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Tag: Green Jacket

  • The 88th Masters | Scheffler ticks Augusta box for second Green Jacket

    The 88th Masters | Scheffler ticks Augusta box for second Green Jacket

    Major season kicks off this week with the 88th Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.

    In a PGA Tour season that returned to a calendar year format, the sights of Magnolia Lane are a sight for sore eyes.

    As Jon Rahm returns to the Peach State to defend the Green Jacket, it is perennial number 1 rival Scottie Scheffler who looks primed.

    The New Jersey native is the bookies’ overwhelming pick to make a second trip to the Butler Cabin.

    But in a season with no less than five maiden PGA Tour winners already, can we pluck any names to feature that could pocket punters a return?

     

    Scheffler in box seat

    Once again, Scottie Scheffler carries a huge wave of backing into a major and with good reason.

    The 2022 Masters champion, the 27-year-old comes here off a successful defence of the Players Championship at Sawgrass last month.

    Prior to that a weekend before, Scheffler won a second Arnold Palmer Invitational.

    The American won at Bay Hill also in 2022; for omen-seekers, he then claimed his first Green Jacket a month later.

    Not only that, the New Jersey native tops the statistics across the board on the PGA Tour this term.

    Leading the rankings in scoring average, birdie average, green approach as well as greens in regulation, the newly-hirsute Scheffler is a man in form.

    A hotter favourite than for many a year, the front-runner can be fetched to win a second Green Jacket at a best price of 4/1 for 10 places with Betfred.

    However, a focal point of many a final round this term, Scheffler has not converted regularly, so who could challenge?

     

    Schauffele, Clark can feature

    As major season begins at Augusta, once again, the contenders are queuing up.

    For once, the little-to-no form of Rory McIlroy is leaving the Northern Irishman in the dark with pundits; that could finally be McIlroy’s friend as he looks to seal the Grand Slam.

    For the moment, there looks to be two main men in the frame for the 88th Masters, Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark.

    In the case of the former, the Californian is one of the form horses with a scoring average second only to Scheffler.

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    Augusta has been a fond playing ground for Schauffele in the past, so could 2024 finally be his time to break the major drought?

    A tied runner-up behind Tiger Woods’ in 2019, Schauffele has three top 10 finishes in Georgia and could be a smart 16/1 pick for 8 places with 888sport.

    Clark, meanwhile, already has a victory this term in the Pebble Beach Pro Am, and proved his major credentials in Los Angeles last summer.

    The current US Open champion, Clark carries longer odds of 28/1 for 8 places with BoyleSports.

    Two names from the Tour at big prices, both Corey Conners and Denny McCarthy could be big players this week.

    Winners of previous Masters will attest to the significance of finding the greens and Conners is second this term for greens in reg.

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    The Canadian finished T6 two years back, and 70/1 for 8 places looks huge.

    McCarthy, meanwhile, makes his Augusta bow and is second in scrambling this season; a key facet of any major winner.

    The Marylander was last season the best putter around and only last weekend was beaten in a play-off by Akshay Bhatia in the Valero Texas Open.

    If he can follow through his form, McCarthy can be prominent at a 100/1 smash-up.

     

    Rahm leads LIV charge; Niemann form

    Major season sees the best players in the game assemble once more, including a reunion with the LIV Golf League crowd.

    Now a joint venture with the PGA and DP World Tour, members of Greg Norman’s breakaway competition may be given a warmer welcome than last year.

    The warmest of those will be for the defending champ, Jon Rahm, however, his form is anything but gleaming.

    Having joined LIV at the end of last year, Rahm’s lack of form has spilled over from a winless year elsewhere on the Tour, so can he end the drought this week?

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    Of the returning troupe, Joaquin Niemann looks a good punt to do well.

    A winner of half the events played in 2024, the Chilean was victorious in both Mexico and most recently Jeddah last month.

    Niemann makes his fourth visit to Augusta this week, with an ever-improving record.

    T40 on debut in 2021, he moved up to T35 a year later and last year recorded a best of T16.

    With experience under his belt, Niemann looks a smart bet at 25/1 for 8 places with William Hill.

    Then of course, there is the weighty presence of Brooks Koepka.

    The current PGA Champion, Koepka came so close last year, surrendering a four-stroke final round lead.

    A five-time major winner, the Floridian is likely to feature again at a still decent 18/1 for 8 places.

