Posted on 4/8/2008 1:29:07 PM

Woods big favorite at The Masters

By BetUS Staff

It’s been three long years since Tiger Woods last won The Masters, but will that fact influence anyone doing any golf betting on the season’s first major this week? Not likely. However, correctly wagering that Woods will win The Masters this weekend won’t be too lucrative, as the world’s top player has been installed as the sports book big tournament favorite.

At BetUS Woods is pegged at EVEN to get fitted for yet another green jacket this year. Woods last won The Masters in 2005 (in a playoff), and he also picked up wins in this event in 1997, 2001, and 2002. If you’re convinced that Woods is a slam-dunk at Augusta, though, you can also wager on what his winning margin will end up being . . .

Win by exactly 1 shot --- +900

Win by exactly 2 shots --- +1000

Win by exactly 3 shots --- +1200

Win by exactly 4 shots --- +1600

Win by 5 shots or more --- +350

Win in a playoff --- +1000

Last year’s winning margin was two strokes, but it was Zach Johnson who topped runner-up Woods. That victory upped Johnson’s profile on the PGA Tour considerably, but he’s not considered a big contender to repeat in ‘08 – he’s listed at just +6500 odds.

Retief Goosen and Rory Sabbatini finished in a tie with Woods for second place last year after they shot identical rounds of 69 on Sunday. Goosen is pegged at +2500 odds to move up one spot on the leaderboard this weekend, while Sabbatini is tied with Johnson at +6500 odds. Justin Rose and Jerry Kelly both ended up three shots back of first place in 2007; Rose is at +3500 odds to win this year, and Kelly is back at +15000.

Last year’s Top 10 was then rounded out by Stuart Appleby, Padraig Harrington, David Toms, Vaughn Taylor, Luke Donald, and Paul Casey (the last three were all tied for 10th place). Of that group Harrington has the best odds for this year at +2500, with Donald at +4500, and Appleby at +7000. Casey is listed at +8000 odds to win The Masters this weekend, while Toms (+15000) and Taylor (+20000) are considered tourney longshots.

Phil Mickelson finished a disappointing 24th at Augusta last year, but as a two-time Masters champion (2004 and 2006) he’s riding high on the odds list for this week at +850 (second only to Woods). Vijay Singh, the 2000 Masters champion who ended up in a tie for 13th place last year, is third on the list at +1800. 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir, who tied for 20th place in 2007, is farther behind the top guys at +8000 odds.

Spaniard Jose Marie Olazabal won The Masters in both 1994 and 1999, but he finished well back in a tie for 44th place at the tournament in 2007. If you think Olazabal can recapture some of his past magic this weekend, you can get him at +12500 odds to claim another green jacket. As well, ‘92 Masters winner Fred Couples is at +8000 odds.

If you’d rather go with a team approach for your golf betting this week you can place a wager on the nationality of the eventual tournament winner. An American has won this event four straight times and in eight of the past 11 years, and that group is listed as the -200 favorite on the prop bet. The Europeans are next at +500, although no golfer from Europe has won since Olazabal in 1999. The final group consists of the ‘rest of the world’, and they’re pegged at +225; Weir (2003) and Singh (2000) are recent champs.

Finally, if you’d like a quicker payoff you can also place a bet on who you think will be the first-round leader. Woods is of course the favorite at +200, with Mickelson second at +1000, and Singh third at +2000. Ernie Els, Geoff Ogilvy, and Harrington are then tied for fourth at +2500, with each of Goosen, Rose, Adam Scott, K.J. Choi, and Jim Furyk next at +3000. Donald and Steve Stricker sit behind that group at +3500 odds.

Check the BetUS golf odds section for all of the latest props and lines for The Masters.

Take a swing at online sports betting in the BetUS.com online sportsbook. Not just par for the course, in theBetUS.com sportsbook we have all the golf odds, lines and props you’ll ever need to bet on golf. Join BetUS today to make betting on golf earn you cash.