Rory McIlroy is the consensus favorite to win the Masters next week, but Jordan Spieth has attracted the most money in Las Vegas. There has also been a flurry of betting activity on Tiger Woods, although that Masters tradition appears to be waning along with Woods' short game.
More money has been bet on Spieth to win the Masters than on any other golfer at multiple Las Vegas sportsbooks. On Wednesday at the MGM, Spieth was listed as the 5-1 favorite, ahead of McIlroy. Rory, however, is the man to beat at the majority of sportsbooks.
McIlroy, at 6-1, is the only golfer with single-digit odds at the Westgate SuperBook. Spieth and defending champion Bubba Watson are both 10-1. Spieth is No. 1 in total bets and amount wagered at the SuperBook and MGM.
Thanks to his appearance at Augusta National earlier in the week, Woods has received more bets than McIlroy at the SuperBook. Woods had not committed to playing the Masters as of Wednesday afternoon, but just his publicized presence at Augusta National was enough to cause an uptick in bets on the four-time Masters champion.
"Just a flurry of activity, nothing big, just stuff that added up," said Jeff Sherman, SuperBook assistant manager and golf specialist.
It was enough to cause Sherman to move Woods' odds from 50-1 to 40-1. Those are still the longest odds Woods has ever had for the Masters. Just seven years ago, Woods was a huge 13-10 favorite to win the 2008 Masters. Now, his odds are comparable to Hideki Matsuyama's.
During his prime, four- and five-figure bets on Woods were common. Sherman says those have dried up and no one has even inquired about placing a four-figure bet on Woods as of this week. Spieth, on the other hand, has attracted some bigger bets. Forty percent more money had been wagered on Spieth than Woods as of Wednesday at the SuperBook. Woods must tee off or bets will be refunded at the SuperBook. Other shops may have different house rules.
Sherman said he took Jason Day at 25-1 when Masters odds were first released after last year's PGA Championship.
Patrick Reed also is receiving plenty of support in Las Vegas. Reed, who is looking for his first major title, was bet down from 50-1 to 10-1 at the Stratosphere sportsbook.
"He's our biggest loser by far," Stratosphere supervisor Hugh Citron told ESPN Chalk.
Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson was listed at 25-1 and was receiving limited support from bettors, Sherman said.
The Masters tees offs April 9, with coverage of the first two rounds on ESPN.