As The Masters gets closer, the excitement is building among golf fans and sports bettors. The highly competitive match play tournament will take place on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National Golf Club. Look for an extremely deep and competitive field, including five-time major champion Brooks Koepka and top PGA Tour rookie Akshay Bhatia. Like the jacket that has no equal, the Masters enchants viewers with an ongoing, exclusive tradition. Unlike the other major tournaments, every year it takes place on the same, famous course.
While all the attention is naturally focused on the usual suspects, like Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler, the betting board is a tricky one to navigate. Rahm has failed to attract much support from the betting public, as seen in his major sportsbooks odds ranking. The Masters has an incredible history that is nothing short of thrilling. It mixes the best of the up and coming, and the well-established, so there’s excitement for everyone.
The Competitive Landscape
Brooks Koepka is the most interesting character in this year’s contest. A two-time runner-up at The Masters, the five time major winner would love to add to his tally of five major championships. Just as in his past high-pressure experiences, it will be invaluable to him as he attempts to win the pursuit of all pursuits—the green jacket. Akshay Bhatia, though, is the future of the sport right now. Considered to be one of golf’s brightest young stars, his presence would only further tee up an interesting dynamic to the tournament.
Jon Rahm’s odds offer a compelling argument to back him at the betting window. With all those skills, he’s been a tough sell to the betting public. His final ticket rankings tell a fascinating tale. He’s currently in ninth at BetMGM but drops out of the top ten at DraftKings. This gap may indicate that bettors are reluctant to bet on him even with his history of success.
“The Masters is kind of in its own rarefied air regarding golf tournaments.” – Anthony Salleroli
Masters’ unique format and prestigious history are a winning combination. This long-standing, renowned tournament always attracts a field more competitive than any PGA Tour or LIV Golf regular-season event. This year’s increased competition would only begin to touch on the excitement heading into this year’s tournament.
Notable Odds and Emerging Contenders
One of the biggest storylines on the betting front has been Canada’s Corey Conners. His chances have been cut dramatically since early movement at both Caesars and ESPN BET, now down to +5000. Conners’ impressive recent form has turned some heads, putting him in position to be one of the tournament’s dark horses.
Scottie Scheffler remains public bettor’s darling. Despite not having a victory on any of LIV Golf’s tours this year, he continues to be the biggest piece of their puzzle. There is a reason why he has been so competitive—never finished worse than ninth in any of the five LIV events—great performances. Scheffler finished 2024 strong with two LIV wins and a seventh-place finish at The Open Championship, reinforcing his status as a formidable contender.
“However, his majors drought and the pressure of chasing a green jacket need to be considered, especially as Scottie has shown up better in big moments recently.” – Landeka
Joaquín Niemann makes for an interesting player to keep an eye on. As LIV Golf’s overall points leader, he wanted to prove his worth with a major tiebreaker at The Masters. A strong performance in this tournament might be enough to ensure his place among golf’s new elite.
The Betting Buzz
The thrill of The Masters runs deeper than the players swinging clubs on the Augusta National fairways. It has the whole betting nation buzzing. In Adam Landeka’s experience, this event produces more than two times the amount of bets and handle than that of the U.S. Open. It has made its name as one of the most revered happenings on the golfer’s calendar.
Anthony Salleroli elaborates on this phenomenon, noting that “it’s yearlong action that accumulates, and then the week of the Masters, it just spits hot fire.” The scale of the betting activity is a testament to the scale and prestige of the event. Equally impressive, perhaps, is the full breadth field of competitors.
“The public is backing that popular name that you know, and you know that he can get there because he’s got nerves of steel and has won so many majors,” – Anthony Salleroli
When it comes to placing bets on the upcoming tournament, look for top-ranked players like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy to shine. Landeka mentions that “if you look at the recent form for both golfers, you can make an argument that Rory could be the favorite entering the week.” This comment is indicative of the rapidly changing space for golf betting.
“I think LIV has a really good shot this year and I hope that merger never takes place between LIV and PGA because I love the heads-up competition coming into majors. It just makes it that much more exciting,” – Anthony Salleroli
That anticipation is at an all-time high. We’re counting the days until this exciting tournament filled with memorable plays and fierce rivalry begins!
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