If you were a betting man...

[Voytek Wilczak]

These are Masters odds from bodog.com (to win).
 
Which guy with long odds do you like? Will Geoff Ogilvy (60/1) pull himself together to win? How about Luke Donald (22/1)? Who else with long odds has a chance?

Whaddya think?


Tiger Woods 2/1
Ernie Els 8/1
Phil Mickelson 9/1
Vijay Singh 11/1
Retief Goosen 13/1
Sergio Garcia 23/1
Jim Furyk 30/1
Adam Scott 35/1
Luke Donald 22/1
Chris DiMarco 24/1
David Toms 20/1
Padraig Harrington 39/1
Davis Love III 33/1
Jose Maria Olazabal 40/1
Mike Weir 46/1
Darren Clarke 48/1
David Howell 60/1
Henrik Stenson 50/1
John Holmes 74/1
Angel Cabrera 70/1
Rory Sabbatini 68/1
Kenny Perry 75/1
Colin Montgomerie 83/1
Chad Campbell 50/1
Stuart Appleby 70/1
Tim Clark 83/1
Aaron Oberhosler 95/1
Paul Casey 83/1
Lee Westwood 78/1
Fred Couples 85/1
Justin Leonard 80/1
Kyoung Ju Choi 98/1
Stewart Cink 98/1
Robert Allenby 82/1
Geoff Ogilvy 60/1
Charles Howell III 92/1
Scott Verplank 90/1
Ryan Moore 120/1
Thomas Bjorn 108/1
Sean O'Hair 120/1
Ben Crane 115/1
Miguel Angel Jimenez 117/1
Mark Hensby 120/1
John Daly 110/1
Paul McGinley 125/1
Nick O'Hern 125/1
Zach Johnson 110/1
Shigeki Maruyama 125/1
Ian Poulter 130/1
Bernhard Langer 125/1
Lucas Glover 110/1
Tom Lehman 110/1
Trevor Immelman 130/1
Michael Campbell 67/1
   

[Andrew Thomson]

I'll take Apples at 70-1 and Sergio at 23-1

[Tim Pitner]

It's astounding that a golfer would ever be 2-1 odds to win a tournament.  The odds sound about right, but it's truly incredible.  I like Robert Allenby at 82-1 and Zach Johnson at 110-1.

[Chris Kane]

Tim, there is more chance of Robert Allenby flying to the moon than winning a major - watch his temperament on the course during the big tournaments.  It explains why he's never even come close before.

Voytek, it will be interesting to see how Ogilvy goes - I would think that the course suits his game perfectly.

[Voytek Wilczak]

I just noticed that they have not included Ames yet in the odds.

Wouldn't it be fun - Woods and Ames, like Woods and DiMarco last year, down the stretch.

Must see TV!!!

[Tim Pitner]

Chris, I'm sure you know Allenby's game better than I do.  But, he's a pretty talented player and at 82-1 . . . let's just say I like his chances better than Montgomerie's at 83-1.  Couples at 85-1 wouldn't be too bad.

[Dan_Callahan]

Olazabal at 40 to 1? Hasn't he won the masters twice and been in contention in a few tournaments already this year? Seems like pretty generous odds, especially if the course stays dry and firm and we get a short game contest.

[Jerry Kluger]

Adam Scott can do it although he has Norman's old caddie.

[Andrew Thomson]

Adam Scott can do it if he plays ambrose and badds putts for him.

[David Neveux]

LUCAS GLOVER.......110/1

[Jim_Kennedy]

Hard to beat Dan's pick of Ollie at 40/1 but I wouldn't forget DiMarco at 24/1. For longer odds I'd go with Rory Sabbattini at 68/1 and Scott Verplank at 90/1. They both have good stats in several categories, including putting and birdies. For triple digit odds: Langer gets a been-there-done-that vote and Daly gets one for love-to-see-him-do-it.

[Tim Gavrich]

I really like Tim Clark at 83-1.  He's an excellent putter and he always plays very well in majors.

Immelman at 130-1 would be a good pick if you can bet on top-tens.  I think he's undervalued.  Streaky, but a bit undervalued.

I'd not buy Sergio personally, because I don't see him putting well enough to have a shot.  

Couples is also a trendy pick at 85-1, if his back doesn't bother him.

