The first golfing Major of the 2025 season gets underway on Thursday as the US Masters at Augusta tees off. Scottie Scheffler is trying to win his third Green Jacket in four years, while Rory McIlroy is trying to break his Major hoodoo, having not won one for more than 10 years.
Paddy has priced up all the big hitters in his win and each-way markets but we’ve also got a stack of ‘Specials’ market that could unearth a gem or two in their own category.
Masters 2025 ‘Specials’ tips
First Round Leader – Jordan Spieth / Justin Rose
Top Rest of World – Cameron Smith
Top 40 finish – Matt McCarty
Top Canadian – Corey Conners
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
1. Jordan Spieth – First Round leader
Let’s start off by focusing on the First Round Leader.
There’s potential for the wind picking up as the day progresses, so there does not appear to be a big bias to the morning starters. I’ll hedge my bets and take one each from the AM and PM tee off times, starting with Jordan Spieth who tees off at 10.26 am local time.
Spieth has a superb record at Augusta with a win and five top four finishes to his name over the years.
On the comeback trail following surgery last year, Spieth has already posted three top 12 finishes this term including fourth at the Phoenix Open. When he plays well he’s out of the blocks quickly, most recently opening with a 67 in Texas last week.
Spieth is no stranger to leading on day one, doing so on three previous occasions, and I can see him repeating the feat.
2. Justin Rose – First Round leader
Justin Rose heads out at 12pm local time.
Rose falls into the ‘unpredictable’ camp these days, however, he regularly saves his best for the biggest stage. Both of his top 10 finishes last year came in Major Championships. This year his two top 10’s to date have come in Signature events.
With qualification for the Ryder Cup 2025 in September on his mind, the Englishman will look to give European captain Luke Donald a reminder that he’s the man for the big occasion.
Rose led after day one in 2021 and I’m keen to side with him to do so again this week.
3. Cameron Smith – Top Rest of World
I made an each-way case for Byeong Hun An at big odds in my outright preview, and while I expect Corey Conners to perform solidly, but I can’t ignore Cameron Smith at the odds on offer.
The Aussie is another who loves the challenge of Augusta and he added a fifth top 10 finish in his last seven visits here last year.
Smith has had a low-key year on LIV however, after recently becoming a father, but last week he posted a solid ninth place at LIV Miami – so he could be rounding into form at the right time.
Joaquin Niemann is the favourite in this market, but he’s yet to produce anything of note in the US Masters, while second favourite Hideki Matsuyama has gone off the boil. Add in that Sungjae Im and Tom Kim are struggling for form and course specialist Smith looks good value in this market.
4. Matt McCarty – Top 40 finish
McCarty earned his spot in this field via a win in Utah in 2024 and there are plenty of pointers to make us think he can manage a solid week at Augusta on his debut in the US Masters.
After losing his form at the start of the year, he’s picked up again of late by making his last five cuts. I can see him flourishing on the perilous Augusta greens because he has an excellent short game.
As a left hander, the Augusta layout should favour him, as it has so many ‘lefties’ over the years.
5. Corey Conners – Top Canadian
A model of consistency of late, I expect Corey Conners to perform solidly again. He he could easily add to his three top 10’s at Augusta in his last five visits.
His rivals include the veteran and former champion Mike Weir, the out of form Nick Taylor and debutant Taylor Pendrith – who struggles with the short game. Simply making the cut could be good enough to land a nice banker bet early on in this market.
Day One Leader – Jordan Spieth / Justin Rose
Top Rest of World – Cameron Smith
Top 40 finish – Matt McCarty
Top Canadian – Corey Conners
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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