The 2014 Masters won’t be as fun without Tiger Woods, whose back injury will force him out of his first ever trip to Augusta. However, that’s definitely no reason to miss this year’s edition. There’s still a lot of entertainment (and potentially, money) to be had from this fine tournament, and a field primed to deliver the goods all weekend long.
Part of the fun of any golf tournament, however, are the different props on offer. We’ve already broken down the entrants and picked our winners for the 2014 Masters, so now here are five such props that look particularly enticing.
[sc:MultiSportArticles ]Five High Value Masters Prop Bet Picks and Predictions
Winning Nationality
Bet On: Rest of the World (+250)
Of the top ten golfers with the best odds to win the Masters, four are American, three are European and three are from the rest of the world. The US option is favored but offers little value at +155, and the last European to win the green jacket was in 1999, so the +200 you get on those golfers doesn’t offer much to write home about.
The Rest of the World option has the longest odds at +250, but with defending champ Adam Scott, as well as Jason Day and Justin Rose carrying those flags, don’t count out the best of the rest.
Will There be a Playoff
Bet On: Yes (+240)
[sc:Golf240banner ]The Masters has come down to a playoff in four of the last 10 years, including the last two tournaments. Now, a third straight playoff might sound unlikely, but so did a safety in three straight Super Bowls. Moreover, with no one in this field a clear-cut favorite, it’s bound to be another closely contested tournament. Take yes at +240.
The Winning Margin
Bet On: Two Strokes (+375)
Of course, it’s not such a bad idea to hedge your bets. The playoff option is the favorite in this bet at +240, but should there be no playoff, a two-stroke win could be the most likely result. That has been the margin of victory in four of the last 10 Masters, and its price of +375 offers nice value.
Phil Mickelson to Finish in Top 10
Bet On: No (+105)
Phil Mickelson has a terrific record at Augusta, finishing top 10 or better in seven of his last 10 appearances. However, two of those three times he didn’t place there came in the past three tournaments. Last year, he finished a disappointing 54th, the worst Masters finish of his career.
Mickelson had a good opening round of 68 in the recently concluded Houston Open, but failed to replicate that score over his next three rounds as he finished T-12. With his health still an issue, Lefty at +105 to miss the Top 10 looks like the way to go.
Rory McIlroy to Finish in Top 10
Bet On: No (+175)
With Woods out, Rory McIlroy has now been installed as the Masters favorite. However, that number is more for about Rory’s name than actual track record. The world no. 7 has famously struggled in the Masters, with his best performance a 15th-place finish in 2011.
McIlroy finished with a strong 65 in the Houston Open to finish T-7, but until he proves he can cut it at Augusta, he’s a much better bet to finish outside the Top 10 at +175.
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