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    One other LIV name to watch this week, Dustin Johnson could be a surprise package.

    Yet to add to his major collection since the pandemic Masters, DJ was a winner in Las Vegas back in February.

    Johnson won the Green Jacket four years ago as an 8/1 shot; this week he holds a far stronger 40/1 for 7 places with BetUK.

    The DJ could yet Master Augusta again.

     

    Can Tiger make cut?

    If punters are looking at different take for the 88th Masters, it could come from a returning icon.

    Tiger Woods is set to play just his second tournament this year, after pulling out of the Genesis in February.

    The five-time Masters champion competes in his 26th Masters, looking to make the cut for a record-breaking 24th time.

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    Currently holding that stat alongside Gary Player and Fred Couples, his chances look reasonable to make the weekend.

    Making the cut last year but forced to withdraw due to the Georgia deluge on the Saturday, the conditions 12 months on look favourable with warm weather.

    Woods always rises to the occasion at Augusta and a 5/6 shot to make the cut with a decent wager is tempting.

     

    The 88th Masters begins on Thursday at the Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia.

  • The 87th Masters: Latest betting with Koepka in charge

    The 87th Masters: Latest betting with Koepka in charge

    As the opening major of the season heads into the weekend, the 87th Masters look likely to add another name to the Champions Locker Room.

    With Brooks Koepka holding a commanding lead into the third round, the American leads by three strokes after carding a 65-67 across his opening 36 holes.

    As weather forced an early suspension of play on Friday evening, second rounds were yet to be concluded and play on Saturday is in serious doubt.

    So will Koepka complete his journey to the Butler Cabin? Here’s the market latest.

     

    Imperious Koepka

    After picking up back-to-back US Open and PGA Championships, many expected Koepka to add a Green Jacket in no time.

    Indeed, after coming runner-up to Tiger Woods in his own sensational fifth Masters victory in 2019, Koepka’s entrance into the Butler Cabin seemed inevitable.

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    However, after injury, the Floridian struggled with his game and after then leaving the PGA Tour for LIV last year, many wondered if Koepka would ever get the chance again.

    Again healthy and motivated to prove a point, Koepka has been dominant up to this point this week and is 11/8 with BetVictor to win his fifth major.

     

    Can ‘Rahmbo’ charge?

    Weather was forecast to play a major role in this year’s tournament and sure enough, conditions turned decidedly cooler, windier and wetter late on Friday when play was suspended.

    With Saturday looking sketchy to say the least, it is possible that a fifth day may be needed.

    After play was suspended early, much could swing on the resumption of the second round and for now, the closest to Koepka is defending US Open champion, Jon Rahm.

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    A Masters best of fourth in 2018, the Spaniard would love to follow in the footsteps of Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia and the great, Seve Ballesteros.

    Rahm will need to keep his often fiery temper cool in what will be difficult conditions, but to win the Green Jacket from here is 2/1 with BoyleSports.

     

    Jason’s Day?

    One of our big picks of the week, had it not been for a forgettable final four holes on Friday, Jason Day would be in a considerably stronger position.

    Sitting at -9 on the 15th tee, the Australian marked a double-bogey 7 on his card and dropped two further shots to end on -5.

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    Seven off the lead, Day quietly moved up the leaderboard through Friday though and is back to his best form on both fairway and green.

    But is his chance for a second major now gone? A 28/1 shot, again with BoyleSports says otherwise.

     

    Elsewhere, defending champion Scottie Scheffler was out of sorts in hitting a 75 on Friday and starts the weekend a full 11 shots off the pace.

    Can Scheffler stage a comeback? A 13/2 shot with Betfred for a top 5 finish is still manageable.

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    Sam Bennett, meanwhile, has enjoyed a stunning Masters debut.

    Set to be crowned Leading Amateur by some distance, the Texan has dropped just one shot so far this week.

    It would be no surprise to see the 23-year-old fall off somewhat over the weekend, but remains spurred on by the motivation of his father’s passing.

    A 18/5 punt with PariMatch for the same top 5 finish, looks inviting.

  • The 87th Masters preview: Scheffler defends Green Jacket as LIVGolf stars return

    The 87th Masters preview: Scheffler defends Green Jacket as LIVGolf stars return

    With spring in the air, for golf fans, April can only mean one thing: The Masters.

    As the 87th edition of arguably the most prestigious major on the calendar begins on Thursday, the arrival of major season is more highly anticipated than for some considerable time.

