AUGUSTA NATIONAL — Welcome to the first Masters of the LIV Golf age. How the game’s great divide manifests itself at Augusta National, bastion of 19th Century etiquette and social mores, is one of the intriguing questions.
Since running and shouting are not allowed here, let alone throwing a tee at a fellow competitor, don’t expect pistols to be drawn.
Nevertheless tensions are returned to the fore by the unique setting and influence exerted by Augusta National.
For any of the LIV defectors to win here would be a torture for an established order seeking to keep the Saudi-backed upstarts on the outside.
Of the 90 invitations extended only 17 have gone to LIV golfers, including six former winners, the most recent being Dustin Johnson three years ago.
Open champion Cameron Smith is the highest ranked LIV golfer in the field at No 5, and arguably the one best placed to turn the ancient regime the colour of his jacket with envy.
So here are my five picks for the week – two of which wouldn’t be welcome among the PGA hierarchy were they to win – and the latest Masters 2023 odds below.
Masters tips 2023
Jon Rahm (odds: 9-1)
You could just as easily type Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy into this space and make a convincing case. The trio have separated themselves from the rest in the world rankings and threaten every time they tee it up.
Since only three players have won back-to-back Masters since the inaugural event in 1934, the stats discount 2022 winner Scheffler from emulating Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.
And since McIlroy seems destined never to win here the way is clear for Rahm to smash it in that inimitable way of his.
Cameron Smith (22-1)
Smith finally crossed the major threshold at the Open Championship at St Andrew’s last year, lifting the Claret Jug before slipping across to the other side with the LIV defectors.
Smith’s victory, overcoming a four-shot deficit to McIlroy on the last day in Scotland, was presaged at the Masters, where he lit up the first morning with a 68 to sit one off the lead.
A poor second round cost him but he was back on it at the weekend, closing out the final two rounds one shot better than Scheffler to finish in a tie for third.
Masters odds 2023
- Scottie Scheffler 7-1
- Rory McIlroy 7-1
- Jon Rahm 9-1
- Jordan Spieth 16-1
- Patrick Cantlay 20-1
- Justin Thomas 20-1
- Cameron Smith 22-1
- Xander Schauffele 25-1
- Collin Morikawa 25-1
- Tony Finau 25-1
- Jason Day 25-1
- Dustin Johnson 25-1
- Cameron Young 28-1
- Max Homa 30-1
- Sam Burns 40-1
- Viktor Hovland 40-1
- Sungjae Im 40-1
- Brooks Koepka 40-1
- Matt Fitzpatrick 45-1
- Will Zalatoris 45-1
- Hideki Matsuyama 45-1
50-1 bar. Odds via Oddschecker and correct as of 3 April
Cameron Young (28-1)
Young proved too hot for McIlroy in the WGC Match Play semi-finals in Texas, just as he did at the Open last year, where he too overcame a four-shot deficit on the final day to pip the Northern Irishman to second.
Like many amongst the current generation, Young emerged fully formed from the college golf circuit. Though he missed the cut on debut at the Masters, the 25-year-old added a tie for third to his major contribution at the PGA Championship and with a world ranking of 14 looks ready to win for the first time.
Brooks Koepka (40-1)
Since recording his first top-five finish at a major, and fourth at the 2014 US Open, Brooks Koepka’s consistency has been astonishing, rattling off four wins, a further seven top-fives and four top-tens.
When fit the bloke just feeds off attrition. And guess what? He is fully fit for the first time since tearing the patella tendon in his left knee four years ago.
A winner already in the LIV Golf league, Koepka would like nothing better than to take it to the old order and announce his return to eminence at the first major of the season.
Tommy Fleetwood (66-1)
There were encouraging signs at the Valspar championship last month, where the likeable Englishman finished in a tie for third alongside Jordan Spieth. This being Ryder Cup year, expect Fleetwood’s form to continue its upward trajectory.
Lauded for the simplicity of his swing and the quality of his ball striking, it remains a mystery why Fleetwood has won only once since 2019, last year at the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa, and is yet to win on the PGA Tour.
No time like the present, Tommy.
Odds via Oddschecker and correct as of 3 April
