Steve Palmer's Masters matches preview, best bets, free golf tips

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event and Golf, 12.30pm Thursday

Best bets

Bubba Watson to beat Tiger Woods
2pts 4-5 Betway (draw no bet)

Justin Rose to beat Phil Mickelson
2pts 4-6 Betway (draw no bet)

Preview

Tiger Woods was last seen hacking his way around Sherwood Country Club on his way to a share of 72nd place in the 78-runner Zozo Championship and it is difficult to imagine the defending champion landing a serious blow in this Masters.

Woods, for all his Augusta experience and Major wisdom, will surely struggle to contend given the form he has shown of late - and all his post-lockdown events have suggested he is a long way from his best. Bubba Watson looks like pick of the 72-hole match-bet options at 4-5, draw no bet, to beat Woods.

Sherwood is a happy hunting ground for Tiger - it is where he won the World Challenge five times between 2001 and 2011 - so for only four players to score worse than him in the Zozo was alarming for his army of fans.

Prior to that event, Woods missed the cut in the US Open by four shots after failing to qualify for the Tour Championship. Six post-lockdown starts have yielded a best finish of 37th place in the US PGA. The legend turns 45 in December, continues to labour with back problems, and must be starting to wonder whether his Major-winning days are numbered.

Watson, seventh in the CJ Cup and fourth in the Zozo, is a dual Masters champ who is much more content with his game.
Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson are both a long way from their best, but the problems of Mickelson seem much greater than those of Rose. The Englishman, 18 shots superior to Mickelson in the Zozo, is another solid draw-no-bet option.

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