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    Not only will 2023 see both a Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup later in the year, but as the golfing fraternity roll into the Augusta National this week, amongst them present will be the exiled stars of LIVGolf.

    Making a first appearance after leaving the PGA Tour last year, former winners drive up on Magnolia Lane looking to put the cat amongst the pigeons. And azaleas.

    This year’s edition looks set to be epic.

     

    Imperious Scheffler

    For Scottie Scheffler, the Masters represents his first chance to defend a major title after claiming the Green Jacket 12 months ago.

    And he could take some stopping.

    Fresh from a five-stroke Players Championship victory at Sawgrass last month, the New Jersey native is once again world number one.

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    Runner-up to Matt Fitzpatrick in the US Open at Brookline last June, the 26-year-old finished T8 or better in all four majors last term.

    This season, Scheffler has already added a second Tour crown by defending the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

    Not only that, the defending champ has no less than seven T7 finishes this term.

    Top of the charts off the tee, from tee and green and for greens in reg, Scheffler is 7/1 for 8 places with William Hill.

     

    Can McIlroy seal Grand Slam?

    Or, could this year’s trip to the Peach State finally see the crowing glory for Rory McIlroy?

    Now close to nine years since his last major win at Valhalla in 2014, the Northern Irishman’s game has perhaps returned to the same level.

    With a new driver in the bag, McIlroy has been better off the tee than ever this term and despite again missing the cut at Sawgrass, was third in the WGC Matchplay a fortnight back.

    In the past, the Briton has struggled with the pressure of sealing the career Grand Slam, but with his accuracy at a very high level right now, McIlroy looks poised.

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    Despite missing another high-profile cut in 2021, the four-time major champ has finished at least T5 or better in half his last eight appearances at Augusta.

    Though his iconic bunker play at the 18th on Sunday last year proved in the end forlorn, McIlroy’s 64 proved he still can do it at Augusta.

    So will 2023 be his time? McIlroy is favourite with some bookmakers and 13/2 for 8 places with BoyleSports.

     

    LIV Golfers to add Masters spice

    If the Masters itself wasn’t enough to fire up the cylinders for major season, the LIVGolf crew are in town.

    After the Augusta National in December made the decision not to alter their qualifying criteria, that meant former major winners past and present would be on show; including those from Greg Norman’s rebel alliance.

    The most recent major winner, Cam Smith will be front and centre after winning the Claret Jug at St. Andrews last summer.

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    There will also be five other former winners of the Green Jacket from LIV in attendance; Charl Schwartzel, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed and most recent victor, Dustin Johnson.

    All six look capable of throwing the iron of controversy into the fire but we’re looking a bet special with SBK in this case.

    Indeed, you can claim your money back as a free bet, up to £10, if any of the breakaway LIV Golfers win.

     

    The contenders; back Day to figure

    Elsewhere, of the leading names that could figure, Jason Day looks a prime candidate.

    Without a major or Tour victory in five years, the 2015 PGA Champion appears to have left his health issues behind.

    Runner-up to Charl Schwartzel at Augusta 12 years ago after the South African’s remarkable 4-2-3-3 finish, Day has three T5 finishes in Georgia.

    This season, recapturing his very best with six top 10 finishes, Day looks good value to feature at 25/1 with 888Sport.

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    Or, how about compatriot Min Woo Lee?

    Having played just five majors, the 24-year-old from Perth is coming up on the rails.

    T14 on his Masters debut last time out, the Australian was also T6 at Sawgrass and could be a real force here at 66/1 with BetVictor.

    Another British challenge meanwhile, could come from Tyrrell Hatton.

    Long talked up as a major winner in waiting, further success for the winner of the Arnold Palmer in 2020 has yet to materialise.

    However, after carding a stunning final round 65 in the Players, claiming second place behind Scheffler was a fitting consolation.

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    In six Masters showings, Hatton’s best came in a T18 two years ago.

    Looking to follow in the footsteps of messrs Faldo and more recently Danny Willett, Hatton, to be the third English winner of the Green Jacket can be had at 45/1 with Betfred.

    Finally, another player of real consistency to note, Corey Conners may be in the perfect position after winning the Valero Texas Open for a second time last weekend.

    Of the four majors, the Canadian has performed best at the Masters with a best of T6 last year.

    It would be no surprise to see the putting maestro revelling on the greens at 45/1 with William Hill.