Having a bet on the Masters? You’ll get so much more out of your betting if you stick to these guidelines.
1. Back the longer hitters. The course has been lengthened considerably in recent years, so length off the tee is a big advantage, especially on the par-5’s as the longest hitters can easily reach the greens in two. Distance is even more critical when the course is damp, without any run on the ball
2. Check the weather forecast. Much depends on the condition of the course as to how many have a chance to win. If it’s wet, the course is so long now that it becomes a high ball, long ball-hitters' paradise. When the course is dry, the shorter hitters have a better chance as the ball runs so much further. Early forecasts are predicting a dry week with possible rain at the weekend.
3. Pay heed to the official world rankings - the winner has been ranked in the top 13 on the Official World Rankings in seventeen of the last twenty years. Going into this year’s Masters, the top 13 ranked players are as follows:
Tiger Woods (2.36 Betfair), Phil Mickelson (10/1 William Hill), Ernie Els (28/1 Stan James), Steve Stricker (50/1 bet365), Geoff Ogilvy (25/1 William Hill), KJ Choi (40/1 Betdirect), Jim Furyk (40/1 Skybet), Adam Scott (33/1 totesport), Justin Rose (40/1 bet365), Vijay Singh (20/1 Ladbrokes), Rory Sabbatini (80/1 sportingbet), Padraig Harrington (25/1 Stan James) and Henrik Stenson (66/1 Skybet).
4. The course takes plenty of knowing, so look to back players with previous form at Augusta - no debutant has won since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979. This year’s debutants include: Anders Romero, JB Holmes, Martin Kaymer, Daniel Chopra, Boo Weekley and Nick Dougherty.
5. When betting on the first round leader, check the tee times as it’s an advantage to have an early start, especially if the breeze is expected to get up in the afternoon.
6. Lay the first round leader - it’s now 23 years since the leader after the first round went on to wear the green jacket.
7. If betting in-running, the easiest holes on the course are the par-5 13th and 15th, which offer genuine birdie / eagle chances. On the other hand, the stretch of holes known as Amen Corner (9th, 10th, and 11th) are very demanding. Therefore, if two players are on the same score, the one about to play the 12th is in far better shape than the one on the 9th.
8. Wait until Sunday before placing your bets - all bar one (Zach Johnson) of the last 17 winners have come from the final group!
9. With Tiger so far clear of the rest of the field, take an insurance and bet any other player without him. All bookmakers are offering betting ‘Without Woods’ this week, so you can still be on a ‘winner’ if your player finishes second to Tiger.
10. Finally, shop around for value. Why take 25/1 when you can get 28/1 elsewhere? And make sure you snap up those juicy account opening offers!