"The Masters" 2006

[Karabiner]

Love this tourney, even the old-fashioned restricted TV coverage in a perverse sort of way.

I always used to blame the BBC until a few years ago, for the three hours per day on the box
as opposed to Sky's saturation stuff.

But down to the serious business at hand.

I bet quite a lot on golf and have had some success over the last year or two on
Betfair, but my modus operandum is to bet on several players in an event like this looking
to trade out for a freeroll when I feel it's prudent.

I quite fancy Ernie Els to have a run at this and he is my shortest pick @ 14/1
Medium shots are David Howell and Henrik Stenson @ 80/1 and 90/1
I'm on several very longshots, including McGinley, Jimenez, Daly and Bart Bryant all over 300/1
I've also got Thomas Bjorn in my "stable" @ 200/1

I hope none of these wins the par three tournament tomorrow as noone has ever won that and the main event.

Cant wait for Thursday 9pm., although I'll know the scores before the TV coverage starts.

PS I've got them all in doubles with Snoopy in the Luton main event 

[Graham C]

I'm looking forward to this too

Don't like the look of Ernie I'm afraid - he still hasn't played that well since his comeback.  I'm on Jimenez too thought at 290 and I couldn't resist Faldo at 1000 - I know I know, but he is my golfing hero and I am betting with my heart (plus it will be nice to lay off should he make some birdies)

THe other bet I have is Toms - Great value at 46.0.  He's currently 2nd in the Ryder Cup ranks for the US and is in good form.

[Indestructable]

I've gone for Vijay on an each way bet. Wish I had a good reason for backing him, but I don't. 

[totalise]

I generally look for people who have a high ball-flight, as typically the fairways have less run on them, and the slopes are generally quite a ways down the f/way, so those who carry it a long way have a huge advantage normally.

Also, the streaky putters.. if they have a good week, they can dominate.

Sergio fits well into this category, and whilst I have doubts about his temperament, I quite fancy him this week.

Also a small go for Adam Scott (for same reasons) and a nice outsider punt on Angel Cabrera. IF he is on form, his natural game is phenomenal.

E/W for me is Rory Sabbatini, great game for the course, and in form


For the in-play punters, Shageki Maruyama is likely worth a bet at 650/1 just to lay it off at half way, as he typically either has a real good opening round or a pure stinker.

Lay of the tourney is probably Mickleson, played like a God last week, and generally he doesn't perform twice in a row (although I might wait til halfway to lay him off, as I expect a good start, and a fade-away)

I agree with OP, I like the truncated coverage, it makes it more exciting, and the commentary team is great

As always, these are just my humble opinions

[Reagster]

I've gone for Chad Campbell @ 80s.  IMO this is a stand out price.  He had a couple of good results this year.  He is also a Yank, and his victories are predominantly on US courses (Bob Hope Classic earlier this year - beat Mickleson).

Also went for a small (patriotic) each way on Donald.  Purely for the fact of the amount of coverage he'll be recieving!!

Aside from the betting it promises to be a belting tournament.  I love the course, it just looks so bloody pristine.  A far cry for my local municipal!!   

Good luck all

[ACE2M]

I've had a liitle go at darren clarke at 70/1. His driving is perfect for augusta and if he has a day where he can control himself from the fairway (he tries to move the ball too much) he will feature.

[Bryson]

Deffo agree with Stenson as an EW bet also on EW bets Donald, Di Marco, Olazabal, .. i mite bet Mickelson outright playes well at agusta but dont fancy him winning back to back.

[Bryson]

Almost forgot the US tour money list leader Sabatini great EW bet playing some awesome stuff this yr tho he mised cut last week.

[bobby1]

I love the Masters.

My best bet for this week is Paul Mcginley to beat Fred Funk in a match bet with Hills at 10/11.

Funk has played here ten times and missed 6 cuts. His last three results were +6 +6 +11 and all missed cuts. The course has been lengthened yet again and Funk is just about the shortest hitter on tour, he has ranked 186th and 197th on the US tour for driving distance for the last two years.

Mcginley is also not the longest but has one Masters appearance and finished 18th and his form last year( he made every cut in Europe) is great.

He also had very high finishes in some big events.

Outright im going to go for some dodgy putters that can get the ball in the right areas, Singh at around 16.5 and Garcia at around 36 with a small saver on Goosen at around 14.5 too.

Good luck all.

[crip17]

Was very dissapointed in Garcia 2 weeks ago at the players championship as he really blew up.  Whos to say he wont do it agian and cant back him with confidience.   
Stay away from Ernie Els as he still has a dodgy back.   I believe the player to win this will be either Mickleson or Woods and both will be up their on their own on the tournament closes on Sunday.

[matt674]

My two each way picks this week are Goosen and Garcia, not monster prices but in a tournament like this there aren't usually too many longshot winners.

[bobby1]

Was very dissapointed in Garcia 2 weeks ago at the players championship as he really blew up.  Whos to say he wont do it agian and cant back him with confidience.   
Stay away from Ernie Els as he still has a dodgy back.   I believe the player to win this will be either Mickleson or Woods and both will be up their on their own on the tournament closes on Sunday.

Dont get me wrong Crip, I think Woods and Lefty are the most likely winners but 3/1 and 13/2 look a little short.

Garcia's putting is a worry but with the winning score predicted to be around 7-8 under this is not the normal US comp where you need to be -20 odd to win. The par fives will be important and the three guys I have backed can all pick their way around the course, if they do hole a few putts I think they have a chance but you are right, Garcia did fall away badly at the Players.

[Karabiner]

On another of your points Crip, Ernie had knee surgery last winter and had 6 months out.

Unless you know something we don't, his back is fine.

In the Player's Championship he kept getting into a challenging position and then double-bogeying or worse.

Most un-Els like, and to me that looked like a rusty player who is ready to resume .......

It's all opinions, and all wil be revealed soon 

[Junior Senior]

no analysis from me even though i am something of a golfer myself 
however for interest i have backed El Ninio (spelling?) to win outright and my cheeky each way selections are:

John Daly
Davis Love (aye aye aye)

[matt674]

my only gripe about these Major tournaments is that you cant follow them on Tourcast on the pgatour.com website. Instead of being able to watch the golfer i've backed play his round shot by shot the only way i can keep track is to watch the scoreboard updates while i'm in work - which take ages to update