The Masters: Racing Post golf writers give their verdicts

Joe Champion's verdict

Rory McIlroy deserves to be favourite to complete the career Grand Slam this week but one victory, even in a high-class field at the Players Championship, does not confirm that the Northern Irishman is over his final-round jitters just yet and he should be taken on at the prices.

There are plenty of candidates for Green Jacket glory and Major champions Justin Rose and Dustin Johnson have to be respected, as does Tiger Woods but the putter has let him down this season and, like McIlroy, the golfing legend looks short enough in the market.

Of the Major maidens in the field, Jon Rahm looks worth a bet despite a tame final-round 76 which took him out of the reckoning at the Players.

Rahm is a sublime talent who looks perfectly suited to the demands of the Augusta National. He finished in a tie for 27th at the fabled Georgia track on his debut in 2017 and responded to an opening 75 with rounds of 68, 65 and 69 to take fourth place on only his second start last year. A winner of the Hero World Challenge in December, the 24-year-old has all the attributes to contend for the Green Jacket.

While Rahm looks ready to make the step up, Norwegian youngster Viktor Hovland still has lots to work on but he can at least perform best of the six-strong amateur contingent.

Hovland dominated in claiming the US Amateur at Pebble Beach last August, is ranked third in the world in the amateur standings, and made the cut in a strong field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.

Recommendations
J Rahm
2pts each-way 16-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
V Hovland top amateur
2pts 7-4 general

Ian Wilkerson's verdict

Strong cases can be made for a host of players at the top of the leaderboard but one former runner-up could make a push from outside the usual suspects. Louis Oosthuizen was beaten in a playoff by Bubba Watson seven years ago, but his preparation for the first Major of the season has been solid and he can go one better this time.

After performing well in his native South Africa at the end of last year, he was second at the Valspar Championship last month before a strong showing at the World Match Play where a victory over winner Kevin Kisner in the quarter-finals slipped from his grasp.

He carded 33 birdies that week and is a strong enough driver to challenge at Augusta, where he has finished in the top 20 in three of the last four years.

Oosthuizen was one of three players to card a hole-in-one at Augusta's 16th hole in 2016 - Shane Lowry and Davis Love were the others - and there looks a decent chance that there will be another ace at the final par three this year.

Television companies get excited about aces and the pin position on the final day - the ball can be pitched on a bank and then trickle down to the cup - lends itself to fireworks.

Of the last 14 aces at The Masters, Jamie Donaldson's 2013 effort on the sixth was the only one not to come at the 16th, so take the 5-4 that one is carded at the third hole from home rather than the 8-13 that an ace is recorded on any hole.

Recommendations
L Oosthuizen
2pts each-way 40-1 Hills
Hole-in-one at the 16th hole
2pts 5-4 Coral, Hills

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