[Tim MacEachern]

If we're going to be off-topic, I like Sean O'Hair 120/1.  Kid has brains and talent.

[Frank Pasquale]

Hensby at 120-1... i think he came in 4th last year, in his first Masters.

[Lloyd_Cole]

Olazabal at 40 to 1? Hasn't he won the masters twice and been in contention in a few tournaments already this year? Seems like pretty generous odds, especially if the course stays dry and firm and we get a short game contest.

Dan, you beat me to it. Especially re firm and fast. I bet on him a couple of years ago when he was just showing signs of returning to form and obviously jinxed him. So I'll just root for him this year. Possibly the best putter of all time in his prime.

[Jordan Wall]

What do I think??

A win by Tiger, a four stroke victory with Shigeki Maryuma second place tied with Lucas Glover.

[Doug Siebert]

I'll take Couples and Zach Johnson.

Have Freddie's back problems returned?  Those seem like awfully long odds for a guy who is perenially a threat at the Masters!

[Sean Walsh]

O'Hern at 125 is great odds (for a place  )

Ogilvy and Olazabal appeared the best odds to me.  Especially for two players with either a proven track record or great form.

Is this Ogilvy's first masters?  If so maybe that's the only thing that counts against him.

[Jim Nugent]

It's astounding that a golfer would ever be 2-1 odds to win a tournament.  The odds sound about right, but it's truly incredible. .

Tiger has won the Masters nearly half the time: 4 out of 9 as a pro.  If he wins this year, will make 5 of 10, a perfect 50%.

Much as I like Couples, can't see him possibly winning.  Bulky putter.  O'Hair is not playing well now, though that can change overnight.  Olazabal seems better than 40 to 1 to me.

Most interesting might have been a guy who did not make the tournament: Villegas.  Don't know what odds Las Vegas would have put on him, but he would have been a threat to win.  

[Ed Tilley]

Mickelson at 9/1 is good value each way (1/4 odds to finish in top 5). How many top 5 finishes has he had at the Masters? Not sure I could bring myself to cheer for him though!

Di Marco and Olazabal are good bets as mentioned by others. From a European perspective I'd pick David Howell and Henrik Stenson - I think they'll both have good tournaments.

[Dan_Callahan]

At the Bell South after two rounds, Phil is at -16. Second is Olazabal at -9. Other players are still on the course. Looks like they are both playing pretty well going to Augusta.

[Sean_A]

I have to go with Olie and another guy who I think can do well-Luke Donald.  I see the bookies have partially covered themselves witth 22-1, but he still ain'a bad bet.

Ciao

Sean

[Tony_Muldoon]

If you were a betting man...it's more than somewhat likely that you would keep your moolah in your pocket when offered the chance to be on any race with

Upwards of 100 runners
midway through the race half the field is eliminated
the going may start out fast and firm but within the race it can change dramatically
for a great portion of the race it's quite possible that each 'runner' is competing under different conditions

anyone like to add other reasons why golf is not a good bet?

[Doug Sobieski]

If you were a betting man...it's more than somewhat likely that you would keep your moolah in your pocket when offered the chance to be on any race with

Upwards of 100 runners
midway through the race half the field is eliminated
the going may start out fast and firm but within the race it can change dramatically
for a great portion of the race it's quite possible that each 'runner' is competing under different conditions

anyone like to add other reasons why golf is not a good bet?

Tony:

If you know the professional game well, golf may be the easiest of all sports to make a very good return on your investment. The key (or best way) is to bet Top 5 finishes, with a few "win" bets sprinkled in when you think you've got it handicapped correctly. It's like shooting fish in the proverbial barrel. You'd be surprised how frequently you can predict the winner, as well as latch on to one or two guys that finish Top 5 during the week. It takes some time to study the stats to handicap it, but how many other sports can you hit a 16 to 1 or 20 to 1 bet almost every week?

Or so I'm told  

Regards,

Doug

P.S. By the way, Geoff Ogilvy was 125/1 at the Match Play  

[RJ_Daley]

Allenby, Ogilve, Holmes, Daly.  Man, thems some long odds on some power hittin guys that Augusta remodelling seems to be catering to.  Any of them gets hot with a putter and look out.  If I were a betting man, I'd split my bet amount and take all of them.