Masters 2011 Sports Betting – Masters Tournament 72-Hole Group

The favorite to win the Masters Tournament this year is Phil “Lefty” Mickelson at +600 Masters 2011 sports betting.  Second choice is Tiger Woods at +850.

Because the odds on the favorites to win the first major of the year are north of +500, the sports book odds makers have included the faves into one of the groups for the 72-Hole Group betting category.  Both Phil and El Tigre show up in Group A.  I not only analyze and hand out a free pick to win Group A but I also analyze and hand out a free pick to win Group B through D.  Check out analysis and free picks below!

Masters Tournament:  72-Hole Group

When:  April 7 – April 10, 2011

Where:  Augusta National GC, Augusta, Georgia

Course:  par 72, 7435 yards 

TV:  ESPN, CBS

Group A:  Phil Mickelson +160, Tiger Woods +280, Lee Westwood +400, Nick Watney +450, Martin Kaymer +600

Analysis:  What a ridiculously tough group.  Lefty is going off at Masters 2011 sports betting odds well below what I deem to be fair to beat such a terrific group of golfers.  Tiger’s a throw out, in my opinion, and should be the underdog in this group, not Martin Kaymer.  I’m backing Watney who finished seventh at the 2010 Masters Tournament and won the WGC-Cadillac this year.  Nick-dub has scored with 5 Top 10 finishes out of 6 tournaments played in 2011.  

Pick:  Nick Watney

Group B:  Dustin Johnson +280, Rory McIlroy +300, Paul Casey +320, Justin Rose +350, Bubba Watson +400

Analysis:  DJ’s second place finish at the WGC-Cadillac was nice but he followed it up by missing the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.  This is another situation where the favorite has been overvalued by the odds makers.  DJ is a throw out.  The golfer to back in this group is, without any doubt in my mind, Bubba Watson who ranks second on the PGA Tour in greens in regulation and distance off the tee.  Bubba also leads the PGA Tour in par-5 scoring average meaning that he could tear it up at Augusta on the long holes.  I have to love how he’s the dog in this group at +400.

Pick:  Bubba Watson

Group C:  Luke Donald +220, Hunter Mahan +280, Matt Kuchar +320, Steve Stricker +450, Graeme McDowell +420

Analysis:  Donald and Mahan certainly have a shot to win this group, but Stricker and McDowell aren’t playing very well at this point in the PGA Tour Season.  What’s up with the terrific Masters 2011 sports betting odds on Matty K?  +320 on Kuchar to only beat Stricker, McDowell, Donald and Hunter?  That’s a misprint, right?  Matt finished third at the WGC-Accenture, fifth at the WGC-Cadillac and eighth at the Shell Houston Open in 3 out of his last 4 tournaments played.  Kuchar is the one to back to win this group.

Pick:  Matt Kuchar

Group D:  Anthony Kim +300, Ian Poulter +300, Padraig Harrington +320, Aaron Baddeley +350, KJ Choi +380 

Analysis:  I’m a big AK fan, but I don’t think we’re going to see a third place finish at Augusta from Anthony this week like what we saw last year.  I’m not big on Poulter, Baddeley or Padraig.  KJ Choi is the man to back in the Masters 2011 sports betting book to win this group.  Choi missed the cut at the Transitions Championship but followed up that horrible tournament with a sixth place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.  Choi finished fourth at the 2010 Masters Tournament.  I like KJ to get it going this week and produce a stunning Top 10 finish to easily win Group D.  

Pick:  KJ Choi