Defending champion Tiger Woods opened as a strong +175 favorite (bet $100 to win $175) to win his fifth Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, April 6-9, but if that price is a little too short for your wagering taste,
The Greek Sports Book is offering double-digit odds (and more) on every other golfer in the elite field.
The presence of Woods, the world's top ranked player, always presents a dilemma for bettors. Do you take +175, which is statistically in line with his four victories in 11 career starts at Augusta, or shop around for another golfer at a much better price? The problem with the latter option is that beating Woods isn't enough; you still have to pick the winner.
But identifying any other winner than Woods also offers a great reward. For example,
The Greek Sports Book opened Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, who with Woods form what the British media call "The Big Five," at odds ranging from +1045 to +2050. Other top notch golfers, including David Toms, Sergio Garcia, Chris DiMarco and Davis Love, opened at more than +2500 and there are even better prices on accomplished PGA Tour stalwarts such as 2003 Master champion Mike Weir, 2005 US Open winner Michael Campbell, Jim Furyk, Luke Donald and Paddy Harrington. Talk about value, how's a price of +7550 on two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal?
That said, Woods still is the man to beat. In 11 Masters appearances, Woods never has finished farther back than 22nd and has six top eight finishes, including his four victories in 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005. At age 30, he already holds 20 tournament records, including lowest score (18 under par) and largest margin of victory (12 strokes), both which were accomplished in 1997. He's only the third player in history, along with Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo, to successfully defend his title. No player has ever done that twice, something Woods can do by earning his fifth Green Jacket this year.
Mickelson won the Masters in 2004 when he sank an 18-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole, joining Arnold Palmer, Mark O'Meara and Sandy Lyle as the only players to sink a final birdie to win. Mickelson has nine top 10 finishes in 13 Masters appearances so he's definitely a contender.
Singh captured the 2000 Masters by three strikes and was the 36-hole leader in the 2002 event. He's finished in the top seven the last four years and, like Mickelson, has the prerequisite long game to notch his second title.
Els has been the Masters runner-up twice, losing to Mickelson and Singh, and has six top 10 finishes at Augusta.
Goosen has finished in the top 10 in five of his last six majors, including a tie for third at Augusta in 2005. He was second in the Masters in 2002 and joins Woods as the only other golfer to collect at least one PGA victory in each of the last five seasons.
Unlike the golf's other three majors, the US Open, British Open and PGA Championship, the Masters always is played at Augusta, providing oddsmakers, bookmakers and bettors with ample opportunity to test the "horses for courses" theory.
But that doesn't mean that there haven't been significant changes at Augusta National, especially in the aftermath of Woods' 18 under par dismantling of the course on 1997. Tournament officials steadfastly deny trying to "Tiger-proof" the course but, once again, a half-dozen holes have undergone transformations from a year ago. While lengthening the course hurts others more than the long-driving Woods, adding trees and narrowing fairways does impact Tiger, who has had difficulty with his accuracy off the tee this year:
Hole No. 1: The tee was moved back 15-20 yards and trees were added to the left side of the fairway. The par 4 now plays 455 yards.
Hole No. 4: The tee was moved back 30-35 yards. At 240 yards, the par 3 is one of the longest on Tour.
Hole No. 7: The tee was moved back 35-40 yards and the green was re-sculptured to create a possible right-rear pin position. Trees were added to both sides of the fairway. The par 4 now plays 450 yards.
Hole No. 11: The tee has been moved back 10-15 yards making this par 4 a monstrous 505 yards. What's more, trees were added to the right side of the fairway.
Hole No. 15: This relatively easy par 5 got a little tougher thanks to a boost of 25-30 yards to 530 yards and a 20-yard shift in the tee box from right to left.
Hole No. 17: The tee was moved back 10-15 yards making this par 4 440 yards.
In all, the course has been lengthened from 7,290 to 7,445 yards.
Will these changes be enough to deny Woods a fifth title?
That's why
The Greek Sports Book offers betting.
