US Masters Golf Betting 2009
Free Betting Online – 2009 US Masters Golf Betting Preview
This year sees the US Masters golf championship take place between Thursday April 9th – Sunday April 12th at its traditional home, the Augusta National course in Georgia, America, with betting fans across the globe keen to follow their favourite players shot by shot in the hope that they will ultimately provide a useful monetary return on their short term investment.
The burning question then is just who we think is in the best position to challenge for the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club’s green blazer (and a cheque in the breast pocket for the lion’s share of the reported .5 million prize pot) here in 2009, and the reasons we believe they can go all the way. Or not as the case may be.
Tiger on the comeback for the US Masters 2009
History dictates that the Augusta National still favours the games big hitters, therefore a lot of well versed Golf Betting eyes will be focussed on Tiger Woods (6-4 on average) again this year, as he continues his ‘convalescing’ after 2008s prolonged absence from the game through knee surgery.
His rehabilitation programme has most recently included a successful tilt at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (considered by many players as the last warm-up event before the US Masters swings into action, along with the Houston Open the week preceding the Masters) which serves as Woods’ third event since returning from his eight month injury lay-off. Which if nothing else will send out alarm signals to others gearing up for the season’s major opener as Tiger came from five shots behind to claim victory at Bay Hill, demonstrating the sort of form that looks like he’s never been away.
Other contenders in the US Masters
Of course Phil Mickelson (8-1 across most markets) might have something to say at Augusta in a shameless attempt to derail the Woods’ bandwagon that’s gathering momentum (and therein, ominous signs) just in time for the US Masters ; a player who’s currently playing ducks and drakes with the official number one player at the top of the world rankings. And worth noting that 80% of Mickelson’s victories have occurred during the first four months of the golf season.
Elsewhere in the frame and Padraig Harrington (16-1) will be flying the flag for the British contingent making the journey across the pond and during his nine outings in the US Masters has recorded three top ten finishes at Augusta, two of which have come in 2007 and 2008. Will be interesting to see just how he answers the Woods’ challenge after having the rub of many greens whilst the world number one was off his feet. Harrington’s major asset is his putting, a club which its importance cannot be over stressed in this fast-greened surround.
Geoff Ogilvy (22-1), 2008 runner-up has carded three wins in the past four months and is viewed by many as in with a good shout of trying the green jacket on for size on the Sunday evening. Not one to fold under pressure, it’s argued that he appears on the contrary to thrive on it, which is just as well given the amount of backers he’s collecting from the outset having shown impressive form recently by adding the Mercedes-Benz Championship and WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship to his growing list of golfing achievements.
Sergio Garcia (22-1) shows occasional echoes of fellow Spaniard, Ballesteros at his best, and is often spoken of as the best tee to green player on the tour. But question marks still hang over his mental strength when the chips are down, and his putting doesn’t always inspire confidence should you be placing money on him. Still looking for that elusive major yet in our book could easily loose a battle of nerves with the leading players should he find himself amongst them in the latter stages of the tournament. Also worth mentioning that he’s missed the cut three times in the last four times of asking.
Rietef Goosen (25-1) has seen more ups and downs than passengers on a big dipper, yet the ‘Ice Man’ has kick-started his career in 2009 with two solid victories on two major tours. Approaching fellow South African golfing legend Gary Player to help him address his diet and fitness program after a combination of injuries and poor form by and large put paid to the past couple of seasons, Goosen has now risen to number 22 in the official world rankings thanks to these early season wins, and many feel he’s poised to emerge stronger and more focussed than ever just in time for the Masters with a point still to prove.
Described as the ‘next Tiger Woods’ – rule of thumb suggests a poisoned chalice if ever - Anthony Kim’s (33-1) chances shouldn’t be overlooked either, despite a recent poor run of form. Another long hitter of the ball, when he’s firing on all four cylinders he’s hard to unseat, yet given his perceived inexperience in this manner of setting it’s more likely he’ll benefit from using the tournament as part of his learning curve.
