Best bets
1pt each-way Justin Rose, European 1st Rd Leader @ 12/1
2pts win Jason Day, Top Australian @ 9/5
1pt each-way Brooks Koepka, Top LIV player @ 11/2
2pts win Gordon Sargent, Top Amateur @ 7/5
3pts win Matsuyama to beat Fitzpatrick, 72-hole match bet @ 5/6
There’s the usual bumper bundle of special Masters markets from Fitzdares and there could be a bit of value in backing Justin Rose for first-round leader.
The stylish Englishman has never won the Masters in 17 attempts but has often given himself a springboard for doing so. He has led or co-led after day one on four occasions and his 65 in 2021 after a phenomenal back nine saw him topping the leaderboard by four.
He’s broken 70 on Thursdays seven times out of 17 and an each-way interest at 50/1 on 1st Round leader outright or 12/1 on the European leaderboard is even more likely to pay off this year than in several past because he arrives in formidable form.
He ended a long drought at Pebble Beach in January and confirmed he was back as a serious contender with sixth place at the Players.
With Rory McIlroy, the favourite on the European market, habitually a slow starter and the Augusta records of the other chief threats Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton nothing to write home about, that’s the best option for a decent punt.
Another favourite to take on is Open champion Cameron Smith on the Top Australian list. Cammie has great Masters form (2-10-3 last three years) but his 2023 LIV record (6-26-29) has been underwhelming.
Preference is for former world No. 1 Jason Day now enjoying a revival with a string of eyecatching efforts on the PGA Tour. All those debilitating allergies, back and vertigo problems now appear under control and 11 top-25s in 12 starts allied to a solid Masters record since finishing runner-up on debut encourage an interest at 9/5.
Smith is also a favourite to take on in Top LIV betting, this time with 11/2 shot Brooks Koepka, twice a LIV tour winner in the last few months and a man possessed when it comes to Majors. There was a time he was eating them for breakfast as he gobbled up four – two US Opens, two USPGAs – in quick succession before injury halted his gallop.
It has taken him a long time to get fully fit again, both physically and mentally, and he’s hungry to make up for lost time. Don’t be surprised if he mops up three or four of these LIV tournaments and maybe a fifth Major this year.
Patrick Reed, third to him at the weekend, is an each-way alternative at 11/1. With 18 runners, Fitzdares are paying four places so you could back both.
Seven line up for Top Amateur and there’s a lot of noise about 20-year-old Alabaman Gordon Sargent who has received a special invitation to take part. He’s been outdriving Justin Thomas and Max Homa by mind-blowing distances in practice rounds with swing speed clocked at 197mph.
Powerful South African teenager Aldrich Potgieter, winner of the British Amateur last year at 17, will give him a run but my American mole says we should help ourselves to Sargent at 7/5.
With the course softer after March downpours and light rain forecast for this weekend, it will take sting out of fairways and greens and give bombers like Sargent an even bigger edge than usual.
Pick of the 72-hole match-ups could be 2021 Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama to finish in front of reigning US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick. The Englishman’s Augusta record is ordinary as is his current form while the Japanese star has seven top-20 Masters finishes from his eight latest appearances and fifth place at Sawgrass and 15th in Texas see him arrive with his game in tip-top shape.
For all your bets on the Masters, visit our dedicated golf betting page.
