The Masters Futures - Tiger's on Top but Beware of Lefty

After this past weekends performance, Tiger Woods is the favorite to win the green jacket at Augusta. Big surprise, but we need to look at the players who should challenge him for the Masters which is in roughly two weeks.

Let’s take a look at a few of those golfers.

Golf: 2009 Masters Futures

1. Tiger Woods +200 - - The Golf odds on Tiger have gone down since the last time I checked. Well, the odds are going to come down even more after Tiger, in only his third tournament after recovering from an injury, won the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday by shooting a 67 in the final round. Can anyone say +150?

2. Phil Mickelson +600 - - Lefty skipped the Arnold Palmer but there’s no doubt that he’s striking the ball better than maybe he has in his entire life. He’s already won two tournaments this year and bettors can tell just by watching him play that Phil is much more comfortable out there on the course. He’s got a shot to beat Woods at much better odds.

3. Padraig Harrington +1500 - - Padraig hasn’t had a very good 2009 so far, but gamblers shouldn’t shy away from him at 15 to 1 to win the Masters. Why? Harrington won two majors last year and no doubt will be stoked for the first major of 2009. I have the feeling Padraig’s been playing possum so far this year.

4. Vijay Singh +3000 - - Like Harrington, I have the feeling that Singh has been playing possum so far this season. Vijay’s won the Masters before. So, putting on the green jacket won’t be anything new to him. He’s got a chance to do it again at very nice odds.

5. Retief Goosen +2500 - - Goosen’s already won a tournament this season and even though he finished 36th in the Arnold Palmer, I’m not scared away from considering a wager on him to win the Masters. He’s a terrific golfer and only needs a few lucky balls to go his way for him to be right there on Sunday.

6. Sergio Garcia +1800 - - Sergio was oh so close last year to picking up a major. Maybe he gets the first one of the year in 2009 at nice odds. Garcia is a fantastic golfer but like Padraig and Vijay, he hasn’t impressed so far in 2009. Still, at those fantastic odds, I have to consider a wager on him.

Best Long Shots

Kenny Perry +5000 - - I’d love to see Perry put on the green jacket because he’s been good all year long, and was good in 2008, and he’s just a classy guy. Oh, the 50 to 1 odds are nice too.

Ernie Els +2500 - - Watch Ernie make a fantastic come back in the Masters after golfing okay but not brilliantly for most of 2009. He’s a serious long shot contender in this.

Geoff Ogilvy +1500 - - Bettors shouldn’t forget Ogilvy, even though his odds are lower than I would like, because he’s been good all year. He’ll step it up in the Masters.

Anthony Kim/Camilo Villegas +3000 - - Take your pick, or bet both of them, out of these two up and comers. Kim and Villegas are good enough to win the Masters but both will need some luck.