There are plenty of engaging narratives going into the 2025 Masters tournament. Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy claim to be the world’s form players, something that has been backed up by their performances and results over the last 12 months. Yet, there is also the charge from LIV players, with Joaquin Niemann recently being called the best player in the world by Phil Mickelson.
As you might expect, world number one Scheffler is a relatively short price in the Masters 2025 betting to win a third Green Jacket in four years. It’s difficult to argue with this favorite status; not only has his form been remarkable – he is Mr Consistently Excellent – but his game is uniquely suited to the test at Augusta. A lot of money will be spent on America this year.
Plenty of betting value at the Masters
Yet, interesting bets can be made up and down the markets. The Masters can throw up plenty of value in the place betting (finishing in the top 5, top 10, etc). And we wonder if backing Will Zalatoris to finish in the top 10 would be a smart bet. It’s not guaranteed, as nothing is in the Majors, but Zalatoris is another player whose game seems uniquely suited to Augusta.
First of all, Zalatoris’s record at the Masters is excellent. He has played in three tournaments, finishing 2nd, 6th, and 9th. This ties into his brilliant overall record in the Majors, with seven top-10 finishes in 14 tournaments. It’s incredible consistency, and it’s something that sportsbooks are starting to reflect in their tournament betting odds.
However, there are certain flaws in backing him this time around. Injury ravaged Zalatoris in the 2023 season, and you can argue that he has not hit the heights since. Indeed, in 2022, when he reached the world number seven, everyone thought he would be a major player at the top end of the game for years to come.
Zalatoris is looking to play his way into form.
Right now, Zalatoris seems to be a player looking to grind out some form. He hasn’t been awful – he continues to make cuts – but he is not making top-10 finishes with the regularity he used to. He feels like a player needing a spark, something to put him on the right track again.
Could Augusta provide that spark? It does happen. Plenty of times, we have seen players rising to the occasion on a course and event that suits them. Of course, for bettors, it will all depend on the price. Zalatoris is priced somewhere between +4000 and +5000 to win the Masters outright. Place prices vary, but you are looking at odds for a top-10 finish somewhere close to Scheffler’s odds of winning the tournament.
Again, it depends on your risk appetite for golf picks. You have a player who has consistently performed at Augusta in the past and doesn’t seem to be fazed by the pressure of the Majors. Yet, you also have a player looking to find some form. In the end, it requires a leap of faith. However, if he does the business, hindsight will make it obvious.
