Is Jason Day a value bet at the 2016 US Masters?

THE only colour we care about this week is green.

The US Masters at Augusta is the pinnacle of world golf. Not only because we have the 50 best players in the world battling it out, but the scenery is the stuff of legend.

Australian world no.1 Jason Day currently heads the tournament-winner market and rightfully so after tearing the courses to bits this season. Day heads a handy Australian charge with Adam Scott and Marc Leishman also well-favoured in the betting.

There are multiples ways to make money betting the Masters and Sportsbet.com.au have over 55 markets available. There are too many options to name, but if you follow a certain player, make sure to look at all the markets available for the best value.

We look at the best betting markets for punters, which includes tournament winner, top Australian player, top 20 finish and other tournament specials.

2016 Masters golf tournament winner tips

The Masters features a smaller field than most other majors, which makes it easier for punters to select the winner, but it’s still no easy task.

The clear favourite is Jason Day at $7.50.

Day has risen to world No.1 after a string of victories this season and he comes into this event having won his past two tournaments. The Australian has been close to putting on the green jacket in recent years and he looks destined to go close again in 2016.

Last year’s winner, Jordan Spieth, is an obvious chance at $9. The young American has had two starts in the Masters for a win and a second placing – the best start to a Masters career for any golfer in history. Spieth loves Augusta and we would be surprised to not see him in the final few groups come Monday morning.

Rory McIlroy doesn’t quite have his best game firing, but his class should be respected. He is a winning chance along with the likes of Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott and Bubba Watson. The six aforementioned golfers are the ‘Big 6’ and punters can either bet for or against them.

Masters tournament winner market – selected golfers:

Full market available at Sportsbet.com.au

Jason Day – $7.50
Jordan Spieth – $9.00
Rory McIlroy – $9.00
Adam Scott – $12
Bubba Watson – $12
Rickie Fowler – $17
Phil Mickelson – $19
Dustin Johnson – $21
Justin Rose – $23
Louis Oosthuizen – $29
Henrik Stenson – $29
Hideki Matsuyama – $34
Charl Schwartzel – $36
Patrick Reed – $51
Zach Johnson – $61
Matt Kuchar – $61
Jimmy Walker – $61
Brandt Snedeker – $61
Marc Leishman – $67
Paul Casey – $67
Sergio Garcia – $67
Danny Willett – $67
Ryan Moore – $101
Kevin Na – $101
Jason Dufner – $101
Danny Lee – $201
Ernie Eels – $301

Other top winning chances include Sergio Garcia who has yet to win a major, but the golfing world know it’s only a matter of time. The Spanish bull has come as close to winning as possible and we feel his game is good enough to win at Augusta. The $67 at CrownBet.com.au looks a good bet.

Outspoken American Patrick Reed also offers value at $51. He is full of confidence and now it’s odd to find a top 10 player at such long odds to win. He might have slipped under the radar and punters should take full advantage.

Our final winning selection is Louis Oosthuizen. Beaten but not disgraced against Jason Day in the World Matchplay, Oosthuizen has been here before and another Masters green jacket could be on the cards. He will be around the top of the leaderboard come Monday.

2016 Masters top Australian player

Jason Day – $1.83
Adam Scott – $2.50
Marc Leishman – $8.00
Cameron Smith – $29
Steven Bowditch – $51

Australia is represented by five golfers this year with Jason Day being the standout. We respect the game of multiple major winner Adam Scott and that’s why Jason Day is paying a good price of $1.83.

We are going to rule out Bowditch and Smith at long odds. They won’t beat Day, Scott or Leishman and we could even rule out Leishman at those odds.

It’s a two-golfer race, but we think Day has everything in his favour and the $1.83 is a nice multi-bet inclusion.

US Masters top 20 finish odds and tips

This market doesn’t just cater for the short-priced punters, but it also offers good odds for the golfers that aren’t well-liked in the betting.

Jason Day is $1.30 for a top 20 finish and you would have to think that’s a great chance of cashing in, but it’s only $1.30 and that doesn’t appeal to us. We are looking for the golfers sitting on the edge who should make it into the top 20.

Henrik Stenson played well at the Houston Open last week and the $1.83 is good enough to consider. His record in majors is good and he rarely puts in a bad round which should see him firmly inside the top 20.

Patrick Reed is at even money and this looks like a good bet to couple with the tournament winner bet ($51). $2 for a top 20 finish is achievable for Reed who believes he’s the best player in the world and that confidence should count for something.

Englishman Danny Willett ($2.50), Jimmy Walker ($2.63) and Angel Cabrera ($6) all look great chances and the best thing about betting this option is that they can all cash.

Angel Cabrera is at an interesting price for the former Masters winner. He doesn’t play much or very well throughout the year, but his best golf comes out at Augusta and the $6 is tasty. He’s our best value bet of the tournament.

Top 5 after round 1 market

This option is best for punters wanting to make money on the first round of action. Bookmakers will pay out following the final hole of the day and you can reinvest your winnings onto the tournament winner live betting market.

There are certain golfers which start their tournaments well and that’s where we are looking here. Rory McIlroy is a noted wire-to-wire golfer which generally puts his best foot forward to start the tournament. The $3.30 at Sportsbet.com.au is a nice price for a former world No.1.

Rickie Fowler has the game to contend at the Masters and it’s only a matter of time before he cracks the big time. His form this season has been great and he has ability to make plenty of birdies, a trait needed in order to cash the top 5 after round 1 bet. Fowler is currently $5 and $17 to be leading after round 1.

If Brandt Snedeker can get his putter firing early in the tournament, the $8.50 will look like silly money come Friday afternoon. The American is relatively inconsistent, but he has contended in majors in the past and he only needs to roll in a few putts to shoot very low scores. Add him to your selections.

Smylie Kaufman isn’t a legitimate tournament winning chance, but he’s in career best form and he could fire a low first round score. Kaufman is a big risk, but the big payout is worth the $31 on offer at Sportsbet.

2016 Masters tournament specials

Will there be a hole-in-one?

Yes – $1.80
No – $1.91

Mathematically speaking there shouldn’t be a hole-in-one scored during a four-day tournament, but bookmakers believe there will be one this year. Augusta has some par three’s that can be attacked, especially one the first two days, but we don’t think it will happen this year.

Take the $1.91 with the numbers in your favour.

Big guns vs. the field:

Big guns (Scott, Watson, Day, McIlroy, Spieth, Fowler) – $1.79
The Field – $1.94

This is one of the toughest betting options on the card as it can contradict tournament winner selections. We think the big guns are a great chance to win, but there’s some good golfers in the field option.

We suggest taking the big guns if you’re very confident one of the players will win. If you think any other player will win, the odds are in your favour to take the field at the better price of $1.94 at Sportsbet.

Top left handed player:

Bubba Watson – $1.62
Phil Mickelson – $2.25
Mike Weir – $23

Immediately discount Mike Weir at $23. The former Canadian Masters winner hasn’t been the same since suffering a wrist injury and he will likely miss the cut this year.

Bubba Watson loves Augusta and he looks the best bet at $1.62. The lefty needs to hold out Phil ‘lefty’ Mickelson, but on recent form, that shouldn’t be too difficult. Take Bubba Watson and add him into your Masters multi bets.