Rory the right favourite but odds are short Rory McIlroy Last five Masters: 5/7/10/4/8 Betfair Exchange Winner Odds: 8.415/2 The favourite arrives in tip-top form, fresh off victory in the Players Championship and with nothing worse than sixth place in strokeplay all year. McIlroy, however, hasn't won a major since the 2014 PGA and may have a few demons to conquer around Augusta. While his driving and towering iron shots are perfect for the course, demonstrated by top-ten finishes in the last five renewals, Rory has twice imploded during the final round with the tournament at his mercy. The 2011 collapse when chasing his first major was easily forgiven but last year's less so. The argument persists that he doesn't convert often enough to justify perennially short odds. Impossible to pick holes in DJ's chance Dustin Johnson Last five Masters: 10/-/4/6/MC Betfair Exchange Winner Odds: 14.013/1 The world number one boasts typically watertight credentials. Dustin has already won twice this season - notably destroying an elite field at the WGC Mexico Championship. A second major title to add to his 2016 US Open victory has been elusive but feels only a matter of time. He's never laid down a serious final round challenge in the Masters but finished top-ten on his last three attempts and was hot favourite before a last-minute withdrawal in 2017. Bound to score heavily on the par-fives to be there or thereabouts. Remarkably consistent Rose hard to ignore Justin Rose Last five Masters: 12/2/10/2/14 Betfair Exchange Winner Odds: 14.5 Another US Open champion long overdue a second major title. Rose took a liking to Augusta long before he joined the game's upper echelon and few can boast such a consistent record without winning a Masters. Twice runner-up - most recently in 2017 following an epic play-off with Sergio Garcia - he's never missed the top-40 in 13 attempts. While not quite matching the brilliance of Rory or Dustin recently, he won titles on both main tours either side of Christmas and played pretty well in his last two events. Fairytale could come true but is Woods' price right? Tiger Woods Last five Masters: 32/-/-/17/- Betfair Exchange Winner Odds: 18.017/1 It is six years since Tiger Woods last contended on a Masters Sunday but what seemed unimaginable not so long ago is now a mere 18.017/1 chance. A fairytale fifth Masters title - 14 years since the last and 11 since his last major title - is perfectly realistic. Tiger confirmed he was back when challenging strongly for the last two majors, then very nearly winning the FedEx Cup series. Overall, his form doesn't justify the odds but experienced course specialists tend to overperform at Augusta. It may well be that, at this stage of his career, peak Tiger is saved for the majors. JT yet to show Augusta is his cup of tea Justin Thomas Last five Masters: 17/22/39/-/- Betfair Exchange Winner Odds: 23.022/1 With seven victories since the beginning of 2017 - including a USPGA and a WGC - Thomas is prolific and worthy of any shortlist any time he tees it up. The 25 year-old has yet to take Augusta National by storm though. In fairness, making all three cuts is a respectable start around this unique course, which famously takes most players several years to get the hang of. Although yet to win this year, a trio of top-three finishes amount to a typically elite standard. Rahm has obvious chance but lack of win is a worry Jon Rahm Last five Masters: 4/27/-/-/- Betfair Exchange Winner Odds: 19.018/1 Widely acknowledged to be a superstar in the making and set, at some stage, to follow in the footsteps of Spanish champions Ballesteros, Olazabal and Garcia. Twelve months ago he challenged strongly on only his second appearance and Rahm evidently has the right combination of power and finesse for Augusta. One slight negative is that, following a prolific start to his professional career, he hasn't won for almost a year. That shouldn't be overstated given that he's frequently contended amidst elite opposition during that period. Impossible to write Spieth off Jordan Spieth Last five Masters: 3/11/2/1/2 Betfair Exchange Winner Odds: 25.024/1 It is a measure of Spieth's achievements at Augusta that he's trading at just 25.024/1 - there are players at 20 times these odds with better recent numbers. He hasn't won since the 2017 Open Championship or finished top-ten since last July