monty netted us a beautiful 80/1 payday at St Andrews, despite finishing runner up to you know who....
I'd dearly love to see Colin Montgomerie win at Augusta. He's had a few difficult years, but last year's Ryder Cup showed that the locals have grown to love him and he's a much better player when he's smiling. He'll have spent the Winter planning for this and with his new lease of life and being a proven clutch putter on fast greens, I rate him the best outsider at 3 figure odds. He'd be a hugely popular winner on both sides of the Atlantic and the perfect start to a Ryder Cup year.
Luke Donald is a popular tip and a fine finishing round of 66 last week has set him up for a tilt at the big one. His long iron play is top drawer and whilst he's a little shorter than many off the tee, with each win under his belt he continues to mature. He's on many journo shortlists because of his 3rd place finish here last year. I just worry that the bookies have his number and would like to see at least 40/1 to put value into the each way.
K J Choi was 3rd here in the year that Mickelson won and 15th the year before. I'll not be at all surprised to see his name on the leaderboard come Sunday afternoon and he's well priced at 50/1. Just not sure he can actually win, but 10/1 a place is worth having as insurance.
The punters choice for this week has to be someone who:
a) hits it a long way
b) can putt
c) knows how to win.
It's a huge leap of faith, but long John Daly fits all three criteria and in the month of his forteith birthday and no doubt with Ryder Cup points on his mind, he's sure to be trying! Well for the first few holes anyway. He's got a late start on Thursday with two lesser lights in Jason Bohn and Carl Pettersen. Let's hope his mind is on his game and we could be in for a roller coaster ride.
With even the Aussie TAB skinflints offering 250/1 there's great value and fun to be had in backing the big man...For small stakes!
Kiss of death
Sergio Garcia was asking if anybody knew a local doctor after play on Sunday, so cannot be backed with confidence. The same applies for Chris Di Marco, who I'm told is still troubled by that rib injury. Stuart Appleby, meanwhile has an appalling record at Augusta even without Hensby's press conferences to worry about and he'll be happy to make the cut. I've no idea what to say about Adam Scott, who surely must win again somewhere soon, but having blown a great start just two weeks ago, I'd be surprised to see him feature here and for the punter he represents terrible value at 25/1.
Kiss of death
Sergio Garcia was asking if anybody knew a local doctor after play on Sunday, so cannot be backed with confidence. The same applies for Chris Di Marco, who I'm told is still troubled by that rib injury. Stuart Appleby, meanwhile has an appalling record at Augusta even without Hensby's press conferences to worry about and he'll be happy to make the cut. I've no idea what to say about Adam Scott, who surely must win again somewhere soon, but having blown a great start just two weeks ago, I'd be surprised to see him feature here and for the punter he represents terrible value at 25/1.
As for Rory Sabbatini, if he did win, his wife would probably want to have something printed on the jacket, so let's hope he wins the par-three comp, which as every hack journo knows means he won't be wearing the green jacket come Sunday.
We'll be watching at the crack of dawn "down under"...can't wait.
GOOD PUNTING EVERYONE
The Golf Tipster
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