Updated Odds to Win 2020 Masters After Thursday Play
- Paul Casey is the overnight leader at the Masters Tournament, after shooting a 7-under 65
- Defending champion Tiger Woods is three shots back at -4
- See updated odds after Thursday play concluded midway through the 1st round at the Masters
As the Masters tournament was completing a rain-delayed Round 1 on Thursday, the sun of hopefulness was shining on Paul Casey. The veteran golfer from England owns a two-shot lead after carding an opening-round of seven-under par 65.
Casey has never won any of golf’s four majors. Tiger Woods, on the other hand, owns 15 major titles, second only to Jack Nicklaus.
Woods, the defending Masters champion, is poised to pounce again after opening with a four-under 68 on Thursday.
2020 Masters Tournament Odds
| Golfer | Odds | First-Round Score |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Thomas | +500 | -5* |
| Dustin Johnson | +700 | -3* |
| Xander Schauffele | +1000 | -5 |
| Joh Rahm | +1400 | -3 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | +1400 | -2 |
| Matthew Wolf | +1800 | -4* |
| Paul Casey | +1800 | -7 |
| Tiger Woods | +1800 | -4 |
| Rory McIlroy | +2200 | Even* |
| Adam Scott | +2200 | -4* |
| Webb Simpson | +2200 | -5 |
Odds as of Nov. 12th at DraftKings. *Players who must complete Round 1 on Friday prior to Round 2.
Justin Thomas, the betting favorite at +500 in the Masters odds, is at -5 through 10 holes. He’s among several players who weren’t able to complete their opening round due to the rain delay.
Paul Casey Making His Case
Casey is the close but no cigar of golf’s majors. Earlier this year, he was second to Collin Morikawa at the PGA Championship.
That was Casey’s best finish in a major. It was his 10th runner-up in a PGA Tour event and also his 10th top ten finish at a major.
Making a statement in Round 1. 😯@Paul_Casey's bogey-free 65 has him atop the leaderboard and two clear of the field. pic.twitter.com/AVGTISjYCJ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 12, 2020
Casey has been all around the leaderboard in recent years at Augusta. He finished sixth in 2017, tied for fourth in 2016 and tied for sixth in 2015. He’s ended up in the top ten of the Masters on five occasions.
However, just one first-round leader over the past five years has won the Masters. That was Jordan Spieth in 2015. He led wire to wire that year.
Tiger Woods Well Positioned
Through one round at the Masters, Woods is actually better positioned than he was a year ago when he won the tournament. He opened four shots off the pace being set by Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Kopeka in 2019.
Thursday marked the first bogey-free opening round that Woods has ever played at Augusta and also his first 18 holes free of bogeys over his last 106 rounds played at majors.
THAT’S DEFENDING CHAMPION TIGER WOODS TO YOU pic.twitter.com/1geLevecgu
— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) November 12, 2020
He carded a steady, uneventful four-under 68. Last year, Woods opened with a 70.
It’s an optimistic beginning for Woods, 44, who’s been looking his age of late. He hasn’t won, or really contended for a title in about a year. Woods missed the cut at the US Open.
Favorites Far From Fading
Thomas sits just two back of Casey and he still has eight holes to finish from his rain-delayed opening round before he’ll get his second round underway on Friday. Xander Schauffele (+1000) is also at -5 after completing his first round of play.
DraftKings is offering +150 on Thomas winding up as Round 1 leader. Casey is the +120 chalk in this prop.
Over the past five years at Augusta, the eventual winner has fared no worse than six shots off the pace through the first 18 holes. All of the top contenders on the odds board find themselves within that window of opportunity.
Everyone was looking for Bryson DeChambeau's ball on 13 😅 #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/OAL6JYFqJO
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 12, 2020
The worst of the bunch was Bryson DeChambeau (+1400). Still, he scrambled his way to a two-under par 70 after a disastrous double bogey on #13.
Dustin Johnson (-3) still has nine holes to finish Friday and Matthew Wolf (-4) is seven holes from being done Round 1. Jon Rahm (-3) completed his round.
Tough Starts
Rory McIlroy’s rough going at majors is continuing. Through nine holes before darkness halted his round, McIlroy was at even par. He’s currently parked right in the neighborhood of the cut line of top 50 and ties.
Rory McIlroy has never trailed by more than 2 shots after any round in his 4 major wins.
— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) November 12, 2020
Brooks Koepka was +1 through nine holes. Spieth and Bubba Watson, both past Masters champions, are at +2.
Offering Value Down the Board
Despite strong starts, Adam Scott and Webb Simpson aren’t getting much love from the bookmakers. Both sit at odds of +2200 to win the tournament.
Webb Simpson’s 67 is his lowest opening-round score in a major championship since the 2011 Open Championship (66).
Simpson has finished in the top 20 in each of his last six starts on the PGA TOUR. #themasters
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) November 12, 2020
Simpson opened with a solid five-under 67. Scott is at -4 with eight holes still to play.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