or a top-30 this year. His driving is all over the place. Nevertheless only a fool would write off a player with his Masters record - last year's closing 64 to challenge from an impossible position being a case in point. He's held the first round lead three times so any backers would be well advised to get on early. No reason why Brooks cannot go very close Brooks Koepka Last five Masters: -/11/21/33/- Betfair Exchange Winner Odds: 32.031/1 Because he missed the last renewal due to a wrist injury, Koepka has yet to play Augusta as a major champion. He's won three in the intervening two years and will bid for a rare US Open hat-trick in June. There's no logical reason why this bomber wouldn't be even better suited by the challenge of a Masters. His first attempts were encouraging - improving each time. The sole negative is recent form. Second place at the Honda is Brooks' only close effort in 2019 and he was very disappointing on his last three starts at Bay Hill, Sawgrass and the World Matchplay. On the plus side, however, a selection for Steve Rawlings in his must-read preview. Six-time tour winner has all the credentials Bryson Dechambeau Last five Masters: 38/-/21/-/- Betfair Exchange Winner Odds: 44.043/1 Another probable future champion. Dechambeau is already prolific - winning six times on the main tours despite less than three years as a pro - four coming during a magical five month spell that culminated at January's Dubai Desert Classic.<doc-sep>Want the latest from the world of GAA, horse racing, football, rugby and more straight to your inbox? Sign up to our FREE newsletter Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Yes please! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Ireland's Rory McIlroy is the favourite to be wearing the green jacket late on Sunday as he heads into the 2019 US Masters. The Masters, in its 83rd installment, is one of golf's greatest tournaments and the first of four annual majors. Defending champion Patrick Reed comes into the tournament as an outsider, while many big names such as Tiger Woods, Louis Oosthuizen and Jordan Spieth are also in the mix. Only 87 players will take to the course this Thursday, the same amount as 2018, as big names such as Lee Westwood missed the cut. Here's everything you need to know ahead of the tournament: Where and when is it on? (Image: Getty Images) The Masters is played at Augusta, Georgia every year. Action gets underway on Thursday afternoon, Irish time, and play will continue until the final day on Sunday. Is it on TV? TV coverage of the tournament is infamously limited, with select holes available on Sky Sports red button on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Live action gets underway on Sky Sports Main Event from 8pm on the first three days and 7pm on Sunday's final day. What Irish golfers are in action? (Image: Warren Little/Getty Images) McIlroy leads the Irish charge and is in scorching form ahead of the tournament. Shane Lowry also confirmed his attendance with a brilliant win at the HSBC Abu-Dhabi championship earlier this season. The Offalyman is an outsider but has a good major record ahead of his fourth appearance in the Masters. The best pairings and tee times 13:52 - Shane Lowry, Mike Weir, Kevin O'Connell (a) 14:58 - Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Tony Finau 15:31 - Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Viktor Hovland (a) 16:04 - Tiger Woods, Haotong Li, Jon Rahm 16:15 - Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Smith 18:05 - Zach Johnson, Ian Poulter, Matt Kuchar 18:38 - Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Jason Day 18:49 - Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose, Justin Thomas 19:00 - Jordan Spieth, Paul Casey, Brooks Koepka *All times are Irish time. Betting odds (Image: Getty Images) The favourites Rory MIlroy - 6/1 Dustin Johnson - 9/1 Justin Rose - 11/1 Tiger Woods - 14/1 Rickie Fowler - 16/1 Outsiders Francesco Molinari - 18/1 Jordan Speith - 18/1 Paul Casey - 22/1 Tommy Fleetwood - 22/1 Bubba Watson - 28/1 Longshots Louis Oosthiezon - 30/1 Phil Mickelson - 35/1 Sergio Garcia - 40/1 Patrick Reed - 55/1 Matthew Fitzpatrick - 90/1 Shane Lowry - 100/1 If you haven't already, be sure to like our Irish Mirror Sport and Irish Mirror GAA pages on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.