Jason can make your Day at 18-1

SPORTS BETTING:

GOLF’S first major of the season is the best of the four.

Yes, the Open Championship has its tradition, but for sheer spectacle nothing compares with the Masters at Augusta.

The only one of the majors that doesn’t rotate its venue, the Masters is a unique event, one many golfers want most to win. So who will be wearing the Green Jacket come Sunday night?

It won’t be Tiger Woods, who has undergone back surgery; but it might be another Augusta specialist, Phil Mickelson. The reigning Open champion has recovered from a muscle injury that threatened his participation.

Had both of golf’s biggest draws been absent, the event would have lost a great deal of its gloss.

But Mickelson (14-1) will be there to chase his fourth title - and so too will be Rory McIlroy, the Briton in pursuit of a first, 12-1 joint-favourite alongside reigning champion Adam Scott.

Both these players have tremendous chances. Scott has been threatening to put his rivals to the sword this spring, while McIlroy finished the Houston Open at the weekend with a final round of 65.

But I have been trying to unearth some punting value and am nominating one of the shorter-priced options and a lively longshot.

Jason Day is my first choice at 18-1 after shaking off a thumb injury to take his place in the field.

The Australian adores Augusta, having finished second on his debut in 2011 and joint third last year.

He won the Accenture World Matchplay in Arizona six weeks ago and though he hasn’t played competitively since, his record after a break is good.

Now he has won at the highest world level, a major seems the logical next step and this could well be it. As for my 150-1 each-way hope, Thornbjorn Olesen, nobody played better over the last three rounds a year ago.

After being in danger of missing the cut following an opening 78, the great Dane put together rounds of 70, 68 and 68 to finish joint sixth. If able to start better this time, he could look massively overpriced.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Jason Day, win, 18-1 (Sporting Bet); Thorbjorn Olesen, 150-1, each way, first six (Stan James, Paddy Power).