The Augusta Masters 2014

Agree with you regarding Rory @12....been waiting for my dosh @12 to get matched for months and finally matched today.....didn't think it ever would when Tiger withdrew but i am happy to get 12 without Tiger in the field.....it's bargain.

Incredibly open looking Masters this year, don't think any result would surprise me tbh.

Good luck everyone, not long now till the best four golfing days of the year

Taken from my Blog...


Few sporting spectacles can match the beauty and drama of Augusta National and as the world’s finest golfers make their way to Georgia they will all be dreaming of one thing- donning The Green Jacket and taking their place amongst the immortals. While the absence of Tiger Woods is a minor distraction it will surely not detract too much from the four most highly anticipated days in the golfing calendar.

When trying to locate the winner from the field of elite invitees there are several key factors to bear in mind. Firstly, experience is key. Famously no golfer has won on his Masters debut since Fozzy Zoeller in 1979. Masters winners have triumphed on average on their sixth appearance which gives a perfect illustration of just how treacherous a challenge these slick, sloping greens are and how long it takes to “master” them. The fairways are generous but that is because the potential champion will have to display some or all of the following qualities:  laser accurate iron play along with nerves of steel putting and scrambling. Repeat winners are many: Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal, Phil Mickelson and Bernhard Langer to name but a few.

Bearing all this in mind, and taking into account current and recent form, three names shot to the top of the shortlist. 2007 Champion Zach Johnson may well be playing the best and most consistent golf of his career at the age of 38. He has made all ten cuts this season including two wins and three Top 10s. He ranks 12th in Greens In Regulation on the official PGA Tour Stats and 11th in Scrambling. In short, everything looks in place for a repeat bid and 33/1 is a perfectly fair price.

South African Charl Schwartzel followed in the hallowed footsteps of legendary compatriot Gary Player when triumphing in 2011 and he has made the cut in all four appearances at Augusta. He’s had two Top 10s from four appearances on the PGA Tour this year as well as a victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship on The European Tour where he leads the stats in Putts Per Greens In Regulation. With a Top 20 finish in The Shell Houston Open this week-end he will fancy his chances of a second Green Jacket. At 40/1 he is well worth an investment.

There are several excellent candidates who stand out as potential winners of their first Masters title but at the top of my list is Graeme McDowell who is available at a massive 66/1. The 2010 US Open Champion should arguably already have added to his sole Major triumph but this week may represent the ideal opportunity. This is his seventh visit to Augusta and he has already claimed 17th and 12th placed finishes. He has been in tremendous form this season with Top 10s in Pebble Beach, WGC Matchplay, WGC Cadillac and The Arnold Palmer Invitational. Always an outstanding ballstriker, he has found an extra level with the flat stick this season and ranks 1st in Strokes Gained-Putting on The PGA Tour. This last stat could be the key and he can pip compatriot Rory McIlroy to become the first Northern Ireland player to wear The Green Jacket.

31 year old American Bill Haas has long looked a likely type to become the next American Major Champion and he simply must be backed at the 80/1 generally available. Unlike the majority of competitors he has taken to Augusta like a duck to water making all four cuts with a debut finish of 26th and a fine 24th place last year. He has been a model of consistency this season making all ten cuts and has the sort of strong all round game that can thrive in the high pressure environment of a Major Championship. He has won five tournaments on the PGA Tour and a first Major looks like the natural next step.

For our final selection we turn to another young American. Ryan Moore has never truely fulfilled the potential of his outstanding Amateur Career but over the past year that has started to change. He has a win and three Top 10s already this Season and ranks 10th in Greens In Regulation. His Masters record is impressive, with an outstanding 13th place finish as an Amateur in 2005, as well as an excellent 14th place in 2010. Take the 100/1 with Paddy Power who are paying six places each way.


