For most people, an anniversary is a time to celebrate. It’s a time to reflect back on a moment in their life that will always bring a smile to their face.
And then there’s Rory McIlroy’s anniversary.
See, this is the 10th anniversary of McIlroy’s implosion at the Masters back in 2011 that, so far, has kept him from completing golf’s career grand slam.
Well, this week’s PGA Tour stop, the Masters at Augusta National, gives him another chance to slip on that coveted green jacket.
Does he finally get the chance to walk down the 18th fairway with the win, the trophy, the big check, and the coveted green jacket just moments away? Well, let’s take a look.
Odds To Win The Masters From FanDuel
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Odds |
|---|---|
| Dustin Johnson | +950 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | +950 |
| Jordan Spieth | +1100 |
| Justin Thomas | +1100 |
| Jon Rahm | +1200 |
| Rory McIlroy | +1900 |
| Patrick Cantlay | +2000 |
| Xander Schauffele | +2500 |
| Brooks Koepka | +2600 |
| Collin Morikawa | +2900 |
Time For McIlroy To Put Demons To Rest
It was two years ago when we said the stars, sun and moon would all align and Tiger Woods would indeed win the Masters again.
Well, get ready for another alignment article this week.
McIlroy, at +1900 with FanDuel, is overdue to have everything align for him.
But for that to happen he’s going to need to align his wedge play so he doesn’t take himself out of the picture. In the past, he will go into a funk over a few holes and shoot himself out of a tournament.
Like 10 years ago in the final round when a triple-bogey on the par-4 10th took him out of the running.
Or, more recently, like last year at the Masters…kind of. He wound up with a T-5 last fall with an opening-round 75 sidetracking him. He didn’t give up after the poor start and followed that up with rounds of 66, 67 and 69 to race up the leaderboard.
We’re hoping the momentum of the final three rounds last fall carries over to this week because now’s the time to join the career grand slam club and finally slip on that green jacket–10 years later.
At least that’s what we’re betting on.
The Majors Tests The Nerves
Every year there seems to be a handful of guys who have the chance to close out the deal come Sunday. But, c’mon, this is the Masters. The collar gets as tight as the fairways at Augusta National and the greens are lightning-quick.
Augusta National is one of those courses that can bring out the best–and the worst–in players. With elevation changes, water features everywhere, and tournament-tough pin positions, it’s one of those tests that everyone wants to take a crack at.
Add in the length, now 7,475 yards, and the challenge ramps up.
So who else can overcome the nerves and the course and be around the lead come late Sunday?
We thought you’d never ask.
Look At The Guys With Major Victories
The last three winners of 2020 majors need to be in the conversation. The Open Championship wasn’t held in 2020 (Shane Lowry won in 2019, also the first win of his career, but his game isn’t up to par right now) but the other three champions can deal with the pressure. Dustin Johnson (co-favorite at +950 as of early in the week) won the Masters in November while Bryson DeChambeau (also a co-favorite at +950) won the U.S. Open.
But it’s Collin Morikawa, the PGA Championship winner last fall, who has our interest at +2900. Since the turn of the calendar to 2021, he’s got another victory (in the WGC Workday Championship) to go along with a pair of T-7s in Hawaii.
He’s gotten used to being in contention and there’s no better place to get that feeling than Augusta.
Then There’s The Long(er) shot
Every year it seems there’s someone lurking on the leaderboard come Sunday at Augusta who seems to have been playing well enough to contend but just can’t quite get over the hump for that first major. The course and the pressure are that intense.
Enter Sungjae Im at +3900. He hasn’t won a major but that fits the mold this 2020-2021 wraparound season as Morikawa and DeChambeau also hadn’t yet put a major on their resume.
Im was T-2 at Augusta last fall in his first appearance at the Masters. It seems like he’s handled the feel of the course and the pressure just fine, thank you.
Big Money Masters Promo From DraftKings
If you’re new to betting in general and golf specifically, DraftKings has a promotion that everyone should jump on. In a special promo, first-time DraftKings depositors can wager $1 (the max bet for this promotion) and get +10000 on the player of their choice if that player finishes in the top 10 at this week’s Masters.
Simply open an account with a minimum of $5, place your $1 bet, and root on your favorite golfer over the four days. It’s not as quick a payout as a three-hour baseball, football or basketball game but cashing in at +10000 would prove to be well worth the wait.
About the Author
