2015 US Masters exotic betting markets and best bets

THE US Masters is the most exciting golf tournament in the world, and that means the bookmakers loosen up and offer plenty of exotic betting options.

For those wanting to bet on the tournament winner, this isn’t for you, but if you are wanting to find value, then we have some of the more unique exotic options coming your way.

Our friends at Sportsbet.com.au have over 70 exotic betting markets available, ranging from individual player markets to which player will hit the longest drive on average.

We’ll take a look at the options that some punters may have missed the opportunity to bet on.

The Masters, more than any other tournament, is a place where magic seems to happen every year in one form or another.

We hope that over the next four days, that when that magic comes, you’re celebrating just as hard as the golfers!

Top average driving distance

Who thinks of a betting option involving the average driving distance in golf? Sportsbet.com.au do and they have featured a list of 16 players which can take out the long ball title.

Firstly, we’ll explain the rules of this bet. This option isn’t about which player will hit the longest drive at Augusta, it’s about which player will average the longest driving distance, so there’s a few things we need to account for here.

Some players can bomb it off the tee, but can they do it consistently? The market currently has Bubba Watson as the favourite at $3.60 with Dustin Johnson on the second line at $4.33.

Out of those two players, Watson will hit the longest ball but Johnson is far more consistent and that plays a major factor into this bet.

Other players fancied in the market are; Rory McIlroy ($5.50), JB Holmes ($12), Brooks Koepka ($12) and Gary Woodland at $14.

Outside chances feature Jason Day at $21, Adam Scott at $23 and the always exciting Sergio Garcia at $151.

We’re favouring Rory McIlroy to hot a consistent long ball and take this exotic bet out at $5.50 at Sportsbet.com.au.

Top lefty

There isn’t much to this exotic betting option, you only need to pick which of the four left-handed golfers will finish first.

Bubba Watson – $1.57
Phil Mickelson – $2.75
Brian Harman – $10
Mike Weir – $51

You can all but eliminate past champion Mike Weir already. The Canadian player has had injury problems since winning in 2003 and he’s only in the field because of his Masters exemption.

This looks to be a two-player race between Watson and Mickelson. Watson has won twice at Augusta and the course suits his style perfectly.

Phil Mickelson’s form hasn’t been flash in recent years but he does play his best golf at Augusta and he did finish in a tie for 17th at the Houston Open last month, so he’s a chance but we’re sticking with Bubba at $1.57 and adding him into our multi-bets.

WilliamHill.com.au exotic markets

WilliamHill.com.au haven’t gone to the extent that Sportsbet have in the exotic betting world but they are offer a handful of fifty-fifty exotic options.

Will there be a playoff?

Yes – $3.50
No – $1.30

At first thought you would think the odds of having a playoff in the Masters would be slim, but lets look at the recent history.

Adam Scott defeated Angel Cabrera in 2013 to claim his first Masters title and Bubba Watson prevailed over Louis Oosthuizen the year prior.

Other recent Masters playoffs have come in 2009 (Cabrera vs. Perry vs. Campbell), 2005 (Woods vs. DiMarco) and Mike Weir vs. Len Mattiace in 2003.

That’s five playoffs in the last 12 years so the $3.50 represents good statistical value at WilliamHill.com.au.

Will there be a hole-in-one?

Yes – $1.80
No – $2

Hole-in-ones are more common at Augusta than you would think, hence the closeness in the market.

Through 2013 there had been 24 hole-in-ones made in The Masters, by 24 different golfers. Australians Nathan Green (2010) and Adam Scott (2012) have been the most recent local golfers to score an ace and we believe someone will get the crowd excited this year.

Will there be an Albatross scored?

Yes – $10
No – $1.03

The unofficial odds of scoring an albatross (double-eagle) is six-million-to-one, which is why WilliamHill.com.au are offering $10 for one to be scored.

The last professional golfer to score a hole-in-one at Augusta was South African Louis Oosthuizen in 2012 on his way to becoming runner up to Bubba Watson.

There have been four scored in Masters history so the odds aren’t in your favour, but the $10 odds are juicy.

McIlroy’s winning margin

Sportsbet are offering this exotic bet which assumes the Northern Irishman will win the 2015 Masters, but they want to know by how many strokes.

The world number one is favoured to win in a playoff at $21, just ahead of ‘one stroke’ at $23.

Other options include; 2 strokes ($26), 3 strokes ($36), 4 strokes ($41) and 5 strokes or more at $51.

It might be brash to assume McIlroy will win the Masters but this option can be very rewarding. We think there is value with the ‘5 strokes or more’ option at $51. When Rory wins he tends to do it easily, so take a stab for all the glory.

*Bets are refunded if McIlroy fails to win.

Bogey free round

There are currently eight golfers named in this market and all have a chance of shooting a bogey-free round at Augusta.

Current favourite is Rory McIlroy at $14 but we think he’s overvalued at that price. McIlroy is an attacking force which creates many birdies, but it also means he makes the odd bogey when he attacks and it doesn’t pay off.

On the second line of betting is Jordan Spieth at $21. Spieth is a natural talent with the ability to work his way around the golf course. He has many rounds with only a couple of bogeys so he’s not without a chance in this option.

Other golfers include Tiger Woods ($41), Shane Lowry ($67) and Padraig Harrington ($67) but neither of these players are playing well enough to go bogey-free. Even when Tiger was winning with ease he would always throw in a bogey here and there, so discount these golfers.

Sitting nicely in the market is Australia’s own Jason Day at $23 with Sportsbet.com.au. Day is a mastermind thinker on the course and he meticulously works his way hole-to-hole. He will likely make the cut and further enhance his chances to produce a bogey-free round.

First round leader

This is a popular betting type for golf bettors, due to its good odds and quick payouts.

Any winning bet pays out immediately after round one and punters can reinvest their money as soon as they wish.

There are a few likely chances for first round leader at Augusta this year. Rory McIlroy likes to get off to a fast start so he’s a chance at $9.

Dustin Johnson ($21) has been in hot form since returning from a hiatus and he can fire up early in the tournament as well.

Our smokey for first round leader is Sergio Garcia. The Spaniard is either hot or colt but his play around Augusta National has been improving in recent years.

Take Garcia at $36 with WilliamHill.com.au and enjoy the 2015 US Masters.