Before making your Masters bets consider these five punting principles from our golf betting expert Paul Krishnamurty
Back players with plenty of Augusta experience?Of all the major venues, Augusta National is the one that takes the most learning. Plenty of regular visitors still struggle to cope with the incredibly complex greens after a decade or more of trying, and even future champions often struggled on their early attempts. No debutant has won since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, and no first-timers have made the top-five since 2005. Every champion since Zoeller was making at least their third Masters appearance.
Those stats rather puncture the claims of potential future champions like Rickie Fowler and Jason Day on their debuts. Indeed, despite an ever rising number of 20-something candidates, the Masters remains a tournament best suited to the experienced player. The average age of the last five winners is 35.
Back proven, multiple winners?Another clear signal that Augusta is no place for a novice lies in the fact that all bar two Masters champions since the 1980s had already won at least five titles on either the European or PGA Tours. Tiger Woods had won three times, and Zach Johnson proved a particular exception in 2007 as this was only his second title. However, everything about that particular renewal went against the long-established tournament trends, because the course played very differently. Zach's winning tally was eight shots higher than any other since the 1980s.
If we are to see a 'normal' year, several leading candidates are up against it according to the stats. Rory McIlroy, for instance, has only won twice, and Nick Watney three times.
Back big-hitters and par-five specialists?Augusta famously offers a significant advantage to the longest drivers. The fairways here are very wide, and even missing them doesn't necessarily mean disaster, as the rough is rarely penal. Last year, Phil Mickelson gave a masterclass in how to crack Augusta despite wayward driving. Two places back in third was another wild thing, Anthony Kim.
Continued:
http://www.betfair.net/blog/golf/us-masters-betting-augustas-fi-240311.html
Golf Betting
Back players with plenty of Augusta experience?Of all the major venues, Augusta National is the one that takes the most learning. Plenty of regular visitors still struggle to cope with the incredibly complex greens after a decade or more of trying, and even future champions often struggled on their early attempts. No debutant has won since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, and no first-timers have made the top-five since 2005. Every champion since Zoeller was making at least their third Masters appearance.
Those stats rather puncture the claims of potential future champions like Rickie Fowler and Jason Day on their debuts. Indeed, despite an ever rising number of 20-something candidates, the Masters remains a tournament best suited to the experienced player. The average age of the last five winners is 35.
Back proven, multiple winners?Another clear signal that Augusta is no place for a novice lies in the fact that all bar two Masters champions since the 1980s had already won at least five titles on either the European or PGA Tours. Tiger Woods had won three times, and Zach Johnson proved a particular exception in 2007 as this was only his second title. However, everything about that particular renewal went against the long-established tournament trends, because the course played very differently. Zach's winning tally was eight shots higher than any other since the 1980s.
If we are to see a 'normal' year, several leading candidates are up against it according to the stats. Rory McIlroy, for instance, has only won twice, and Nick Watney three times.
Back big-hitters and par-five specialists?Augusta famously offers a significant advantage to the longest drivers. The fairways here are very wide, and even missing them doesn't necessarily mean disaster, as the rough is rarely penal. Last year, Phil Mickelson gave a masterclass in how to crack Augusta despite wayward driving. Two places back in third was another wild thing, Anthony Kim.
Continued:
http://www.betfair.net/blog/golf/us-masters-betting-augustas-fi-240311.html
Golf Betting