<doc-sep>Tournament History Manchester City and Watford have both progressed to next month's FA Cup final, 4/1 favourite, Tiger Roll, has won the Grand National (the first to win it back-to-back since Red Rum in 1973/74) and for the real traditionalists, 46 year-old Olympian, James Cracknell, has ably aided Cambridge to Boat Race glory against Oxford so we've witnessed three big sporting spring stories in the UK this weekend, but for me, nothing announces the arrival of spring quite like the US Masters in Augusta, Georgia. Played at the iconic and stunning Augusta National, with its wonderful flowering dogwoods and azaleas, the US Masters is the first of four major championships played throughout the year and it's the only one played at the same venue year after year. Augusta National was founded at the start of the Great Depression and when the first edition was staged in 1934 the club had just 76 paid up members - someway short of the planned 1,800 - and the inaugural winner, Horton Smith, along with all the top finishers, had to wait for 17 members to club together to raise the purse before he received his winnings. Originally called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament, a name it kept for five years, it wasn't initially a major championship. The US Masters have a number of quirky traditions that add to its appeal. Since 1949, the winner has been awarded a famous Green Jacket, on the Tuesday of Masters week there's a Champions Dinner, at which the previous year's winner chooses the menu, and since 1960, there's been a relaxed par three contest held on the eve of the main event on the most beautiful little course you're ever likely to see. And finally, anyone that makes an eagle at the US Masters receives a pair of Waterford Crystal goblets and those that shoot the lowest individual rounds receive a crystal vase. Venue Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia. Course Details Par 72, 7,475 yards, stroke average in 2018 - 72.93 Originally the brainchild of Rees Jones, Augusta National was founded by him and Clifford Roberts - a wealthy New York investment banker. Designed by Jones and Alister Mackenzie, who died before the course was finished, Augusta National was built on the site of an old nursery and all the holes are named after a tree or shrub. It officially opened in January 1933 and it's been evolving ever since and to such an extent recently that the original designers would barely recognize the place. The Bermuda greens were changed to bentgrass and the fairways were tightened at the end of the last century before a major overhaul was orchestrated by Tom Fazio in 2002. More than half the holes were lengthened and tightened and at a touch under 7,500 yards now, it's a long course. This year's change is a surprising one as they've lengthened the already long par four fifth by 40 yards. It was the sixth hardest hole 12 months ago and historically it's been the fifth hardest. It won't be any easier now it measures 495 yards. Augusta plays even longer than its already demanding yardage because the fairways are all cut in the same direction - towards the tee-boxes - so balls tend to land and stop fairly quickly. Weather Forecast TV Coverage Sky Sports is the only place to see all four days live in the UK and their coverage is comprehensive. They have live bulletins from the range on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the Par Three Tournament is live on Wednesday and they have breakfast show recapping the action from the day before as well as full live coverage of every round from 20:00 on Thursday night. Last 12 Winners 2018 - Patrick Reed -15 Pre-event price 70/1 2017 - Sergio Garcia -9 (playoff) Pre-event price 50/1 2016 - Danny Willett -5 Pre-event price 66/1 2015 - Jordan Spieth -18 Pre-event price 12/1 2014 - Bubba Watson -8 Pre-event price 28/1 2013 - Adam Scott -9 (playoff) Pre-event price 28/1 2012 - Bubba Watson -10 (playoff) Pre-event price 55/1 2011 - Charl Schwartzel -14 Pre-event price 90/1 2010 - Phil Mickelson -16 Pre-event price 10/1 2009 - Angel Cabrera -12 (playoff) Pre-event price 150/1 2008 - Trevor Immelman -8 Pre-event price 150/1 2007 - Zach Johnson +1 Pre-event price 200/1 What Will it Take to Win the US Masters? To provide an at-a-glance picture of what's required at Augusta, here are the average rating for the last 12 winners in all the key stats. Driving Accuracy - 25.08 Driving Distance - 19.42 G.I.R - 7.08 Scrambling - 7.8 Putting Average - 9.58 Although Augusta is tree-lined, Driving Accuracy is the least important stat to consider. The trees are well-established and the branches are high so errant drives aren't always punished. Length off the tee is advantageous and historically much more important than accuracy but it isn't an absolute imperative. Jordan Spieth, Danny Willett, Charl Schwartzel and Zach Johnson have all won here in the last 12 years with DD rankings of 52nd, 32nd, 40th and 57th respectively but they're the exceptions. The last two winners have ranked sixth for DD and six of the last 12 have ranked inside the top-six. Bubba hit it further than anyone off the tee when he won his second Green Jacket. Reed only ranked 21st for Greens In Regulation and that was unusually shoddy - nine of the last 12 winners have ranked sixth or better for GIR - and he only ranked 16th for Scrambling, which was also unusual. Johnson only ranked 27th for Scrambling but the ten winners in-between Zach and Patrick had an average ranking of 5.1 so a fabulous short game and the ability to get up-and-down repeatedly is vital. Reed topped the Putting Average stats last year but only three of the last 12 winners have ranked inside the top-12 for that stat and a quick glance at the list of winners above will show you that a number of players that have had their fair share of woes on the greens have won here recently.<doc-sep>Each-way terms: 1/5 odds, 8 places Weather forecast for Augusta National, Georgia: It's a sunny day one at the Masters. Temperatures start in the early-60s for the first groups but rise to a peak of around 83 degrees at 1pm. However, winds pick up too. They're 6mph for the early tee-off times but double to 12mph from 2pm and edge a little higher around 5pm. First-round leader history: 2018 - 66 Jordan Spieth (13:49) 2017 - 65 Charley Hoffman (13:08) 2016 - 66 Jordan Spieth (09:48) 2015 - 64 Jordan Spieth (13:15) 2014 - 68 Bill Haas (10:08) Strategy: Looking at the last 10 R1 leaders which takes us back to 2011, six have started between 12:57 and 13:59 while four were from 09:24 to 10:08. With just 87 players in the field this year, tee-times range from just 08:30 to 14:00. Past experience suggests we don't go to the extreme edges of the tee-time range. Nothing too early and nothing too late. With the wind getting up, I'll take two from the earlier wave and one late. Happy homecoming for Howell The golf writers will be more than happy to see Charles Howell III take the first-round lead as it makes the perfect local hero story. Howell III is an Augusta native returning to The Masters for this first crack since 2012. He was tied 19th that year, his best finish since tied 13th in 2004. The American was tied eighth after round one that year and something similar would secure an each-way payout this time with eight each-way places on offer. The 39-year-old was the first-round leader at the RSM Classic earlier this season after firing a 62 - a tournament he went on to win, ending an 11-year drought on the PGA Tour. And he's been starting well ever since, his last seven rounds showing a 66, a 67 and four 69s. Howell III looks to have an ideal morning tee-time at 09:47 and is worth a bet at 66/1. Side with Stenson Henrik Stenson had a breakthrough at last year's Masters, finally cracking the top 10 by finishing tied fifth. Not that he had a bad record having had four straight top 25s from 2013. He was tied fourth after day one last year but should really have been the first-round leader in 2012 having played the first 15 holes in 6-under. Instead he three-putted 16 and then ran up a quadruple bogey at the final hole. The Swede has has a curious season so far, missing a string of cut, but he was T17 at Bay Hill, T24 at the Valspar before winning his group with three wins out of three at the WGC-Dell Match Play. His game is clearly on the up again and last year's strong show means he'll see Augusta National in a much more positive light when returning this year. Take him to start fast at 45/1 from his 09:58 tee-time. Pick Poulter From the afternoon starters, the one I like best is Ian Poulter at 66/1. The Englishman boasts a strong Augusta National record and has finished the opening lap in the top seven on three occasions. Poulter certainly has a habit of low first rounds and he's ended day one inside the top 10 no less than five times in his last 11 starts this season. He may have to cope with tougher winds if the forecast is correct but there's no guarantee of that so I'll give him a whirl and hope he thrives from his 13:05 start. And, no, I'm not backing Charley Hoffman at 35/1! Double that price would have been more accurate. ** For more exclusive insight from our golf team, check out the Betfair Masters Preview<doc-sep>
