2012 US Masters Golf Betting Info
Here we go again, the first Major of the 2012 is right here with us, as the best in the world congregate in Augusta, Georgia, for the coveted Green jackets. Last year produced one of the classic US Masters, with eight different players taking the lead at one stage or another on the final day. There is a basic strategy which works at Augusta, and that is consolidation and then ramp up a little more controlled aggression on the par fives. It is those par fives where the birdies chances are going to be made mostly, over the par 72 course. The par fours aren’t exactly gimme’s though and there is that demand for a solid all round game, just, as mentioned above, to consolidate where need be. With such a star studded field in attendance, with the added attraction of Tiger Woods returning to winning ways, who will step up to the plate this year. The biggest betting tip on offer for the 2012 US Masters, is to look for experience, because rookies really don’t make the impact.
2012 US Masters Golf Betting Defending Champion
Charl Schwartzel rose from a clutch of players on day four, to come home with four straight birdies and take the Green Jacket. He became the first ever player to accomplish that in the Masters, but Schwartzel hasn’t exactly been showing the kind of form needed to head to Augusta and defend his title. Schwartzel is often praised, including on these pages as being on of the most complete players on the PGA Tour. So it has been a mixed season with him, because he started March pretty well with two top ten finishes, but has missed the cut badly in his last two outings. Maybe that is his bad stuff out of the way and he will shine again at Augusta. He did go well here last year, consistently and then pounced when the time was right. Unlikely to happen again, his form makes him a shaky bet at 45/1 with Bet365.
2012 US Masters Golf Betting Favourite
Tiger Woods is back. Is he? Well, the four time US Masters champion got his timing right when he went out and won the Arnold Palmer Invitational recently in his Masters preparations. His stats on the PGA Tour are very good, and they really can’t be argued with, because he has had a very solid season. He just managed to find a great balance to his game at Bay Hill to win, while in previous outings this season he has produced the odd unstable round to scupper his chances of winning, he just went consistently well for four days. That immediately sent the bookies into a frenzy, trimming his odds a little for the 2012 US Masters betting. Perhaps most importantly looking at Tiger Woods stats for this season, is his performance on the par 5s. He leads the PGA Tour in scoring on the par 5’s, landing 32 Birdies or Better in 51 par fives this season. Just the perfect tool needed for him to get himself into that Green Jacket for the fifth time in his career. Tiger Woods starts US Masters betting as 5/1 favourite.
Other Contenders
The list of contenders run deep as always in the Majors, so let’s head down the list in our US Masters predictions. Rory McIlroy has to head the field, with twelve top five finishes in his last thirteen starts. Can anyone touch that? He has really learned from his horrid experience at Augusta last year where he was primed for the Green Jacket until the back nine on day four ruined him, finishing the round with an 80. But you can look to the positives of the three and a half rounds of positive golf he put in prior to that. There really isn’t any questions about his mentality after demolishing the field later last year to win the US Open. Has to be in with a great chance again, he has the form to stand up again here, and with all the attention on Tiger Woods, a big possibility.
Phil Mickelson has won the US Masters three times in his career, let’s not overlook the big leftie. He has a wonderful record at Augusta, and the experience to go on and produce a repeat of his emotional 2010 win. He is in good form this season too, because he has a win under his belt on the PGA Tour and two other top fives to boot. We watched Mickelson struggle a bit with the putter last year in the Majors, but he is hot with it at the moment, second on the PGA for Strokes Gained-Putting. Experience could be the key for Mickelson
Lee Westwood and Luke Donald are both searching for their first Major wins, and Lee Westwood in particular has shown a lot of consistency this season. Westwood finished second behind Mickelson two years ago and a poor final round last year let him down. Very good in the all around game at the moment and he has to be in with another good shout again and has an excellent Major record without winning. Luke Donald has tasted top ten finishes at Augusta before, and landed a T4 last year. Putting very well, notched up a win a few weeks back, his first of the season after what had been a slow start from him.
Australian Adam Scott played the course very smartly here last year, and he comes in fresh after a long rest since challenging at the WGC Cadillac. We know what he can do, very, very good player but have we seen enough from him this season? Not sure, but the most likely Aussie to break the Masters duck for the country. Steve Stricker, who is in solid form with the irons, the big hitting Bubba Watson, Keegan Bradley, Justin Rose, the list of contenders who have the ability to land the Masters this year goes on.
Best Outside Bet
This has to be Justin Rose. He has become a very consistent player over the past couple of years, and has good form at the US Masters as well, making the cut in each of his last six appearances. Has the ability to switch modes from passive to aggressive when need be, and his win at the WGC Cadillac should put him in good stead. Just very solid in his all round game this season again, but has developed a winning touch. Rose is 30/1 at Bet365.
Latest 2012 US Masters Golf Betting Prices
Tiger Woods: 5/1 at Bet365
Rory McIlroy: 6/1 at SkyBet
Phil Mickelson: 12/1 at Bet365
Luke Donald: 16/1 at Bet365
Lee Westwood: 20/1 at BetFred
Hunter Mahan: 33/1 at Totesport
Justin Rose: 30/1 at Bet365
Adam Scott: 35/1 at Boylesports
Keegan Bradley: 35/1 at Bet365
Jason Day: 40/1 at Bet365
Charl Schwartzel: 45/1 at Bet365
Online Bookmaker Promotion
Online bookmaker Paddy Power are offering lost stake refunds on the outright winner market, if Tiger Woods lands the win here. So you can back a player in the outright market, with this bit of insurance in place of a free bet refunded if Woods wins. This applies to bets made pre-tournament, so you need to get your bets in before the big Augusta tee off. Popular online bookie Paddy Power offer a free £50 bet for new customers registering an account with them. They will match the value of your first stake on a new account with a free bet, up to the maximum value of £50.
