Golf Outsider: The Masters

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are the headline makers but golf tournaments don’t always go to plan, especially at Augusta. Angel Cabrera, Trevor Immelman and Zach Johnson were all surprise winners in recent years and it often pays to think outside the box.

I have avoided the usual suspects and highlighted three outsiders who could cause a shock.

US Masters Outsider Selections

Six months ago, Ryan Moore was one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour and a couple of missed cuts doesn’t mean he should be written off. During the Playoffs he finished T24-T10-T10-T3 and rounded off the year with victory at the JT Shriners tournament.

His current campaign is by no means a disaster, with a 4th place at the Phoenix Open in February. Consecutive missed cuts should be put in the context of his overall good form. In 2005 he finished T13 at Augusta as an amateur.
Recommended Bet: Ryan Moore at 150/1 (Paddy Power)

Debutants don’t have a good record but Scott Piercy’s game looks tailor-made for Augusta. He ranks 19th for driving distance and 36th for strokes gained putting. Last season was his breakout year; he won the Canadian Open and had 13 further top-25 finishes. He is one of the most improved golfers on tour.
Recommended Bet: Scott Piercy at 225/1 (Paddy Power)

Kevin Na finished an impressive T12 last year. One of the best putters on tour, now that he understands the greens he could be a big danger. Driving is his weakness, he doesn’t hit it particularly far or straight, but there isn’t any rough to speak of at Augusta so he shouldn’t be punished.

More importantly, he ranks second on tour for ‘par-5 birdie or better’ and that is where you make your score.  His current form is nothing special but he is not a forlorn hope at a whopping price.
Recommended Bet: Kevin Na at 400/1 (Stan James)