Not even Jordan Spieth could explain how he managed to throw away the US Masters last year.
Last-round capitulations at the Augusta National are not uncommon but, as defending champion, no-one though that the nerve of Texan would evaporate so quickly in 2016. It must have been gut-wrenching to have to hand over the Green Jacket to Danny Willett who, by comparison, was fault-free over the final 18 holes. The Englishman was riding a wave of euphoria 12 months ago as his wife had just given birth to their first baby. The balloon has been somewhat deflated since and we can’t have Willett at a best 135/1 to become the first since Nick Faldo in 1990 to record back-to-back Masters victories. He is 28/1 with Stan James to be Top GB and Ireland Player with that market headed, almost inevitably, by Rory McIlroy (a best 7/4).
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McIlroy needs to win the US Masters to complete his Grand Slam of Majors but the best he’s managed so far at Augusta is fourth in 2015, though has finished in the top 10 in the last three years. The Irishman is a general 8/1 this year and only behind current world number one Dustin Johnson in the betting. Johnson is another targeting a first Masters win but he was sixth in 2015 and fourth last year so has it in him to come out on top. He also fits the profile of recent winners having won the Mexico Championship and the WGC-Match Play last month in which most of the top players were taking part. Spieth is a general 17/2 to make up for last year’s horror show but you are not going to get rich backing any of the first three in the market, though it would be no surprise if one or all ended up wearing the Green Jacket on Sunday evening.
Results of the US Masters since 2000:
2016 | Danny Willett | England | ?5 | Jordan Spieth Lee Westwood |
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2015 | Jordan Spieth | United States | –18 | Phil Mickelson Justin Rose |
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2014 | Bubba Watson | United States | ?8 | Jonas Blixt Jordan Spieth |
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2013 | Adam Scott | Australia | ?9 | Ángel Cabrera | ||
2012 | Bubba Watson | United States | ?10 | Louis Oosthuizen | ||
2011 | Charl Schwartzel | South Africa | ?14 | Jason Day Adam Scott |
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2010 | Phil Mickelson | United States | ?16 | Lee Westwood | ||
2009 | Ángel Cabrera | Argentina | ?12 | Kenny Perry Chad Campbell |
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2008 | Trevor Immelman | South Africa | ?8 | Tiger Woods | ||
2007 | Zach Johnson | United States | +1 | Retief Goosen Rory Sabbatini Tiger Woods |
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2006 | Phil Mickelson | United States | ?7 | Tim Clark | ||
2005 | Tiger Woods | United States | ?12 | Chris DiMarco | ||
2004 | Phil Mickelson | United States | ?9 | Ernie Els | ||
2003 | Mike Weir | Canada | ?7 | Len Mattiace | ||
2002 | Tiger Woods | United States | ?12 | Retief Goosen | ||
2001 | Tiger Woods | United States | ?16 | David Duval | ||
2000 | Vijay Singh | Fiji | ?10 | Ernie El |
You can never leave Bubba Watson out of calculations at Augusta. The left-hander won the US Masters in 2012 and 2014 and should give backers a run for their money at the general 50/1. Charl Schwartzel, the winner in 2011, also catches eye at a best 80/1 but the finger of fate may be pointing at EMILIANO GRILLO.
The Argentinian was a rookie last year but acquitted himself well, tying for 17th without ever threatening the leaders. As an amateur, Grillo graduated in that famous ‘Class of 2011’ alongside Spieth and Justin Thomas and there is every indication he’ll be a top player in the next 10 years – he is only 24.
Grillo is available at 125/1 with most major bookmakers and I’d rather have a speculative wager on him rather than promising rookie Tommy Fleetwood. It’s a big step from being a spectator at Amen Corner to conquer Augusta!
2017 US Masters Selected Best Odds Outright Winner
Dustin Johnson (7/1), Rory McIlroy (8/1), Jordan Spieth (17/2), Jason Day (20/1), Hideki Matsuyama and Rickie Fowler (25/1), Jon Rahm and Justin Rose (28/1), Phil Mickelson (33/1), Henrik Stenson (35/1), Adam Scott and Justin Thomas (40/1), Sergio Garcia (45/1), Paul Casey and Bubba Watson (50/1), Louis Oosthuizen, Brandt Snedeker and Tyrell Hatton (60/1), Marc Leishman (70/1), Daniel Berger, Brooks Koepka, Charl Schwartzel, Thomas Pieters and Matthew Fitzpatrick (80/1), Russell Henley and Patrick Reed (90/1)