Rory McIlroy (33-1) has rapidly emerged as an American TV screen starlet, thanks in no small part to his curly mop top, pleasing demeanour and his enormous ability around a golf course. But still being pretty new to the game some think the 19 year old lad from Northern Ireland might have tired himself out with all the genuine excitement of the past six months and could flag any minute. Still, should he can console himself in the knowledge that Tiger Woods recently declared that it’s a case of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ McIlroy becomes world number one.
Ernie Els (33-1) has always been there or thereabouts after the final round of major tournaments for well over a decade now, hence why he’s always in the betting running and should never be discounted when poring over which player to back. The ‘Big Easy’ from South Africa is THE big game hunter on the golfing circuit and traditionally goes stealthily about his business until finally being talked up come the weekend. Although in fairness he’s been subjected to a period akin to the golfing wilderness in the past couple of seasons. Prior to that though and Els was in a rich vein of US Masters form during the five years from 2000 onwards, constantly cropping up in the top six. Never loosing his competitive edge critics feel his encouraging odds reflect his status and history in the game rather than a fair representation of his current status.
C Villegas (40-1) is like a breath of fresh air to the golfing circuit, with to our mind hints of Payne Stewart’s exuberance and showmanship about his game and persona. Quite whether the new pin-up boy of the PGA and European Tour can raise his game to the higher echelons required to force him into contention at Augusta remains to be seen and the general consensus is that this year’s probably too early. His rise to prominence on these shores was cemented by his record-breaking Open Championship second round score of 65 last year at Birkdale, not to mention his chiselled looks and athletic physique bringing his presence to the attentions of a whole new golfing audience.
Jim Furyk (40-1) is the consummate golfing professional, bloody minded and determined as they come, with core components to take the tournament by the scruff of its neck and technically speaking the second best putter on the planet according to statistics. He’s got an intimidating all-round game yet to some flatters to deceive; a slight that is backed up by only a handful of important tournament wins during his career to date, despite being a regular in top ten finishes the world over. Early year indications again suggest he’ll make the grade at Augusta but as to what ultimate position in the order of merit he’ll find himself on Sunday evening is anyone’s guess.
Zach Johnson (40-1) is the 32 year old Masters champion who defied the odds – and his detractors – in 2007 who cited his lack of distance of the tee as his Achilles heel. However by playing them in regulation – and within his individual game – he relied on his short game and consistent putting to run out the eventual winner in face of stiff competition over the last couple of rounds. Sadly his game went largely off the boil in the aftermath of his surprise win which hardly bode well for someone who was in 2008 bidding to follow in the defending championship winning footsteps of a select triumvirate that still to date reads as Nicklaus, Faldo and Woods. Not where sensible money will be wagered, but he’s proved us all wrong before so who knows…
Justin Rose (50-1) has topped the US Masters for the last three years running, well, after the opening day’s play that is, yet usually cannot keep the pace up and falls away when it really matters. That said, the Englishman has always finished inside the top 40 for each of his four appearances, and that’s in spite posting a score of 75 or more seven times in 16 rounds of Augusta golf. Again, it’s very hard to decide one way or another.
Still, may we be as bold as to suggest an outside bet for honours this time round. Of course, a good – if not slightly ambitious – outside bet for honours might be Greg Norman. If not exactly looking to avenge for his misdemeanours of 13 years ago, then somewhat belatedly continuing what he started at Royal Birkdale at the 2008 Open Golf Championship, where he rolled back the advancing years in some style. At 300-1 you might fancy putting a quid on the one of the nicest guys in golf like we’ll be doing; just once we’ve decided which of the aforementioned is going to win the whole shooting match outright that is. After all the 2009 US Masters is being billed by a glut of seasoned observers as potentially being the most open tournament of the past ten years.
We can barely wait for the tournament to get under way on April the 9th.