4 Masters Bets To Avoid

The Masters is the first big betting tournament of the year in golf but with that mantle comes a host of pitfalls to be navigated. Lewis Blain picks 4 masters bets to avoid ahead of the 2018 tournament

4 Masters Bets To Avoid

When it comes to the US Masters and especially betting on the first Major of the season, there are largely speaking, two paths to choose from.

You can go down the ‘horses for courses’ route and opt for tried and tested Augusta specialists such as Jordan Spieth or Adam Scott. Alternatively your option is to plump for players in form – those who are brining a rich vein of golf to the most famous layout in the game.

Related: US Masters Golf Betting Tips

Watch the GM Tipster discuss who will do well at Augusta this year

This year, with so many of the world’s best playing well in the build up, there is real value elsewhere to be had. If you can pinpoint the outsider to contend you’ll be richly rewarded. But Augusta betting is a fickle mistress and for every likely winner, there’s a loser to avoid. Here are 4 Masters Bets to avoid, the names we think you should tiptoe past as you prepare to place your bets!

Related: How To Spot A Masters Winner

Justin Thomas 10/1

Thomas has won six times since the start of 2017 and picked up his first major win at the USPGA so it is easy to see why the 24-year-old is second favourite to add a green jacket to his impressive list of accomplishments. I would avoid him though, the world number two has the honour of being number one in sights and this severely affected his game at the elite-field WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play so I wouldn't want to trust him to shake that out of his mind when he has the pressure of winning at Augusta in there too! He also hasn't broken 70 in either of his two starts here.

Related: How can I play Augusta National?

Henrik Stenson 45/1

Now the 2016 Open winner looks very generously priced considering he is playing very well as of late. Three top 10s from 5 events in 2018 is exactly how you want your Augusta pick to be playing however the 41-year-old is cursed around this course with no top-10s to his name and a just a handful of top-20s. The Wyndham Championship winner missed the cut last year despite form of 2nd and T7 going into the tournament. Avoid the Swedish approach assassin!

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Xander Schauffele 90/1

The 2017 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year might be tempting as an outsider but it will be his first time at Augusta National - no player has won their first ever Masters since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979. He won twice in his debut season on Tour, including an impressive win in a star-studded field at the Tour Championship showing he can hold his own with the world's best. The 24-year-old has risen from over 350th in the world rankings to 26th but this major might just be a little to early in his promising career.

Related: The 6 US Masters amateurs in the field 2018

Angel Cabrera 300/1

You might be thinking this former champion is worth a few quid each way. Just don't. The Argentine won in 2009 and finished runner-up after a playoff loss as recently as 2013 but he missed the cut last year and is in terrible form. The 48-year old ranks 1098th in the world and missed the cut in a week field at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. His last top-10 on the PGA Tour came back in 2014. There are better outsiders to chance your arm on this year - stay clear of Cabrera.

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