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Our weekly pre-tournament ranking of the best bets to win at Augusta.
By Alex Myers
The 2018 Masters is quickly approaching and the list of green-jacket contenders seems longer than ever thanks to the emergence of some new talent and the revival of several old reliables. We’ve combed through all potential players—and their odds to win, according to Westgate Las Vegas Superbook—to come up with a top-13 ranking that is bound to change in the final weeks leading up to the first major of the year.
1. Dustin Johnson; Last week: No. 1
Photo by Warren Little/R&A/Getty Images
Reason to pick: A year ago, Johnson arrived at Augusta as the biggest Masters favourite not named Tiger Woods in decades. Provided he stays on his feet at his rental house this year, DJ is deserving of his favourite status.
Cause for concern: Although he finished T-4 in his last Masters start in 2016, Johnson has never seriously contended late on a Sunday in seven tries.
2. Justin Rose; Last week: No. 2
GOH CHAI HIN
Reason to pick: It’s still hard to believe Rose didn’t win last year after seemingly seizing control on the tournament’s 67th hole. Rose, coming off consecutive top 5s at Innisbrook and Bay Hill, has been Masters runner-up two of the past three years at Augusta National, and he hasn’t finished out of the top 25 at Augusta National in a decade.
Cause for concern: Is Rose this generation’s Ernie Els when it comes to coming close but never quite slipping on that green jacket?
3. Tiger Woods; Last week: No. 5
Sam Greenwood/Getty Image
Reason to pick: We questioned Tiger’s status as one of the favourites two weeks ago, but there’s no doubt following a runner-up at the Valspar Championship and another close call at Bay Hill that Woods currently has the game to win a fifth green jacket.
Cause for concern: Even in Woods’ most recent stint at No. 1 in 2013-’14, he was unable to snap his drought in majors that dates back to the 2008 U.S. Open. Overcoming the hurdle of winning again is tough enough, but doing it at a major will be extra difficult.
4. Phil Mickelson; Last week: No. 3
Chris Condon/PGA Tour
Reason to pick: Mickelson finally ended a winless drought that was approaching five years at the WGC-Mexico Championship, but Lefty’s entertaining victory didn’t come out of left field. At 47, he just had the first stretch of four consecutive top-six appearances of his career.
Cause for concern: Will the golf gods really let someone best Jack Nicklaus’ mark as oldest Masters champ in history?
5. Justin Thomas; Last week: No. 4
David Cannon/Getty Images
Reason to pick: Have you seen what he’s done everywhere other than Augusta in the past 16 months? It looks like it’s just a matter of time before JT gets to No. 1 in the world—and picks up green jacket No. 1.
Cause for concern: Thomas’ best Masters finish was a T-22. Weak. Oh, wait, he’s only played the tournament twice. Yeah, that’s not really a cause for concern then. . .
6. Rory McIlroy; Last week: Not ranked
Reason to pick: Rory may have left actual scorch marks on Bay Hill’s back nine after a blistering finish that gave him his first PGA Tour title since the 2016 Tour Championship. With the win, McIlroy jumped into our ranking for the first time (Sorry for doubting you, Rory) and jumpstarted the career Grand Slam conversation again.
Cause for concern: Before his sensational performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, McIlroy was putting like a, well, let’s just say he wasn’t putting like someone who could win the Masters. Whether Bay Hill was a blissful blip or Rory’s really found something remains to be seen.
7. Jason Day; Last week: No. 7
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Reason to pick: The Aussie nearly won in his Masters debut in 2011 and then followed that up with another close call in 2013. A win at Torrey Pines earlier this season shows the former World No. 1 is back on the right track after a difficult 2017.
