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The 2024 golf season is off and running, and with March drawing to a close, attention turns to Augusta and the first major of the calendar. It’s the 88th Masters, Apr. 11th-14th, featuring the best golfers in the world going after that green jacket.
With its combination of beauty, history and “treachery,” Augusta National is among the truly iconic courses in the world, challenging the elite of any tour (PGA, LIV, Champions, European, etc.). Here’s a fortnight-early look ahead to the 2024 Masters, along with our selection…
Favorite No Surprise
Scottie Scheffler has continued to rebuff LIV tour offers, all the while becoming the biggest name on the PGA Tour by a wide margin.
Scheffler is the prohibitive 9-2 (+450) favorite to win the first major of the season, according to Masters golf odds. It’s difficult to go against the 2022 champ, especially with wins at the Arnold Palmer and The Players Championship on his resume in 2024.
Is there a Grand Slam (Masters, PGA, U.S. and British Opens) on the horizon in 2024? It’s a 100-1 (+10000) shot, as per golf major odds.
If Not Scheffler
It’s not the Masters without reason, so not many stiffs out there. Thus, if you think Scottie Scheffler is a somewhat vulnerable favorite, and you’re right, there are chances to collect.
Rory McIlroy is the 10-1 (+1000) second choice at Augusta National. He’s struggled on this course, having missed the cut last season. McIlroy hasn’t played well in stateside tournaments in 2024, so taking him to win what would be his fifth major at Augusta might be a leap of faith.
Defending champ Jon Rahm is currently 11-1 (+1100), third choice in the wagering. The Spaniard left the PGA to play on the LIV tour, but the Masters is a non-PGA event.
Others in Mix
Part of the “fun” of August National is the way it emasculates some of the best golfers in the world. Scoring is generally tight throughout the competition, with some exceptions. Jon Rahm (-12) was a four-shot winner last season.
There are a number of marquee golfers priced at 20-1 (+2000) to win the Masters, including 2015 Masters winner Jordan Spieth, Xander Schaufele (second here in ‘19), Brooks Koepka (three PGA Championships) and Viktor Hovland, winner of the FedEx Cup last season.
Each has won prestigious tournaments throughout their careers, so no one-hit wonders here.
Other recent Masters champions are priced at 25-1 (+2500, Hideki Matsuyama [2021 winner]), 33-1 (+3300, Dustin Johnson [2020]) and 60-1 (+6000, Patrick Reed [2018]), respectively.
Then, there’s Tiger Woods, making his 26th appearance at Augusta going after a record-tying sixth title (his last win in 2019). He’s at 100-1 (+10000) to find some of that old magic.
McIlroy the Master
Rory McIlroy has not won a major tournament since 2014’s PGA Championship and British Open, and never prevailed at Augusta National. One of the best golfers of the past two decades, McIlroy needs a Masters to complete the career grand slam.
As was mentioned, he missed the cut last season, It’s not as if McIlroy hasn’t had his chances at Augusta, (see 2011, leader after three rounds, then final round of 80).
Scottie Scheffler and Jomn Rahm are tough, but at some point, McIlroy is going to get it done. He hasn’t done his best work to this point in the season, but at 10-1 (+1000), he’s too enticing.
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
