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The Masters Betting Portfolio: The home players poised for an Augusta bid

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Woods and Mickleson aside, which US players can mount a challenge for the Green Jacket? Paul Krishnamurty rates the chances of Furyk, Stricker, Johnson and Cink

STEVE STRICKER

Besides Woods and Mickelson, no American is ranked higher than Stricker. Over the past two seasons, the 41-year-old has performed what could well be the most impressive, and certainly the unlikeliest golfing comeback in living memory. An excellent, if not quite top class, player in the latter half of the 1990s, a combination of injuries and a woeful lack of form effectively looked like finishing Stricker's career prematurely.

He was virtually unseen on a PGA Tour leaderboard for several years until the 2006 US Open where against all odds he stayed in contention for four days to finish sixth. Since then, he's been a model of consistency. Admittedly he's only won once in this latter period, but regular high finishes have elevated Stricker to a career high of No.4 in the world rankings.

However, there's nothing in his Augusta record to suggest he can challenge the likes of Tiger Woods on this course. The best he's ever managed was a distant 10th back in 2001, and even during a tremendous 2008 campaign he missed the cut on twelve over par for what was probably his worst performance of the season.

VERDICT: After the way he's lifted himself out of the doldrums, I'd be loathe to ever completely write Stricker off. But given his Augusta record, he's still worth opposing in the place markets.
ODDS: [80.0]

* * *

JIM FURYK

Furyk has been Mr Consistency on the PGA Tour for well over a decade now, and thoroughly deserves his top-5 place in the world rankings. In fact he probably deserves to have more than just the one Major - the 2003 US Open - to his name given the number of times he's been in contention on the final day.

A brilliant putter and arguably the best player in the world from around 100 yards, he has however always been handicapped by a notable lack of length off the tee compared to the other elite players. Its probably for this reason that Furyk has only a fair record at Augusta.

Characteristically, he's been consistent enough to compile a batch of top-20s and has three times finished in the top-six. But the only time he ever held any sort of chance on the final day was a decade ago behind Mark O'Meara, a year when the long hitters seemed to enjoy less of an advantage than usual.

He's also started 2008 slowly by his own standards, though did at least return to somewhere near his best in the recent World Golf Championship at Doral.

VERDICT: Furyk is so consistent that I'd never really want to take him on in match bets and the place markets, but of the four Majors, the Masters is his weakest.
ODDS: [44.0]

* * *

ZACH JOHNSON

Johnson stepped up on two moderate previous Augusta efforts to produce the golfing shock of 2007. Available at [200.0] and bigger pre-tournament, and over [30.0] going into the final round, not only was Johnson the biggest price Masters winner this century but he was also the first since 1990 not to play in Sunday's final two-ball.

In fairness, he wasn't completely unbackable having won three times previously on either PGA or Nationwide Tours in a short career. Without wanting to sound like an aftertimer, I'd backed Johnson at big odds in previous Majors, though I always thought the US Open or USPGA were infinitely likelier than the Masters.

Even at odds of [75.0], few punters are likely to back Zach for a repeat performance. Apart from simple golfing reasons, he will come under greater scrutiny and have countless media engagements to deal with. Nevertheless, he could well put up a respectable defence as there is one outstanding reason why he will probably build up a good Augusta record over his career. The greatest key to this course is an ability to play these super-fast greens, and Johnson loves them. Their closest comparison in the States is TPC Sugarloaf, and it is no coincidence that Johnson's other two PGA Tour wins have come on that course.

VERDICT: Could well make the top-10 again, but surely lightning can't strike two years in a row.
ODDS: [75.0]

* * *

STEWART CINK

Few Americans have been in better form over the last couple of months than the lanky Alabaman. Cink made the top-three on three of his first five 2008 starts, and it was certainly no disgrace to lose to Tiger in the final of the recent WGC Matchplay.

He also finished second in his following event, the PODS Championship, but ended looking rather foolish after trading at short odds-on before a terrible back-nine. Not for the first time, he struggled badly with short-putts that day when the pressure was on. It was this fundamental weakness that cost Cink dearly when presented with the best chance he's ever had to win a Major. Back in 2001 in the US Open at Southern Hills, he missed a putt of no more than a couple of feet to make a play-off.

Putting weaknesses tend to be badly exposed at Augusta, which may explain his poor record in the season's first Major. In ten tries here, he's only once sneaked into the top-ten.

VERDICT: Guaranteed to be a popular lay if he gets into contention. Generally one to oppose on this course.
ODDS: [110.0]