PGA The Masters 2016 Preview And Picks
Ready for PGA The Masters 2016 betting predictions? The first Major of the season comes our way this weekend from Georgia and Augusta National.
One of the most anticipated stops on TOUR year-in and year-out, Augusta’s par 72, 7,435 yard track was rather forgiving the last couple of years after being one of the hardest events the pros would play – Jordan Spieth won with an almost unfathomable 18 under score last year.
The 2016 Masters
When: April 7 – 10, 2016
Location: Augusta National Golf Club Augusta, GA USA
Defending Champion: Jordan Spieth
Signature Hole: 13th Hole: 510 yards, par 5
Purse: US$8,000,000
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
That said hitting your spots off the tee box, excelling at the inevitably tough approach shots and conquering the notoriously tough greens will lead someone to the coveted Green Jacket this year.
With the excruciating par 3s and par 4s, scoring on the par 5s is essential this week. If you can survive the 3’s and 4’s chances are that you will be atop the leaderboard! Experience on this track, as always will also be a huge factor.
So who wins the first Major of the year? Let’s take a peek.
PGA The Masters 2016 Favorites:
Jason Day 13/2
The World #1 has an astounding six wins in his last 13 starts and arrives on a track that he’s never missed a cut and has a pair of top 3s – pretty hard to argue with Day being the favorite!!!
He will be after his second straight Major and if his recent back issues don’t stand in his way there is no reason he doesn’t contend this week.
Jordan Spieth 17/2
Defending champion arrives in a relative slump – his emotions were clearly on display last week at the Shell Houston Open – in a bad way. He hasn’t finished inside the top 10 in a Match Play event since January – shocking.
That said he has a runner-up finish and a win (in wire-to-wire fashion by four) in his only two appearances at the Masters – Augusta has a real chance to break his slump.
Not sure it happens though considering the current form of some of his adversaries.
Rory McIlroy 17/2
Has been a little erratic in 2016 thus far but has been inside the top five in two of his last three starts with zero wins on TOUR so far.
He has finished top 10 in his last two appearances at Augusta and he did have a four-stroke lead in the final round here in 2011 only to lose.
So we know that Rory has an affinity for this track. We all know about Rory’s talent – his motivation should be at an all-time high this week as he tries for the career-Grand Slam.
PGA The Masters 2016 Contenders:
Adam Scott 12/1
Champion here in 2013 recorded back-to-back wins at the Honda Classic and WGC-Cadillac Championship earlier this year but has been just OK since – making me wonder if he has peaked too soon.
He’s had four career top 10’s at the Masters three have come in the last five years and if his traditional putter can remain steady he has a chance to add his second green jacket.
Bubba Watson 12/1
The world No. 4 seems to play well here in even-numbered years – he won the Green Jacket in 2012 and 2014. His lead up to this event has been strong – a win in the Northern Trust Open and a second behind Adam Scott in the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
Power, touch, confidence and track history make Bubba a dangerous man indeed this week.
Dustin Johnson 15/1
DJ played well last week at the Shell Houston Open – he now has six top 20s this year. His track record here is surprisingly futile however – just one top 10 finish (that coming last year).
He went top 10 in three of the four majors last year – he WILL BE motivated for a big finish. He also has four Top 10’s and six Top 25’s in just seven events so far this year – consistently good. DJ will win a Major sooner than later – my guess is that it comes sooner.
Phil Mickelson 15/1
Three time winner of the Masters has played in this event a staggering 23 times – experience isn’t an issue!
He’s finished inside the top 10 fifteen times! Mickelson enters in pretty good form – five top 20s already this year (three top 10s) and his game is obviously well suited for this track. Phil always shows up at Augusta – this week should be no different.
Rickie Fowler 15/1
Has been very good this year and looks a lot like a guy that is due for a Major win. He has six top 10s in 2016 including a win in Abu Dhabi and has top 10s in his last two Masters appearances.
He’s the TOUR’s leader in the all-around and bogey avoidance, second on TOUR in greens in regulation and par-5 scoring, third in scoring average and total strokes gained – nuff said!
Henrik Stenson 25/1
Has somehow failed to finish top 10 in a Masters in his illustrious career but his current form has him firmly on the radar this week. The world’s best ball striker has three Top-11 finishes in five PGA TOUR events this year and another four Top-6 finishes in Europe.
His best result here was a T14 but we can throw that stat out – he’s peaking right now and ready to make some noise.
Louis Oosthuizen 25/1
Somehow missed the cut at that Shell Houston Open last week but other than that has been very good – six top 15s in his last eight starts, including a win in Perth and a solo second at the WGC-Dell Match Play.
He has three top 25s in his Masters career including a playoff loss in 2012 and may be due for a huge week in Georgia.
Justin Rose 30/1
Has finished inside the top 30 in five straight events – four have been top 20s. He finished T2 in this event last year and now has five straight top 25s on this track. He is under the radar based on his current OK form but I certainly have him in my sights.
The combination of a good all around game, experience here and decent current form make him an intriguing 30/1.
PGA The Masters 2016 Sleepers (50/1 or higher):
Danny Willett 50/1
Was T38 last year in his only Masters appearance but enters in some solid form.
In four PGA starts this year he has finished third twice at the WGC-HSBC Champions, WGC-Cadillac Championship against some pretty darn good fields and is currently third on TOUR in total strokes gained. Willett has been a force and will be out to make a little more noise this week.
Patrick Reed 50/1
Like him or not Reed may be due for a big week. He hasn’t won in a while but he has finished inside the top 10 in his last three starts. He sits third on TOUR in scrambling, finished T22 in this event last year and is about as confident/cocky as they come.
Translation – Reed is very good value at 50/1.
Matt Kuchar 65/1
Kuch has completely slipped off the radar! He has made eight of nine cuts at the Masters, with five top-25 finishes including a T3 in 2012. Quietly he has four top 15 finishes this year and has the experience and all-around game to make him better than a 65/1 shot!
PGA The Masters 2016 Picks:
I’m going a little down the line for my pick this week – Louis Oosthuizen at 25/1 despite missing the cut last week is my choice. Call it an educated hunch.
My sleeper is Danny Willett at 50/1 – his enters in good form and certainly isn’t scared of the best players in the world.
Do you like our predictions for this week’s PGA 2016 Masters? Comments welcome below.
Golf handicapper DAVE B weighs in each week with his top selections. Including top picks and sleepers!
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