Hello, friends. The 2022 Masters dares viewers to place aspirations of winning bets alongside dreams of warmer weather.
Take in the mesmerizing views of Amen Corner flanked by the tantalizing azaleas April 7-10 at Augusta National.
There are different ways for Iowa bettors to enjoy spring’s annual spectacle. Of course, the easiest way is via futures bets. Simply pick the 2022 Masters winner prior to the opening tee and you could win plenty of money.
Remember, with a field of just under 100 playing on one of the toughest courses in the world, picking the champion can be high-risk, high-reward.
Bettors can also try and predict who will place in the Top 10 on Sunday and who plays well enough to earn a top-five finish.
The veteran Hideki Matsuyama broke through with an impressive Masters victory in 2021, becoming the first Japanese golfer to win the prestigious tournament. He fired a -10 to beat out rookie Will Zalatoris (-9).
Who are the favorites?
Jon Rahm, who was recently uprooted as the world’s No. 1 golfer by Scottie Scheffler, is the odds-on favorite to win the 2022 Masters. Justin Thomas, ranked seventh in the world, is the second favorite while the newly-minted Scheffler is coming in third.
Rahm has tallied six career victories, powered by his most significant triumph, the 2021 U.S. Open.
The 27-year-old Spaniard also has produced a staggering 59 top 10 finishes, highlighted by runner-up placement eight times. He was the only golfer to place Top 10 in all four majors last year. His best finish at the Masters came in 2018, when he placed fourth.
Thomas owns 14 PGA Tour victories to go along with 66 Top 10 finishes. The 28-year old won the 2021 Players Championship. He prevailed in the 2017 PGA championship while his best finish at the Masters came in the delayed 2020 version, where he placed fourth. Thomas finished tied for 21 at Augusta last spring and has placed Top 10 in five of the nine tournaments he’s played in this year.
Top-ranked Scheffler is on an absolute tear in the early part of the year, having prevailed in three of his last five PGA Tour starts. The 25-year old is the quickest golfer to reach No. 1 after his first career win, needing only 42 days after winning the Phoenix Open on Feb. 13. Scheffler’s best Masters finish was last year, when he tied for 18th. He’s finished in the top 10 six times this year.
Other 2022 Masters contenders
The Masters is golf’s most popular event each year, taking place in Augusta, Georgia since 1934.
The opportunities are endless. Bettors can lay money on who will or won’t make the cut.
For those looking for more specific situations, bettors can win money on who they believe will come out on top in a certain grouping including best former champion.
Fans can also try their hand at who they think will card a hole-in-one, what players will card eagles and if someone will break the course record.
Guess the winning margin, or if a golfer will lead, wire-to-wire. Only four champions have led wire-to-wire, with Jordan Spieth most recently in 2015. Tiger Woods holds the largest margin of victory in tournament history, winning by 12 strokes in 1997.
Wagers are made on how many players will be under par when the Masters is finished or what the cut is. Bettors can wager on each round’s leader, what nation the winner will reside from and what left-hander will place highest. Which, Bubba Watson is currently the favorite.
The largest comeback in Masters history is eight strokes after 54 holes, done by Jack Burke in 1956.
Tiger on the mend
Tiger Woods certainly knows how to make an entrance. The legend told media members Tuesday he’ll make his long-awaited return to competitive golf at this week’s tradition unlike any other. Woods hasn’t played in a competitive tour event since major suffering a devastating car accident in the winter of 2021. The crash broke several bones in his legs, which led doctors to consider amputating his right leg.
The five-time Masters champion hasn’t played in a PGA event in 508 days, dating back to the 2020 Masters, where he finished in a tie for 38th. Woods is clearly ready for his comeback and said he “feels like I’m going to play,” on Tuesday. Woods’ 82 career victories are tied with Sam Snead for most ever. His 15 major wins are only behind Jack Nicklaus. He’s trying to catch the great Nicklaus, who holds the record for most green jackets with six.
The first Masters group of Jose Maria Olazabal, J.J. Spaun will tee off at 7 a.m. central time on Thursday. The defending champ, Matsuyama will tee off at 9:45 a.m. along with Justin Thomas and amateur James Piot.
Tiger Woods will tee off a little before at 9:34 along with Louis Oosthuizen and Joaguin Niemann.
How to watch the 2022 Masters
- Wednesday’s Par 3 Contest — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on ESPN+, then 2-4 p.m. on ESPN
- Thursday and Friday coverage — 2-6:30 p.m. on ESPN
- Saturday — 2-6 p.m. on CBS
- Sunday — 1-6 p.m. on CBS
The official Masters website and app also stream the coverage.
