Golf tips: Best first-round leader bets for the Masters
10 Apr
Golf
Jack Green
Back any player to win the Masters and Betway will pay out if they lead at the end of any round.

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA

First-round leader 33/1

To win the tournament 28/1

Matsuyama doesn’t win as often as he should, but he’s been consistent this season and is a good bet to start well at the Masters.

The 27-year-old fits the profile of a winner for this event and has finished inside the top 20 in his last three starts at Augusta, including a T5 in 2015.

It’s best to go out nice and early at Augusta when the greens are soft, so the world No. 26 should benefit from his 10:42 tee time.

Matsuyama is difficult to trust to win given that he hasn’t converted a chance into a win since 2017, but he’s playing well enough to contend and looks a good bet to take an early lead.

CHARLEY HOFFMAN

First-round leader 40/1

To win the tournament 80/1

Yes, the price is far too short, but Hoffman just has to be backed to lead at Augusta on Thursday.

The American has been unbelievably good in the first round of the Masters in recent years, closing T2 in 2015, first in 2017 and T4 last year.

A runner-up finish at last week’s Texas Open is an ominous sign that Hoffman’s coming into form just in time for Augusta.

He’s almost certainly not going to win the tournament, but with Betway’s offer – where you’ll be paid out as a winner if he leads after any round – he’s worth a crack.

HENRIK STENSON

First-round leader 50/1

To win the tournament 50/1

Stenson is another early starter on Thursday as he tees off with Sergio Garcia and Tony Finau at 09:58.

The Swede is in good nick, having won all three of his group matches in his last start at the WGC Dell Match Play, and he should carry that form through to the first round at Augusta.

Stenson was T4 after the first round at last year’s Masters and went on to finish T5, six shots behind eventual winner Patrick Reed.

That was his first ever top-10 finish at Augusta, but the course fits his game nicely and he’s proven his mettle in majors before, having seen off Phil Mickelson at the Open in 2016.

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