Happy punting

Cuyahoga


Z Johnson 33/1
C Schwartzel 40/1
G McDowell 66/1
B Haas 80/1
R Moore 100/1

Personally can't trust Rory to string 4 solid rounds together especially in Major conditions. He worryingly developed a big miss left under pressure in the Desert swing earlier in the year which showed up again in coming down the stretch at the Honda Classic. His driving seems back to his best though which is some cause for optimism but his iron play has been well off compared to when he was at his best.

This week they tee off at Augusta National for the Masters and I have a feeling we are in for a bit of a cracker with many surprises on the way. Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy are vying for favouritism and I will stick to my guns of never backing defending champions especially the way he capitulated in Texas two weeks ago and Rory just doesn't look fully on song to me. Phil may or may not have a pulled oblique muscle, who knows how bad Jason Days' thumb is, Bubba may sneeze his way around the azaleas, and Rose doesn't seem fully fit. Matt Kuchar still manages to drop the trophy before getting a single hand on it and Sergio always seems convinced he can't win a Major.Even I can't back course specialist Angel Cabrera despite the fact he gave me a big payday last year as he still seems to be carrying a shoulder injury. As I said earlier I think we are in for some surprises so here goes with my five to maybe pull that off.
The first bet I struck in January antepost when he was doing me a few favours was Marc Leishman and the the way the Australians have done on tour in recent weeks I am pretty glad I have him onside. Each victory of late by a player from down under seems to have inspired another great performance - maybe it's a late kick on from last years Masters as we approach the anniversiary but I am sure they will all take heart from Scotts' win last year. Leishman was 4th last year and was bang in contention from the get go and learnt a lot. Having opened the season in fine style he went off the boil a bit but a return to Augusta and recet happenings can only be positive 0.25 ew 150/1
My only other antepost bet has been on Patrick Reed - despite the fact he has to break the debutants hoodoo but if there was ever a player to do so it would be Reed. The man is brim full with self confidence and is it any wonder with three wins in his last fifteen events and I can visualise him off the first tee on Sunday dressed like Tiger and ready to go about his business. It is not as if he isn't au fait with Augusta National as he studied at nearby Augusta State and hence was allowed to play the course three times. Most debutants are overawed and shoot themselves out of things on day one - I don't think Reed will 0.4 ew 66/1
I was surprised to be able to back Jason Dufner at 50/55 this morning as people seem to be concentrating on his poor finishing in events BUT he won twice in 2012 and won his first Major last year. To me he has to be a bet at the price based on his performance in US Majors - in his last eleven he has that PGA win and four other top fives. He has improved with every start at Augusta and indeed led at the half way point last year and he has been in consistent if not spectacular form this year. If you want a player who will be relaxed in the pressure cooker atmosphere on the back nine on a Sunday then Dufner is your man 0.5 ew 55/1
Now time for a couple of complete rags who could pull off a huge upset this weekend. Firstly a young South African who reminds me of other young compatriots Immleman, Schwartzel who won and even Oosthuizen who nearly won and that is Branden Grace. After a sensational 2012 he has been a little quiet since and I admit he hasn't been at his best in the States of late but I don't think that is much different to his fellow South Africans and they did OK! He admitted to being overawed on his debut last year shooting a 78 but he found his feet and shot three rounds under par to climb to a tie for 18th. I admit it is a bit of a hunch given recent performances but some people just take to Augusta National 0.15 ew 350/1
Lastly a player who is simply written off most weeks despite three PGA wins in the last three years - Scott Stallings - as an unfashionable player he is available at a simply remarkable price. Admittedly the trends say a player had to make the cut last year - well he didn't play but he did in 2012 and finished 27th which was pretty impressive as at the time he was carrying a severe injury and could barely swing a club. The only reason he played seems to be down to a personal obsession with Augusta and when he won earlier this year and booked his ticket for a second time this week was at the forefront of his mind. There does seem a strong tie between Torrey Pines winners and players who do well at the Masters - we all know about Woods and Mickelson but O'Meara, Olazabal and recently Watson enter the equation and even famous debutant Zoeller won there in 1979 which got him into his debut Masters when he won. I know its an IF but if he is in contention come Sunday you know you have a player who knows how to win 0.4 ew 300/1

