Prepare for a Masters shock

Augusta to throw up a surprise

GOLF’S most spectacular tournament — and one of the few to be shown live on terrestrial television — comes to our screens this week when the US Masters is held at Augusta National, Georgia.

A golfing version of beauty and the beast, Augusta is the most visually attractive course in the world — but it can also be one of the most punitive for the players.

Extremely long and boasting quickfire greens with huge shelves and slopes, Augusta is one of golf’s ultimate challenges, which is why past experience is considered so important.
Knowing where to position the golf ball on the fairways and the greens is of paramount importance, but the flip side for some players is the scar tissue left by a bad experience on the course.

Tiger Woods, with four Masters wins to his name, is clearly the man to beat once again, but at odds of 23-10 and on only his fourth start since major knee surgery, he should be opposed at his stingy price.

Phil Mickleson, with a world championship event under his belt this term, is the in-form player among the bookies’ favourites and will have plenty of supporters at 9-1. He looks sure to make a bold bid to win a third Masters title.

Padraig Harrington, winner of the last two Majors, is 18-1 to complete the hat-trick, but he has been struggling to string four decent rounds together in recent weeks and may need a little more time to recover last year’s form.

Geoff Ogilvy (22-1), winner of the Accenture World Matchplay in February, has not been in the same form since, but Retief Goosen (25-1) is a fancied to make a bold bid, having won already in America this year and boasting excellent previous efforts at Augusta.

Paul Casey, fresh from his victory in the Houston Open on Sunday, is a live contender at 33-1, the same price as young Northern Ireland sensation Rory McIlroy, who will surely find this huge test coming too soon in his career.

I was tempted by Sergio Garcia at 35-1, but his suspect putting is a worry on the slick Augusta greens, while Henrik Stenson is another to consider after a strong finish last weekend. He can be backed at 45-1.

However, just as in the Grand National last weekend, I have a feeling we are in for a shock winner so I have come up with three golfers who have the ability and temperament to make an impact at huge odds.

The first of them is Nick Watney, who pushed Mickelson all the way in the world championship event held at Doral and seems to possess an equable temperament which should serve him well in the heat of a Masters.

Some shrewd judges think he has a great chance and 50-1 might look big come Sunday.

Sean O’Hair was runner-up to Woods at Bay Hill a couple of weeks ago, but Tiger won that event rather than O’Hair lost it, so this is a player who is worthy of respect, certainly at the 66-1 on offer.

And for those of you who like to back a rank outsider, have a pound each-way on Spain’s Alvaro Quiros, who won the competitive Qatar Masters earlier this season, hits the ball miles and is not afraid to win if he gets in the mix down the straight on Sunday.


RECOMMENDATIONS (all each-way, first five placings): Nick Watney, 50-1 (general); Sean O’Hair, 66-1 (Betfred); Alvaro Quiros, 200-1 (totesport).