Rory McIlroy is the betting favorite to win the Masters. REUTERS Prepare for bedlam at Augusta National on Sunday.
Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young are the co-leaders at 11-under par after three rounds, but there are six golfers within four shots of the pace-setters. And it’s not just the number of players within touching distance of the lead, but the quality.
Five-time PGA Tour winner Sam Burns is one shot back. Shane Lowry, a former Open Champion, is two back at 9-under. And then it’s Augusta specialists Justin Rose and Jason Day at 8-under. Right behind them at 7-under is some guy named Scottie Scheffler and Haotong Li.
As you can probably surmise from the bunched-up leaderboard, the oddsboard is a bettor’s delight.
McIlroy, the defending champion, is the clear favorite at +135, but he looked shaky on Saturday after carrying a big lead into Round 3. Young, who surged up the board with a 65 in Round 3, is the second choice at +240.
Burns, who has never finished better than T29 in his previous four starts at the Masters, is +700, while Scheffler is lurking at 10/1.
But the best value on the board entering play on Sunday is just a touch further down the board.
It’s exhausting to hold onto the lead at Augusta National, especially when things are this bunched up. That’s why I’d much prefer one of the chasers at a price than McIlroy, Young, or Burns.
And it’s easy to make an argument for one player in particular.
Justin Rose came into the Masters as a trendy pick at 30/1, and he’s given his backers plenty of reason to believe heading into the last 18 holes.
It’s incredibly difficult to play a steady brand of golf at Augusta, but Rose has done just that. He shot 2-under on Thursday and followed that up by flying 3-under par in each of the next two rounds. He’s had some white-hot stretches, but more importantly, he’s been able to avoid making a big number when he makes a mistake.
Justin Rose is playing in his 21st Masters. AP And while he hasn’t been able to put together a scorching round like Young, McIlroy, and Burns, we know he has that in his locker. He’s proven it time and again in his first 20 trips to Augusta National.
Although Rose has never won a Green Jacket, and will be feeling the pressure if he’s in contention on Sunday evening, his experience chasing down leaders at Augusta makes him a viable threat to pull off the stunner and win his first Masters a year after finishing runner-up for the third time in his illustrious career.
The Play: Justin Rose to win the Masters (14/1, BetMGM)
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
