2022 Masters Golf

[Ken4155]

I've been studying the stats and crunching the numbers for the Masters, which begins on Thursday. 91 players have been invited to take part though there are doubts about the 100% fitness of some of them; Tiger Woods, for instance, will only make a decision come 'match day'.

The Masters is usually won by a player with some experience (not to say prowess) of the course and my selections have all acquitted themselves at this testing venue in the past. I have, very reluctantly, avoided Jon Rahm (my 2021 'go to' guy) as his putting needs some work - cue a pillar to post victory for the South African:/.

I actually think that either Brooks Koepka or Cameron Smith will wear the Green Jacket this year, and my stakes reflect that train of thought.


As i said, then, there are a possible 91 players; i have chosen 5 (for now - and have used £14 of my £20 bank) which means that the bookies have 86 on their side:-(

£5 free bet win; Cameron Smith @ 12/1 - Sky
£2.50 e.w.; Brooks Koepka* @ 20/1 - 8 places Bet365
£2.50 e.w.; Matt Fitzpatrick @ 40/1 - 11 places Sky
£1 e.w.; Jordan Speith @ 18/1 - 11 places - Sky
£1 e.w.; Tony Finau @ 40/1 - 11 places Sky


*I could have taken a lesser price for Koepka to 11 places with Sky but i honestly believe he has a good chance of actually winning, let alone carding a top 8.

[Ellipsis]

Good luck, Ken - I think you have a lot more chance this time.

Please could you explain to this betting novice what this means:

£2.50 e.w.; Matt Fitzpatrick @ 40/1 - 11 places Sky

I know what an each-way bet is. Is this an each-way bet to 11 places? So does that mean that the returns get lower and lower for each place lower? How much would you win if Fitzpatrick came 11th?

[Ken4155]

Ellipsis, should he win, i would receive £125. Should he place anywhere between 2nd and 11th, i would receive £22.50.

[Ellipsis]

OK, so 100% for a win, 20% for a place, plus the winning component of your stake back ... thanks Ken.

[grumpy01]

I’d like to see Justin Rose have a good tournament even if he doesn’t win.

[Ken4155]

He was on my original list, grumpy. He usually plays Augusta quite well and i almost had a little e.w. on him @ 80s (8 places) or even a lower price for up to 12th place. I still might :-)

[anneasquith]

I love Augusta golf course :-)

[Ken4155]

So do i, Anne. Especially if i can select someone to get round it 4 times in fewer shots than everyone else :-))

[Ken4155]

Just had another look at the Masters record of Justin Rose and have talked myself into a £1 e.w. punt @ 50/1 to 11 places with Sky. I now have six to the bookies potential 85:-/

[Togo]

Besides the little punt on Rose, that I placed on Sunday, I have also had a £1 E/W on Thomas Pieters @100/1. 8 places. I looked at the 11 place odds then thought ... why? Down there in the finishing order there are usually half a dozen tied on the same score so the odds after the first half dozen finishers will likely be paltry. Now to have a look at Aintree before I go out.

[Ken4155]

I had considered that, too, Togo. However, it only takes a couple of tied scores in the top half dozen to push the rest outside 8 places. And, if i only get a few quid back for my efforts, i'll still be able to eat :-))

[Ken4155]

You can't win the Masters on the first day but you can surely lose it. And that's what both Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka appear to have done. Rose had a 'mare' of a round with 5 bogeys and a double bogey to card a 79 (+4) while Koepka went to pieces on the back 9. Having carded a -2 first 9, he then went on to record 5 bogeys to sit on +3.
Jordan Speith also left his 'A' game at home, carding a +2, with his 5 bogeys outweighing his 3 birdies. All 3 will have to seriously up their game if they are to be involved at the meaty end of the tournament come Sunday.
Thankfully the rest of my players did quite well; Cameron Smith (my main hope) lies one stroke behind the leader (Im Sungae) on -4, while my 40/1 shots Tony Finau and Matt Fitzpatrick ended day one just 4 shots off the lead on -1.

[Ken4155]

Looks as if Rose has completely lost the plot. +4 from yesterday, he is now on the 11th and is already +8! He must have something better to do this weekend:-J

[Ken4155]

The 30mph wind that blew around Augusta yesterday proved to be an ill wind for my selections as all struggled to maintain their game. 3 have missed the cut, but Cam Smith carded 2 over to lie in -2, while Matt Fitzpatrick could only manage a 1 over for a level par total. Tony Finau had a fairly miserable day with a +3 round of 75 and is on +2.
None are too far off the lead but Scottie Scheffler showed just why he is World Number One, making light of the conditions with a five under 67 to lead the tournament on -8, 5 strokes ahead of the field.

[Ken4155]

The final day's play looms with Scottie Scheffler leading on -9. Cam Smith recovered from his poor round of Friday with a great round of 68 and now lies just 3 shots behind the leader, so he is still in with a shout of wearing the Green Jacket. It will be interesting to see if he can apply some early pressure on the World Number 1.
Matt Fitzpatrick is on +4 and it would take something a bit special for him to finish in the top 11.

[Ken4155]

Any chance Cam Smith had of winning the Masters was literally sunk when he found the water at the 12th when he was just 3 shots adrift. He finished in joint 3rd on -5. Rory McIlroy rolled back the years with a brilliant round of 8 under (easily the round of the tournament) to finish 2nd on -7, 3 shots behind the winner, World Number 1 Scottie Scheffler.

[anneasquith]

Well done Rory .