Golf
Who Is the Favorite to Win the 2020 Masters?
Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies. When Jack isn't writing about sports, he's watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He's also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.
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It’s not the middle of April, and the azaleas might be substituted for burnt orange leaves, but the 2020 Masters Tournament is here at last.
Golf‘s greatest tournament will begin this Thursday as the best in the world get set to compete for a green jacket in a unique, COVID-19 year. There’s no shortage of storylines going into this year’s tournament, and a slew of top-ranked players have a chance to emerge victorious. But who is the betting favorite in the 2020 Masters?
The Top 10
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It’s almost impossible to imagine a Masters Tournament in which Tiger Woods isn’t one of the favorites, but that’s exactly what we have this year. He hasn’t looked sharp in his last few appearances, and his odds are reflecting that. Woods is currently 33/1 to win the 2020 Masters.
The top 10 starts with a trio of capable players at the same price, and two of them already own a green jacket. Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed, and Hideki Matsuyama all sit at 28/1.
Then comes Patrick Cantlay at 25/1. Cantlay made some noise at Augusta National last year and finished T9. Brooks Koepka comes in next at 16/1, which is a cheaper price than normal for the bomber. Xander Schauffele is right in front of him at 14/1.
The top five start with Rory McIlroy (12/1), Justin Thomas (11/1), and Jon Rahm (10/1). Dustin Johnson, who finished right behind Woods in second place last year, slides in at 9/1.
All these names have a realistic chance of donning the green jacket this weekend, but none of them are the betting favorite.
Bryson DeChambeau is the odds-on favorite at the 2020 Masters
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Bryson DeChambeau has been the talk of the golf world ever since the 27-year-old bulked up and started hitting the ball to Jupiter. DeChambeau is hitting drives farther than anyone has in PGA Tour history, and he has a lethal putter to pair with his immense length.
DeChambeau won the last major championship at the 2020 U.S. Open, and he’s favored to win his second in a row at Augusta National. The bomber is priced at 8/1 to win his first green jacket in 2020.
Golf legend Jack Nicklaus is ecstatic to watch DeChambeau tear up those hallowed grounds this weekend. He even has a wild prediction for the bodybuilder disguised as a golfer.
“He could drive the 1st green,” Nicklaus told GOLF.com. “If it’s firm, he could drive the 1st green. Under the right conditions… I haven’t seen him in person hit a golf ball except on television at the U.S. Open, and of course at the Memorial tournament. He hit in some places I couldn’t believe. He was 27 yards from the 1st green at the Memorial tournament. I mean — come on. That hole is 470, something like that. If he could do that, he can drive the 1st green.”
How does DeChambeau triumph at Augusta?
DeChambeau made the U.S. Open look like your local municipal course in September. Winged Foot featured tight fairways, thick rough, and fast greens all weekend, and DeChambeau was the only player who conquered the course and finished under par.
Augusta National is completely different. The fairways are wide and the rough is almost non-existent. If DeChambeau can keep up his prolific driving of the golf ball, he’ll have wedge shots into almost every par-4 and short irons into the par-5s.
His iron and wedge play will be the difference this week. He will be in the best positions off the tee of anyone in the field. He just needs to take advantage.
All betting odds courtesy of Bovada as of 11/9