Main Bet: Back Jon Rahm each-way @ 16/1 Going into last year's US Masters, Jon Rahm had never had a top 20 in a major. True, he'd only played in six but that was still a slow start at this level given his rapid rise to stardom. Rahm had finished a respectable tied 27th on his first visit to Augusta National so the signs were good that he'd kick on but an opening 75 left him outside the cut line. The momentum changed the following day as he broke 70 for the first time and he followed that 68 with a stunning 7-under-par 65 on Saturday. The Spaniard was tied fourth heading into the final round although six back from Patrick Reed so it was still going to take a mighty effort. The final-round surge was building as he played his first 14 holes in 4-under but, with Reed on the radar, Rahm couldn't carry the water with his second to the par-5 15th and a potential birdie or eagle hole resulted in a bogey which killed his chances. However, a fourth place finish changed the script for Rahm in the majors and he added another top four in the PGA Championship later that year. Some will argue that the 24-year-old will still need more laps of Augusta National to fully appreciate all the subtleties but if Charl Schwartzel (2011) and Danny Willett (2016) can win the green jacket on their second visits, I have no doubts that Rahm can win it on his third. Asked about what makes a Masters winner, Rahm said last year: "No. 1, really good short game. I feel like you can't win a tournament here if you don't have good short game. That's just not going to happen. Unless you don't miss any greens. And the second one is some crazy good imagination. "I try to describe myself as a creative player. I think I'm pretty imaginative. I grew up on a place, tree-lined with tough greens and I know how to use that, so I know how to get out of trouble. "So a place like this is perfect for someone like me. I love greens that are as sloped as these are because there's no straight putts and there's no easy break. You have to let your feel and your gut tell you what's going to happen, and that's when I putt my best, when I can use my imagination and use the slopes, I feel more comfortable doing that. "One of the things Phil (Mickelson) was trying to tell me last year, it's like you don't need to play perfect to win at Augusta National just because there's so many ways to do it, there's not only one way." While some will dismiss Rahm as a Masters winner due to his quick temper, I think that overlooks all the other plus points. He has room to breathe at Augusta and possesses the skill-sets to thrive. He booms it (2nd for Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee), makes lots of birdies (13th Birdie Average), responds well to bogeys (34th Bounce Back) and has iron nerve on short putts (hasn't missed a three-footer all season). Bogey avoidance and Par 4 Scoring are two big Masters stats and Rahm is 28th in the former and 26th in the latter. Rahm returns to Augusta with six top 10s in his eight PGA Tour starts in 2019 and that doesn't take into account T12 at Sawgrass where he led after 54 holes. Everything suggests he's ready for his first major win. Next Best: Back Bubba Watson each-way @ 28/1 Bubba Watson won the Masters at his fourth attempt in 2012 after putting down a marker with tied 20th on his first look four years earlier. He followed that victory with a second green jacket in 2014 and added another top five last year. Some interesting pre-Augusta reading took me to a book by Joe Peta called A 2019 Masters Preview. The big selling point for numbers geeks like me is that it manages to offer Strokes Gained data despite it not being officially available due to Augusta National refusing to allow ShotLink. Peta gets it by creating a database of the shot-by-shot details IBM provide on their Track function which appears on mobile and desktop. He then converts the raw info into Shots Gained data.