He's wearing a bandage but says theres no pain there

There seems little doubt that some very big players are doing the rounds on the Masters betting outlets. Any bookie will now stand as much as he or she can take in if they check that they can lay off most of it on the exchanges and pocket the balance for no exposure. Used to be the way long ago with the smaller main street bookies on the telephone to their mate on the track. This looks like a real chance for the astute pro gambler. It matters not about ability or otherwise of golfers. Just information early, and a bit of software gives them instant pictures of their book standings and what they need to lay. We surely have the collective of knowledge and experience to be able to make profits on this marker, whether or not we come up with a winner. It is fair to say that regular forumites do not get the winners too often but have a well balanced book.

The punters have come for Woodland!

Snedeker for me. A lot being made of him not coming into this event in the same form as last year but while he did start last season well he hardly had the ideal prep for the Masters. He was diagnosed with "low bone turnover" when having to withdraw from the match-play and subsequently missed his last two cuts going into Augusta.

He's struggled with niggling injuries since but the main reason for his downturn in fortunes is that his putting has been woeful at times despite being the strong point of his game over the years. These comments Brandt made on the Sunday after recently recording his first top 10 of the season at Bay Hill offer plenty of cause for optimism. “Today is the best I’ve rolled it in a year, it felt like,” “I’ve been trying to find (my putting stroke) all year, and today is the best it’s felt under the gun,” “Hopefully I’ve figured something out.”

Snedeker has proven himself to be a consistent winner on TOUR with 5 wins in the past 3 years, most importantly his win at the 2012 TOUR Championship where he dispelled the notion that he has to come from behind to win taking the 54 hole lead and being the only man in the final 5 groups on Sunday to shoot under par. With 4 top 20 finishes in his 6 starts here, 4 top 20's in his last 5 US Open's and recent vastly improved efforts at the Open Championship, 'Sneds' recent major form is up there with the best. Having faced the steep major learning curve that most players must face (see Rory, Bubba and Scott in recent years) when not being able to capitalise on a 36 hole lead at the Open in 2012 and the 54 hole lead here last year, his time is now.

probably top 20 7/2 or top senior 2/1 where it would seem he only has jimenez to beat...........hard to see him win outright..............but slight injury of back reported worth finding out more before placing wager

Well, that's the kiss of death on Wee British Rory then !
Even the woman above can't save him now.
Apart from my original selection of gawd boy Zach, I shall, of course, be sticking to those Augusta stalwarts Laird and Blixt, the Burke and Hare of Magnolia Way !

sergio garcia

Thanks Jonnny, I'll consider it??? It's just his age that puts me off.

