US Masters / Steven Rawlings / 09 April 2008 /

Woods offers no value for our man, so who are his selections in the Augusta betting?

Each week Steven Rawlings, aka The Punter, posts his four day diary of the past events' punts. These are his early selections for The Masters, an update will be posted on Saturday and a piece looking back on the tournament on Monday...

Beautiful scenery, lightening fast greens, advert-free TV coverage and even, dare I say it, an easier than normal formbook, all make the Masters the event I look forward to more than any other. Punting wise, I've faired quite well too.

I'm swerving Woods this year. Putting all the hype to one side, he's actually only won the Masters once in the last five years. I'm also wary of his driving and for once his putting wasn't great when he was beaten last time out at Doral. At around [2.4] I don't see any value.

With form figures that read 3-3-3-W-10-W-24 for the last seven years my main bet is Phil Mickelson @ [14.0]. His putting hasn't been at its brilliant best lately and that's a big concern but he's capable of suddenly springing back to form. He's won twice in the last 14 months after missing the cut the previous week.

I've also backed KJ Choi @ [46.0]. He's a player with enough quality and bottle to win a major and I believe Augusta offers him his best chance of making history by becoming the first Asian major winner.

A few speculative pounds have been almost certainly squandered on a couple of wild outsiders, Stephen Ames [370.0], Robert Karlsson [600.0], and my old mate Jeev Milka Singh [610.00].

I will post an update on the state of play after the cut on Saturday.

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