Great Scott? Punters adamant Adam Scott can go one better

Adam Scott is currently top of bet365’s liabilities for the forthcoming US Masters – with the firm also seeing support for Bubba Watson and Ian Poulter.

Great Scott? Punters adamant Adam Scott can go one better

bet365 spokesman Steve Freeth reflected on Scott’s agonisingly close call in last year’s event: “Scott probably won’t want reminding he was 1/66 in-play before his collapse in last year’s Open, but with solid Masters form behind him over the last three outings, he’s the one that’s attracted the most attention and one we’re certainly not cheering to end his major wait.”

2013 US Masters E/W ¼ 1,2,3,4,5

Player Price Player Price
Tiger Woods 7/2 Rory McIlroy 8/1
Phil Mickelson 11/1 Justin Rose 20/1
Charl Schwartzel 22/1 Lee Westwood 28/1
Adam Scott 28/1 Louis Oosthuizen 28/1
Keegan Bradley 28/1 Dustin Johson 30/1
Bubba Watson 40/1 Ian Poulter 45/1

2013 US Masters – Winning Margin

Margin Price
Won in Play-Off 5/2
One stroke exactly 11/4
Two strokes exactly 7/2
Three strokes exactly 9/2
Four Strokes or more 4/1

Nationality Of Winner

USA                            8/11
Europe                       15/8
Rest Of The World      9/2

Top Englishman

Player Price
Justin Rose 13/8
Lee Westwood 5/2
Luke Donald 3/1
Ian Poulter 5/1
David Lynn 22/1

View all Golf betting

Ian Poulter ready for Masters challenge

Ian Poulter insists he is feeling sharp and believes he has a good chance of winning this week’s US Masters at Augusta.

Ian Poulter ready for Masters challenge

The 37-year-old Englishman has still to win a Major, although he has played a key role in several successful Ryder Cup campaigns for Europe against the USA in the last decade.

Poulter is 45/1 to win the US Masters and 12/1 to be the top European at the tournament.

The world number 12 is confident that he can become the first Englishman since Nick Faldo triumphed at Augusta in 1996 to win a Major and the first European to clinch the Masters since Jose Maria Olazabal emerged victorious 14 years ago.

I’m fired up to play well again this year and try to slip one of those jackets on come Sunday.

Ian Poulter

Poulter finished seventh at Augusta last year while his best result in a Major came at the 2008 Open Championship when he came second behind Padraig Harrington at Royal Birkdale.

Poulter, who has made the cut in each of his eight previous appearances at the Masters, said: “I’ve looked at my stats and I think this (tournament) is my best chance.

“I feel very good about my game right now. I’ve played five events since the start of the year and played last week, something slightly different. I’ve never played the week before the Masters.

“I’ve always had a couple of weeks off but I wanted to get another tournament in before coming here so I could be match-sharp. And although I didn’t finish the week off well, I feel that I’m ready.

“I’ve hit the right shots in practice. I generally play the course pretty well. I’m fired up to play well again this year and try to slip one of those jackets on come Sunday.

“There’s no anxiety. I know this week is probably my best chance, so I just need to go out there and perform. I don’t have sleepless nights over it. If I did it would be through excitement, and I think I’ll be able to play on no sleep come Sunday if I had to.”

Don’t forget all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on your mobile phone with the new and improved Mobile at bet365.

View all Golf betting

Rory McIlroy won’t settle for second best

Rory McIlroy says anything less than a winning the Masters this week will leave him disappointed as he goes in search of his third major title.

Rory McIlroy won't settle for second best

The Northern Irishman endured a nightmare start to 2013 and had managed only one top ten finish before last week’s Texas Open.

The reigning US PGA champion made a late decision to play at the event at San Antonio and it seems to have pay dividends as he finish second on 12-under, two shots behind the winner Martin Laird.

The 23-year-old felt his good performance at the PGA Tour event has left him in good shape to challenge for the first major of the year.

When asked whether it would be disappointing if he didn’t pick up the first green jacket of his career, McIlroy replied: “Yeah, it would be.

“Every time you come to Augusta you want to win the Green Jacket and every time you don’t it’s another chance missed. If I am sitting here on Sunday having finished second and having given it a good run you can’t be too disappointed, but the ultimate aim is to win.”

McIlroy is 9/1 to be victorious at Augusta, with the man who replaced him at the top of the world rankings recently, Tiger Woods, 7/2 to win a fifth Masters title.

McIlroy has rejected the suggestion there is a growing rivalry between him and his Nike stablemate Woods, claiming Woods’ success puts him in a different league to everyone else.

“He’s got 14 majors; I’ve got two. If I saw myself a rival to Tiger, I wouldn’t really be doing him much justice.”

The two-time major winner has been paired with 2011 US PGA champion Keegan Bradley and Sweden’s Freddie Jacobson for the first two rounds.

Elsewhere, Woods will spend Thursday and Friday alongside former world number one Luke Donald and Scott Piercy.

Don’t forget all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on your mobile phone with the new and improved Mobile at bet365.

View all Golf betting

Martin Laird thrilled to have Masters chance

Martin Laird is thrilled to have the opportunity to play in this week’s US Masters after holding off Rory McIlroy’s late charge to win the Texas Open.

Martin Laird thrilled to have Masters chance

The 30-year-old Scot had taken part in the last two Masters – finishing 20th in 2011 and 57th 12 months ago – but would not have been involved in the Augusta action this year until he shot a course-record 63 in the final round at TPC San Antonio to edge ahead of McIlroy by two shots.

Laird becomes the 94th and last player to earn his place in the Masters and is 100/1 to cause a major shock and win the tournament.

Finishing it off with a round like this, it’s a great way to go into Augusta. I’m really pleased with my game.

Rory McIlroy

Laird said after his victory in the Texas Open: “Unbelievable. I’ve been asked 30 times in the last two weeks, ‘Are you going to Augusta?’ Every time I said no, it hurt. It was a major motivation.”

Meanwhile, McIlroy, 8/1 to win the Masters, was delighted to end the Texas Open with a fine final round. The Northern Irishman carded a six-under 66 to finish second on 12-under.

The 23-year-old has yet to win a tournament this year but is in a buoyant mood in the build-up to the first Major of the year.

He said: “Even though I didn’t get the trophy, Martin was just too good today – 63 in these conditions is just phenomenal. I’m really pleased with my game and I think this has been a great week for me.

“Finishing it off with a round like this, it’s a great way to go into Augusta. I’m really pleased with my game.”

Overnight leader Billy Horschel and fellow Americans Jim Furyk and Charley Hoffman tied for third on 11-under.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, 66/1 to win the Masters, finished in a share of 10th after a closing 70, while David Lynn shot a final-round 70 to finish on five-under.

Looking for more from bet365? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or +1 us on Google+ for fun competitions, special offers & much more!

Don’t forget, all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on mobile or tablet with bet365 On The Move.

View all Golf betting