"You don't come to Augusta to find your game. You come here because you've got one." -- Gene Sarazen (1902 to 1999), winner of seven Majors, including the 1935 Masters
I don’t know about you, but I love Masters week – and the PGA Championship week and U.S. Open week and The (British) Open Championship. The Majors are different because every golfer gives his dead level best to win. If you win a Major, your life is changed forever. The golf is always great in a Major, but the drama is even greater.
Last year, Jordan Spieth and Tiger were the favorites, but it was the relatively unknown, 50-1 Patrick Reed who put on the green jacket.
|
Player/2018 Finish |
Odds |
Player |
Odds |
|
Jordan Spieth – 3rd |
10/1 |
Hideki Matsuyama – 19th |
35/1 |
|
Tiger Woods – Tie 32 |
10/1 |
Sergio Garcia - Cut |
35/1 |
|
Dustin Johnson – Tie 10 w/ Tony Finau |
12/1 |
Alex Noren - Cut |
40/1 |
|
Justin Thomas - Tie 17 |
12/1 |
Henrik Stenson – Tie 5 |
45/1 |
|
Rory McIlroy – Tie 5 |
12/1 |
Matt Kuchar – Tie 28 |
45/1 |
|
Bubba Watson – Tie 5 |
15/1 |
Patrick Reed – 1st |
50/1 |
|
Justin Rose – Tie 12 |
15/1 |
Tommy Fleetwood – Tie 5 |
50/1 |
|
Phil Mickelson – Tie 36 |
15/1 |
Ian Poulter – Tie 44 |
60/1 |
|
Jason Day – Tie 20 |
20/1 |
L. Oosthuizen – Tie 12 |
60/1 |
|
Jon Rahm – 4th |
25/1 |
Adam Scott – Tie 32 |
66/1 |
|
Paul Casey – Tie 15 |
25/1 |
B. DeChambeau – Tie 38 |
66/1 |
|
Rickie Fowler – 2nd |
25/1 |
Marc Leishman – 9th |
70/1 |
Currently, Rory McIlroy, who has won every Major but the Masters, is the favorite (7-1), while Tiger Woods, who has won the Masters four times, but whose last Major victory was the 2008 U.S. Open, is again ranked way up there (14-1) by a hoard of VERY wishful thinkers.
|
Player |
Odds |
Player |
Odds |
|
Rory McIlroy |
7 -1 |
Tommy Fleetwood |
25-1 |
|
Dustin Johnson |
9-1 |
Bryson DeChambeau |
25-1 |
|
Justin Rose |
12-1 |
Jason Day |
25-1 |
|
Tiger Woods (97, 01, 02 & 05 champion) |
14-1 |
Paul Casey |
28-1 |
|
Jon Rahm |
16-1 |
Bubba Watson (2012 & 2014 champion) |
33-1 |
|
Justin Thomas |
18-1 |
Hideki Matsuyama |
33-1 |
|
Jordan Spieth (2015 champion) |
20-1 |
Phil Mickelson (2004, 06 & 10 champion) |
40-1 |
|
Rickie Fowler |
20-1 |
Xander Schauffele |
40-1 |
|
Brooks Koepka |
22-1 |
Patrick Reed (2018 champion) |
40-1 |
|
Francesco Molinari |
22-1 |
Sergio Garcia (2017 champion) |
45-1 |
Of course, while Las Vegas has its odds, which are based on where the money is going, not who the bookmakers actually believe will win, the majority of the experts are going with Rory McIlroy, the No. 3 ranked player in the world.
Kyle Porter, CBS Sports – 1. Rory McIlroy 2. Justin Rose 3. Justin Thomas 4. Dustin Johnson 5. Jon Rahm 13. Tiger Woods.
On McIlroy: “Did you expect to find somebody else who has finished in the top 10 in five straight Masters and hasn't finished outside the top 10 in any event worldwide this calendar year?”
Alex Myers, Golf World – 1. Dustin Johnson 2. Rory McIlroy 3. Justin Rose 4. Jon Rahm 5. Brooks Koepka 8. Tiger Woods.
On Koepka: “He’s the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year and he’s won three of the past six Majors he’s teed it up in.”
Heavy.com – 1. Rory McIlroy 2. Jon Rahm 3. Justin Rose 4. Tiger Woods 5. Jordan Spieth.
On Woods: “Woods is not surging, but he has been dependable in 2019. He has finished in the Top 15 in two of the last three tournaments. Woods knows this course as well as anyone but fell out of contention last year finishing T-32.
Alan Shipnuck, Golf.com senior writer: “Justin Rose. So many close calls (5 Top 10s) on that golf course — it’s time to finally cash one in.”
Pat Ralph, Golf.com associate editor: “Dustin Johnson. DJ has been knocking on the door at Augusta with three straight Top 10 finishes and he’s already got two wins so far in 2019. This year he finally gets his own green jacket.”
Brentley Romine, Golf Channel: 1. Rory McIlroy 2. Justin Rose 3. Dustin Johnson 4. Justin Thomas 5. Jon Rahm 9. Tiger Woods.
On Rahm: “He’s coming off a solo fourth last year in just his second trip to Augusta National. He’s one of the best drivers of the golf ball on Tour, but his chances of winning will come down to iron play.”
Steve Bamford – golfbettingsystem.co.uk: “Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy (are my co-favorites). Of those two, there’s no statistical reason to suggest that neither will win.”
Okay, while Rory is the favorite for two good reasons – he hits the ball a long way and his putting has been better – the odds are against him. Simply put, the Vegas favorite rarely wins. That is why The Committee’s Top 5 picks are: 1. Rickie Fowler (It’s time for the No. 9-ranked golfer in the world to win his first Major.) 2. Jordan Spieth 3. Rory McIlroy 4. Brooks Koepka. 5. Francesco Molinari 20. Tiger Woods. Cut. Phil Mickelson. TIP OF THE DAY: Tiger will not win the 2019 Masters!
Special Note: Don’t’ dismiss my picks lightly. Last year I won our club’s Masters pool!
Play Away!
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Belatedly getting around to reading this post. Could you please advise who will “not win” the 2019 Open Championship. I have a small wager I’d like to make.
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