Tee Times

Round 1
* indicates a 10th tee start; all others are 1st tee start

GROUP 1, 7:45 AM ET
S. Cink T. Clark
GROUP 2, 7:56 AM ET
I. Woosnam J. Huh K. Stadler
GROUP 3, 8:07 AM ET
B. Crenshaw Y. Yang J. Blixt
GROUP 4, 8:18 AM ET
M. O'Meara S. Bowditch J. Niebrugge
GROUP 5, 8:29 AM ET
J. Senden B. Weekley D. Lynn
GROUP 6, 8:40 AM ET
C. Stadler S. Stallings M. Kaymer
GROUP 7, 8:51 AM ET
T. Watson B. Horschel B. de Jonge
GROUP 8, 9:02 AM ET
M. Weir M. Every R. Castro
GROUP 9, 9:13 AM ET
A. Cabrera G. Woodland I. Poulter
GROUP 10, 9:24 AM ET
F. Couples W. Simpson C. Lee
GROUP 11, 9:35 AM ET
G. McDowell R. Fowler J. Walker
GROUP 12, 9:57 AM ET
Z. Johnson K. Choi S. Stricker
GROUP 13, 10:08 AM ET
M. Jimenez B. Haas M. Manassero
GROUP 14, 10:19 AM ET
H. Matsuyama B. Snedeker J. Donaldson
GROUP 15, 10:30 AM ET
C. Schwartzel J. Furyk T. Olesen
GROUP 16, 10:41 AM ET
A. Scott J. Dufner M. Fitzpatrick
GROUP 17, 10:52 AM ET
J. Spieth P. Reed R. McIlroy
GROUP 18, 11:03 AM ET
K. Streelman D. Points
GROUP 19, 11:14 AM ET
L. Mize B. Grace M. McCoy
GROUP 20, 11:25 AM ET
S. Lyle M. Jones K. Duke
GROUP 21, 11:36 AM ET
J. Olazabal L. Glover G. Porteous
GROUP 22, 11:47 AM ET
N. Watney S. Gallacher D. Clarke
GROUP 23, 12:09 PM ET
V. Singh T. Bjorn R. Moore
GROUP 24, 12:20 PM ET
M. Kuchar L. Oosthuizen T. Jaidee
GROUP 25, 12:31 PM ET
T. Immelman G. DeLaet O. Goss
GROUP 26, 12:42 PM ET
G. Fernandez-Castano D. Ernst S. Bae
GROUP 27, 12:53 PM ET
B. Langer F. Molinari C. Kirk
GROUP 28, 1:04 PM ET
J. Day D. Johnson H. Stenson
GROUP 29, 1:15 PM ET
B. Watson L. Donald S. Garcia
GROUP 30, 1:26 PM ET
J. Luiten M. Leishman H. Mahan
GROUP 31, 1:37 PM ET
K. Bradley V. Dubuisson P. Hanson
GROUP 32, 1:48 PM ET
P. Mickelson E. Els J. Rose
GROUP 33, 1:59 PM ET
H. English L. Westwood R. Henley

Rolling back the years   1986.

Jack Nicklaus was 46 years of age.He had not won a tournament in two years, and was being written off as a spent force. He had not won a Major in 6 years. But The Golden Bear produced one more back nine performance in his charge to trey and win the 50th Masters.A 30 back nine and a 65 proved just the tonic to beat Tom Kite and The Great White, Greg Norman by the minimum margin. The Golden Bear went eagle-birdie -birdie on the 15th, 16th and 17th respectively and the immortal walk of Nicklaus with his putter pointing Heavenwards as his birdie putt travelled that journey to the hole will live with all who witnessed it. Truly one of the proudest moments of the greatest player ever to have lifted a club in my lifetime.

Best bets this week Jonas Blixt 200/1 EW. His hit it, find it,hit it again and hole the putt game has been a staple for the likes of Phil,Bubba and Day all of whom tend to do well here.Has been in poor form but worth a chance at big odds.

Russell Henley 150/1 EW. Has never impressed me tee to green but is such a good putter he cant be ruled out. T7 last week,on a course that is meant to resemble conditions at Augusta and has WON this year.

I did some research on the top 20 finishers for the past three years, just to get a feel for players who adapt to the course.

Adam Scott, Lee Westwood and Freddy Couples appeared in all three lists. Rory appeared once, around 19th or so in 2011 after his well documented self-implosion. I just get the impression that he doesn't like the place. Garcia and Kuchar each appear twice. I think Phil only appeared once, which really surprised me.

As a result, I've gone for bets on Scott, Westwood, Garcia and Westwood.

If Lefty is within 5 shots on the final day he is going to take all the beating with his wealth of experience around Augusta, I'm plumping for Mickelson and hoping for a not terrible start from him............I can't see any of the Brits getting close this year, not even the wee man!

That the chance you take.

I would say each way is slightly better value, xmoneyx

Rose seemed to be very confident in his press conference, with his track record, 40s