Outsiders to consider at the 2023 Masters

When circling prominent professional events on the sporting calendar every year, the Masters is one of the very first fans choose to highlight. Whether it be the notoriously challenging Augusta course, the Green Jacket, or the monumental Tiger Woods performances – there is an unparalleled level of prestige that the Masters holds when compared to other golf tournaments.

2023 will be no exception, and with all the turmoil surrounding professional golf as a result of the newly established LIV Golf league – this year’s edition is shaping up to be one of most intriguing in quite some time.

Scottie Scheffler is the favourite in the golf betting markets at the time of writing, while John Rahm and PGA Tour golden boy Rory McIlroy are the second and third favourites at 8/1 and 15/2 respectively. However, as has been proven on so many occasions beforehand, golf majors are far from a forgone conclusion, with a number of surprise packets having reigned supreme in the past.

With that in mind, read on as we look at some contenders outside of the top three in the betting lines to consider for the Masters taking place April 6-9.

Cameron Smith

A 20/1 shot with certain operators, PGA Tour defector Cameron Smith currently sits as the fifth favourite. Before leaving for LIV in 2022, Smith was one of the most loveable characters on tour. His free-flowing mullet, laid back attitude and risk-averse style of play made him a fan favourite – and he ultimately produced the results to back it up.

After finishing fourth at the US Open in 2015 and second at the Masters in 2020 – Smith was at risk of garnering a reputation similar to that of countryman Greg Norman – whose inability to rise to the occasion in big moments has followed him well into retirement.

Smith managed to get the proverbial monkey off his back last year however, putting forth a record-setting display to win the Open Championship at St Andrews. The Australian did so in impressive fashion – finishing 20-under par with a final-round 64 that left golf fans and pundits alike in awe. His result was the best score to par in major championship history – and well and truly put him on the map among the wider public, particularly in his home country.

If he can replicate his Scotland performance at Augusta this month, Smith has the opportunity to become the first player on the LIV Golf roster to hoist a major trophy since the rebel league’s inception.

Dustin Johnson

Similarly to Smith, the allure of greater financial security and the flexible nature of the LIV schedule saw two-time major winner Dustin Johnson resign from the PGA Tour in June, 2022. The decision has demonstrated to be a good one thus far, with the 6’4 American dominating LIV Golf’s inaugural season by winning four consecutive events as the captain of the 4Aces GC team and being crowned the league’s season-long Individual Champion.

Couple the 38-year-old’s recent form with his accurate long ball which will likely prove pivotal on some of the narrower fairways at Augusta – and Johnson could prove good value at 28/1.

Will Zalatoris

One player struggling to get over the hump and win his maiden major is Will Zalatoris. The 26-year-old has been runner-up in three of the four majors, finishing a stroke behind Hideki Matsuyama at the Masters in 2021 before losing to Justin Thomas in a playoff in the PGA Championship last year.

The American had another shot at glory at the most recent US Open – however – he was unable to get the job done and finished joint-second behind Matt Fitzpatrick. While he may not have a major victory to his name as of yet, there’s something to be said about Zalatoris’ consistency at the sport’s preeminent events.

Therefore, for those who believe he can go one better and secure his first major win, Zalatoris is paying a tempting 28/1 in the US Masters odds.