Masters History: Betting Value With Past Winners
The Masters tees off this week, so it’s time we looked at the recent winners and what they paid.
Masters odds are always generous, and because the field is packed with the best of the best, there is value for everyone.
Jon Rahm looks to become just the fourth player to win consecutive titles.
Rahm Eyes History Books
Only Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods have completed back-to-back victories at the Masters.
Over the history of the Masters, it’s a hard achievement to pull off. The aforementioned names are the best to ever play the game, and Rahm looks to add his name to the Masters history books this week.
The Spaniard, who plays on the LIV Tour, is paying a fraction more than what our sportsbook had him to win in 2023.
Just about 48 hours away from one of the dinners I look forward to most each year. Wonder what @jonrahm is putting on the menu for Tuesday 😅 pic.twitter.com/LNmO2nn8Vv
— Sergio Garcia (@TheSergioGarcia) April 7, 2024
Rahm paid +900 when holding off LIV alum Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed. He’s a +1000 chance in 2024, but history isn’t on his side.
Putting Rahm in the same category as Nicklaus, Faldo, and Woods is tough. He’s well on his way, but history is against him.
There have been four Spanish winners, including Sergio Garcia, Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal.
Shortening Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler wasn’t the best player in the world when he won the Masters in 2022, but he’s now the dominant force.
The American, who has yet to win a tournament in a calendar year following the Masters, is the current +350 favorite with sport betting markets.
That’s a fraction of the odds he paid when winning in 2022, where bettors snapped him up at +1600.
We think his odds are too short despite playing well in 2024. He is getting into Woods’ territory, and Woods had a much higher winning percentage.
However, there’s no doubting his form as Scheffler looks to become the 18th person to win two Masters titles.
Matsuyama at Odds
Hideki Matsuyama, who is one of our top picks to win this year, paid big odds when winning in 2021.
The Japanese superstar paid +4600 when winning in April, which came just six months after Dustin Johnson won the Covid-interrupted 2020 Masters.
Matsuyama was ignored in Masters betting markets, but that’s not the case this time around. He’s much shorter at +2000, and rightfully so.
He was the first Japanese golfer to win the Masters, so his win was one for the history books.
Toshi Izawa (2001) and Shingo Katayama (2009) each finished fourth before Matsuyama outdid his countrymen.
Matsuyama is one of two Japanese entrants in 2024, with Ryo Hisatsune also making the field at massive +30000 odds.
We advise taking Matsuyama to be the top Asian golfer with Masters props.
Old Heads Making a Claim
The Masters isn’t all about the younger golfers like Scheffler and Rahm.
There is room for players like Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods to win, as they have over the last seven years.
Garcia, who lost in a playoff on the LIV Tour on Sunday, won in 2017. It might be seven years later, but his win stands as one of the most popular in the history of the Masters.
Some savvy bettors collected +3000 when Garcia won, and some of those winnings could have been invested in Woods to win in 2019 at +1400.
It’s crazy that Woods was paying that short to win. He wasn’t given much hope, but Woods will always be well-backed to win.
He loves Augusta, and betting online odds love him in return. However, he’s at +10000 to win in 2024.
Johnson was the shortest-priced winner in recent history. He paid +850 when winning in 2020, but he held the title for only five months.
Golf caters more to the younger players who can bomb it off the tee but, as history suggests, don’t count out the experienced golfers.
Questions of the Day
Who is the favorite to win the Masters?
Scottie Scheffler tops the odds at +350.
Who is the Masters defending champion?
Jon Rahm won in 2023 at Augusta.
