GOLF SCHEFFLER HAS

THE pros don’t panic if they don’t make the fairway with the first shot, logic tells them there are eighteen holes to play, seventy-two over the week.

So why are golf bettors so obsessed with betting early, getting ‘value for money’, by having their bet on for all (itals) four days — it’s money-madness.

Consider this stat: Seventeen of the last eighteen winners have been in the top 10 after day one.

Then reconsider that stat again, and breathe, because it will help recognise money-sense.

There is, of course, that odd one out and that was Tiger Woods who was a shot off the top 10 in 2019 (but, mind you, had worked himself to sixth after round two).

Shocked

This advice comes with the surefire knowledge that waiting a day will see prices shorten but you may be shocked at just how little they fall as far as those at the top of the betting, where Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm sit, are concerned.

Firstly a hands-off warning about Scheffler, his 7/2 & 4/1 pricing is outrageously bad value; if he is in the top 10 after day one he won’t be less than 3/1 while should he shoot oneover he will be a higher price on the back of it!

McIlroy and Rahm have proven bookies’ delight in the past, they are where the Uncle Albert money comes flooding and both will be kept competitive longer into the tournament than others.

Both will start at 10/1 and if they are in the top 10 after the first day they will only drop to around 8/1 - it may be worth shopping around to get and if that’s the case Boylesports tend to be best priced.

The value for money will be those in-form and in the next tranche of the betting, players such as Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Victor Hovland and the one I’ve a yen for Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama.

Schauffele has had his chance, twice, to win here finishing second in 2019 and third in 2021 but with himself and new coach Chris Como talking of (the dreaded) ‘swing changes’ don’t touch him with a bargepole or your wallet.

Spieth is consistent around this track, one that pays for those who don’t take risks and are patient, and he looked in the groove at San Antonio last week, finishing 10th.

Koepka has also done something that suggests he hasn’t particularly got his eye on this Masters and the peculiarity of it switching from being the last Major to the first Major.

Hovland had for a long time been considered a player unable to win at big tournaments but 2023 knocked that into a corked hat as he won Memorial (June), BMW (Aug) and Tour Championship (Aug) resulting in his first FedEx Cup. He’s now, officially, a big dog.

Being keen on Matsuyama isn’t difficult, the 32 year-old has been around the Masters since he was 22 years-of-age. Seventh in Texas last week, I will have money on him from tee off but that’s to finish top Asian at 7/5.

FLAT TO THE MAT’: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan plays a second shot on the 11th hole during a practice round

EYES ON THE PRIZE: Scottie Scheffler during a practice round in Augusta prior to the Masters