2012 BMW Masters Golf Betting Odds and Preview

McIlroy in hunt for European Money List title

Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy © GEPA pictures

BMW Masters Golf Betting Info
All eyes will be on world number one Rory McIlroy this week as he is out in China to defend his BMW Masters title. No player in the modern era has successful done that. Not only is that on the line, by McIlroy is chasing down the prestigious feat of being the leading money earner both on the PGA and the European PGA, following in the history making Luke Donald last year. It is a fantastic field out for this European PGA Tour event, with eleven of Europe’s successful Ryder Cup team participating. Precious earnings in the Race to Dubai is on the line here and with such a stellar field in attendance, we should be in for a tremendous weekend of golf. Can McIlroy deliver or will he come under pressure from Justin Rose or Branden Grace? After making its debut last season, the tournament takes on full European Tour event status this time around.

BMW Masters Golf Betting Favourite and Defending Champion
Rory McIlroy secured his first win in Asian by taking the title here last season. He has racked up four wins globally for the season, including the PGA Championship. He has nailed the US PGA money list title already and now he has sights on the European Money List. He has finished twice in the race before, coming second to Lee Westwood in 2009 and second to Luke Donald Last year. McIlroy beat Anthony Kim in a play off last season He goes alongside 28 of the top thirty players on the European money list, so a fantastic tournament in progress. McIlroy’s last appearance was at the World Golf Final in Turkey, and was knocked out of the eight man event in the round-robin stage, losing all three of his matches. Not that he sounded too bothered about it, more like he was enjoying relaxing with Caroline Wozniacki. McIlroy is a big match performer and has been striking the ball better than ever over the second half of the season. Excitingly, McIlroy will play with Justin Rose and Lee Westwood in the first two rounds. Because he has delivered before and once he gets up a head of steam with his putter, he is hard to stop, even riding as strong outright favourite and not great value, he looks a solid bet. His end of season form was largely spectacular and McIlroy is trading at 9/2 with online bookmaker Bet365.

Other Contenders
Justin Rose has had a great season
and currently is sitting second in the Race to Dubai and could take the number one spot with a win. There is a $1.16 million first prize on offer in the Chinese financial capital and both Rose and Grace will know the importance of this. Rose has been very solid and has landed three top ten finishes in his last four starts. Along with his calm presence at the Ryder Cup, he should be a good bet for a top ten finish. Rose just churns out great golf, but when something maverick is needed he is not afraid to have a go. Consistency is on his side at the moment but he doesn’t have the experience of playing here last season. Will that ultimately trip him up?

Lee Westwood has produced a solid season also and should be pushing for the top of the leader-board here. Westwood did take part in last season’s inaugural tournament, which was then just a 30 man field made up of European Tour and Asia Tour winners. Westwood, as expected, went well, landing a fifth place finish with a -12 under par. That should put him good stead again and is carrying enough confidence and form to make an impact here. The course experience should serve him well and is usually very solid out in Asia.

Luke Donald started rediscovering his magical touch towards the end of the season as well on the PGA Tour and should make a good fit for the course. He has four top tens on the European Tour this season and was a winner of the BMW PGA Championship to boot. His course management is going to be the thing which will get him close. While he hasn’t got the driving distance of the rest of the field, he can make magic happen, especially with the putter. Get the feeling that he needs to go well from the off though, and you don’t want to see him chasing. Was in great form at the end of last season, so expect a big push from him.

Tremendous line up in the field and all offering great value. Louis Oosthuizen has been one of the best on the European Tour this season. He is driving beautiful and has had a nice clinical edge to his game. So too the likes of Nicolas Colsaerts and Branden Grace, who jumped up to third in the Race to Dubai recently with a win at the Alfred Dunhill Links. He needs a good result to keep him in the hunt to finish top of the European Money List.

Best Outside Bet
Ian Poulter,
it has to be. He was the glue which held Team Europe together at the Ryder Cup and he was the man who was inspirational at Medinah. He picked up four points from four at the Ryder Cup and that has to have him brimming with confidence. He also played here last season where he looked a good fit for the course. Poulter finished sixth here last season, one of just six men to finish in double figures under par. Looks a great fit again and in the company of his Ryder Cup team mates, should go well. Poulter is trading at 25/1 with online bookmaker Bet365.

Latest BMW Masters Golf Betting Prices at online bookmaker Bet365
Rory McIlroy 9/2, Justin Rose 9/1, Luke Donald 9/1, Lee Westwood 8/1, Louis Oosthuizen 20/1, Nicolas Colsaerts 22/1, Ian Poulter 25/1, Branden Grace 30/1, Francesco Molinari 30/1, Graeme McDowell 35/1, Charl Schwartzel 30/1

Online Bookmaker Promotion
Online bookmaker Bet356 offer a free £200 bet for new customers registering an account. The bookie will match the value of your first deposit on a new account, with a 100% bonus. This means that on your new Bet365 account, you can get £200 worth of free bets, as they match your initial deposit. Bet365 provide superb golf betting coverage through their live in play services, and are one of the most highly recommended online bookmakers available.