Masters Tips: A 28/1 play can make your day as Augusta first-round leader

Out tipster Martin Mathews looks at the top bets in the US Masters' specials market ahead of Thursday's tee off.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change

With the US Masters 2021 set to tee off on Thursday it’s time to turn our attention to the side markets where, as always, Paddy have priced up plenty for us to look at. So, let’s start things off by focusing on the First Round Leader.

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Looking at the weather forecast and wind does not seem to be an issue through Thursday so there appears to be no great advantage to be had from an AM or PM tee time. Hedging our bets then, I will take one from both waves starting with Xander Schauffele who tees off at 10.42am local time.

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First Round Leader: Xander Schauffele

Schauffele arrives here slightly under the radar courtesy of a couple of more lacklustre efforts of late. However, with six top tens in the Majors to his name already he has shown he can peak for the big occasion.

Xander’s last three day-one efforts in Majors have been 66, 67 and 68, with the 67 coming here in November enough to make the frame in this market. Couple this with the fact that he currently sits 12th on tour in round one scoring averages and the case for him to make a fast start is an obvious one and I am happy to jump on board.

First Round Leader: Jordan Spieth

If the case for Schauffele is straightforward then I am afraid I will get no awards for originality with our second pick here as alongside him I am going to play Jordan Spieth who tee’s off in the final group of the day at 2pm local time.

I covered Spieth’s obvious chances of landing his second Green Jacket in my main preview. However, as I mentioned there, all the juice has gone from his outright price courtesy of his win in Texas on Sunday.

If Spieth is to win this week though I suspect that buoyed by Sunday’s success he will come straight out of the gates firing on all cylinders and if we add that to his incredible record in this market where he has taken the honours on three occasions in six outings, leading after day one in 2015, 2016 & 2018. He’s a must bet for me at odds more than 50% bigger than his outright market price.

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Top Continential Euro Player: Victor Perez

Moving on and in the Top Continental European market I am happy to take a risk here that Victor Perez can upset the odds, or at least make the frame with three each way places on offer. This market is understandably dominated by Jon Rahm, however it is possible that the arrival of the Spaniard’s first child at the weekend proves enough of a distraction to mean he is not firing at all cylinders on the course.

Whilst the other pair ahead of Perez in this market, Viktor Hovland and Sergio Garcia, are also worthy adversaries, the Frenchman has shown to date in his career that he is more than capable of producing on the big stage. Arriving here on the back of 9th place at the Players and 4th last time out at the Matchplay, he should be brimming with confidence and, having played solidly here on debut in November, I expect another strong week, particularly with JP Fitzgerald, Rory McIlroy’s old caddie, on the bag to guide him round the pitfalls of Augusta.

Top Debutant: Robert McIntyre

Moving on to the Top Debutant market and I will side with Robert McIntyre with the field in this market thinner than normal (if we discount the three amateurs) we are left with Will Zalatoris, Carlos Ortiz and McIntyre. McIntyre has long struck me as the sort of aggressive, flamboyant player who could thrive at Augusta, particularly as left handers have a great record here, and I can see a strong debut performance from him.

The Scot is yet to miss a cut in any of three Majors he has played in and I will take him at the odds to get the better of Zalatoris and Ortiz.

Top 40 Finish: Danny Willett

Finally I will turn my attention to the Top 40 finish market and side with Danny Willett. The former Masters Champion started 2021 solidly and, after being forced to miss the Players Championship due to a positive Covid test, he bounced back nicely to finish 8th a couple of weeks back at the Corales Puntacana event. With conditions anticipated to be the firmest this week since Willett’s triumph in 2016 he should certainly feel comfortable this time around and I expect him to deliver a strong performance.

Masters Special bet tips

First Round Leader: Xander Schauffele
First Round Leader: Jordan Spieth
Top Continential Euro Player: Victor Perez
Top Debutant: Robert McIntyre
Top 40 Finish: Danny Willett

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change

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