2008 Masters Predictions & Golf Preview
June 8, 2008
The most popular Major Tournament of them all starts Thursday, April 10th in Augusta Georgia. The 2008 Masters has the world picking Tiger Woods to win at 1/1 odds and even money. That makes Woods the heaviest favorite ever to win a major championship. Obviously you wouldn’t be getting much value with a wager on Tiger here, but there are many other golfers in the field to consider putting your money down on. Tiger hasn’t won since 2005 so there is a very good chance he won’t be winning this year either with the best field of the year trying to take him down. Below Larry gives you a few different players to consider with his 2008 Masters predictions and the odds that go along with each participant.
Zach Johnson at 50/1 odds to win 2008 Masters
We have to start with the 2007 Masters Champion in Zach Johnson. Most people felt Johnson’s win was a fluke, but if you look at his previous year’s performance and his success in the state of Georgia, Zach’s win was far from a fluke. He finished in a tie for 32nd in 2006 with a 5-over par finish. Johnson’s game fits perfectly for this tournament that favors straight hitters and brilliant putters. Johnson is one of the best putters we have on tour. Johnson’s second victory last year also came in Georgia at the AT&T classic. He won that tournament with a birdie on his first playoff hole. Johnson has proven he can handle the pressure with nerves of steel when he has the flat stick in his hand. Look for another good showing this season with Zach Johnson at 50/1 odds to win the 2008 Masters.
Tigers Woods at 1/1 odds to win the 2008 Masters
Tiger has won this event in 3 of the last 7 years. It’s tough to bet against this guy with the way he is playing right now. Plus, he will be even more hungry to win considering he finally lost an event his last time out. But Tiger lipped out 11 putts at the World Golf CA Championship to let Geoff Ogilvy take down the crown. Tiger is #1 in greens in regulation this year and #2 in scrambling. So that means when he does rarely miss a green, he gets his ball up and down almost every time. Tiger lives for the big stage and if you want to take the chance at even money here, it might not be a bad move. Tiger has finished in the Top 3 at the Masters in each of the last 3 years.
Ernie Els at 28-1 odds to win the 2008 Masters
Ernie Els is a solid selection to win the 2008 Masters. Els finally has a little confidence under his belt after winning his first event since 2004 in this year’s Honda Classic. Els found ways to lose in previous seasons, but now he finally knows he has what it takes to win by playing great golf down the stretch of the Honda Classic. Since 2000, Ernie Els has a pair of runner-up finishes at the Masters and he has placed in the Top6 of this event in 5 of the last 8 years overall. His career 71.92 scoring average in 52 rounds played at Augusta shows that Els knows how to manage his way around this golf course.
K.J. Choi at 33/1 odds to win the 2008 Masters
K.J. Choi finds himself 5th in the FedEx Cup standings after a nice start to the 2008 season. Choi won the Sony Open in Hawaii and has 5 finishes in the Top 12 this season out of the 8 events he has played. Choi has been in the thick of things at the Masters in 4 of the last 5 years, including a 3rd place finish in 2004. Choi has never shot a round worse than 76 in the 18 rounds he has played at Augusta in the last 5 years. His consistency automatically gives Choi a shot to win this prestigious event. Considering last year’s winner shot 1-over par and there is a good chance the 2008 Masters champion will do the same, Choi is showing great value at 33/1 odds here.
Mike Weir at 66/1 odds to win the 2008 Masters
Weir took down the 2003 Masters Green crown in dramatic fashion. He sank a clutch seven-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to force a playoff, then defeated Len Mattiace on the first extra hole to claim the Green Jacket. He is one of only four champions to score a bogey-free final round. This memory gives Weir the confidence to compete each year he enters this Major. In the last 8 years of the Masters, Weir has made the cut in all but 1 year and has never finished worse than 28th place. A 5th place finish in 2005, 11th in 2006 and 20th in 2007 show that Weir really has a great feel for this course at Augusta. Weir hit a straight ball and rolls the flat stick as good as anyone here. Those two factors give Weir a fighting chance at 66/1 odds here.
Below I have listed the odds of all players in the field so you can make your 2008 Masters predictions to try and rake in a little extra cash this year. Just go to Bodoglife and sign up for an account so you can bet on the most prestigious Major of the year.
Tiger Woods 1/1
Phil Mickelson 10/1
Vijay Singh 18/1
Ernie Els 28/1
Padraig Harrington 25/1
Retief Goosen 28/1
Adam Scott 25/1
Justin Rose 33/1
Jim Furyk 33/1
Geoff Ogilvy 20/1
K.J. Choi 33/1
Luke Donald 40/1
Henrik Stenson 50/1
Sergio Garcia 50/1
Steve Stricker 50/1
Zach Johnson 50/1
Rory Sabbatini 50/1
Mike Weir 66/1
Lee Westwood 66/1
Angel Cabrera 66/1
Stuart Appleby 66/1
Aaron Baddeley 66/1
Tim Clark 66/1
Stewart Cink 66/1
Trevor Immelman 80/1
J.B. Holmes 80/1
Paul Casey 80/1
Andres Romero 80/1
Daniel Chopra 80/1
Robert Allenby 80/1
Sean O’Hair 80/1
Scott Verplank 100/1
Hunter Mahan 100/1
Fred Couples 50/1
Chris Dimarco 100/1
Boo Weekley 100/1
Brandt Snedeker 100/1
Charles Howell III 100/1
Jose Maria Olazabal 125/1
David Toms 125/1
Stephen Ames 125/1
Camilo Villegas 125/1
Ian Poulter 125/1
Niclas Fasth 125/1
Nick Watney 150/1
Rod Pampling 150/1
Mark Calcavecchia 150/1
Nick O’Hern 150/1
Miguel Angel Jimenez 150/1
Arron Oberholser 150/1
Jonathan Byrd 150/1
Robert Karlsson 150/1
Brett Wetterich 150/1
John Senden 200/1
Darren Clarke 200/1
Bernhard Langer 200/1
Jeev M Singh 200/1
Richard Sterne 200/1
John Rollins 200/1
Vaughn Taylor 200/1
Steve Flesch 200/1
Nick Dougherty 200/1
Woody Austin 150/1
Bubba Watson 200/1
The Field ( Any Other Golfer) 16/1
