Golf Events / Editor / 02 April 2007 /

There will be just one question on everyone's lips as they look forward with mouthwatering anticipation to the first major of the year this week - can anyone stop Tiger Woods from claiming his fifth US Masters title?

Woods has rewritten golf's record books since he burst on to the world stage in 1997 and the bad news for his rivals is that his appetite for winning shows no sign of being satisfied just yet.

It seems incredible that a decade has passed since Woods first announced himself to the world, breaking 20 US Masters records on his way to shooting a final score of 18-under-par to win at Augusta by a massive 12 strokes.

Since then, the world number one has claimed 11 other Grand Slam tournaments, including the last two, to move to within six of Jack Nicklaus' record mark of 18 and it is a brave man who would rule him out of claiming lucky number 13 at Augusta this week.
Woods will start the week as the overwhelming favourite to clinch his fifth Green Jacket to close in on Nicklaus' record of six and is currently trading at 2.54 to win and just 1.4 to finish in the top five.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson can be backed at 9.2 to claim his third US Masters crown in four years, with Ernie Els available at 19 to win in the early markets ahead of 2000 winner Vijay Singh (22), Sergio Garcia (32) and Henrik Stenson and last week's PGA Tour winner Adam Scott (both 38).

European golf has a strong presence in the field this year as it tries to end its run which has seen 29 majors pass since a European last tasted victory in a Grand Slam event but, if they are to win this week, they must first get past the figures of Woods and Mickelson.

Woods struggled at times last year on his way to finishing third behind Mickelson and, if he is to win in 2007, he must rediscover the putting touch that deserted him in the final round in 2006.

But the American had other issues to contend with last year. His thoughts were very much with his dying father Earl as he battled against cancer and he will not have the same distractions this week.

People wondered how the impending prospect of becoming a father would affect Woods' game but he answered that question in the best possible way two weeks ago with a comfortable victory at the WGC-CA Championship.

Much of the Betfair market this week will revolve around Woods, but Mickelson also has happy memories of the US Masters and will arrive at Augusta confident that he can defend his crown.

Mickelson, 2.5 to claim a top-five finish and 6.8 favourite to win without Woods in the field, dominated the final-day proceedings last year on his way to victory and the course sets up well for him.

With two of the best and most imaginative short games in the world, it seems improbable that both players won't be in the thick of the action come the final nine holes on Sunday.

But this year's renewal is by no means a two-horse race and there are plenty of others in the star-studded select field who will fancy their chances.

Els has twice finished runner-up in the event and his performance in 2006 should largely be ignored as he was struggling to rediscover his game after a knee operation eight months earlier.
The South African has adjusted quickly since switching equipment suppliers from Titleist to Callaway and is attractively priced at 12 to finish as the best player without Woods in the field.

Singh is another player who should be discounted at your peril and is back in form with two victories already this season.

The Fijian, 4.9 to come in the top five, led the field after the first day last year before slipping back to finish joint-eighth and is trading at 20 to do the same thing in 2007, which could be a good bet.

Retief Goosen has a fine record in the tournament, having finished second in 2002 and joint-third the last two years. Available to back at 40 to win and 6.8 to place in the first five, he looks attractively priced and may be worth following along with reigning US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy.

Ogilvy, trading at the same price as Goosen to win, tied for 16th here last year but is a more confident player 12 months on. He can be backed at 3.6 to finish as top Australian, a shade longer than Scott who arrives in Georgia with his game in top shape after his win in Houston last week.

Keep an eye out too for their compatriots Robert Allenby (75 to win and 5.3 to come in the top ten), who has been consistency personified in 2007 with six top ten finishes already this season, and in-form Aaron Baddeley, who is available at 160 to win.

There will be no shortage of British players in action this week with the challenge being led by Paul Casey and Luke Donald, while Irishman Padraig Harrington is also in top form going into the prestigious tournament.

Casey and Harrington, Europe's top two players in 2006 and trading at 55 to win, have both showed good form in America in 2007, and Casey in particular has the game to master Augusta if he is in the mood.

Donald finished third here in 2005, while Jose Maria Olazabal went one better last year and looks good value at 90 to win and 12 to place in the top five.

Justin Rose is back after leading the tournament at the halfway stage in 2004 and is available at 46 to be first-round leader but Europe's best hope of glory this week could lie with Stenson.

The Swede missed the cut in 2006 but his golf has risen to a new level this year that has seen him win in Dubai and at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship to rise to number six in the world rankings.

While Garcia's putting, his Achilles heel, could again plague his hopes of featuring this week, Stenson has no such worries and he has the all-round game to challenge. He can be backed at 8.8 to come in the top five and is 5.7 favourite to finish as the top European, ahead of Garcia (6.8) and Casey (7.8).

It will be interesting to see how debutants Brett Wetterich, Robert Karlsson and Johan Edfors fare, but the length of the 7,445 yard course will certainly not be a problem for any of them.

Backers should also be aware of course specialist Chris DiMarco (75 to win), who has led the event three times in his career and is trading at 38 to be leader after the first day, and Chad Campbell, who finished joint third in 2006 and is available at 190 to win.

Keep an eye out too for double champion Bernhard Langer, 520 to win, 38 to come in the top five and 21 to finish as top European, after he warmed up for this week by coming joint ninth in Houston last week.

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