McDowell takes money off Poulter and Rose in Augusta practice

World number five Graeme McDowell started 2011 in the same rich vein of form that he finished 2010 in, although after missing the cut in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, McDowell is a drifter in the Masters betting.

McDowell’s drift is great news for punters because Graeme McDowell at 40/1 to win the Masters is a huge price.

McDowell registered four top ten finishes in his first four tournaments of 2011, before helping Team Lake Nona to victory in the Tavistock Cup, but that Arnold Palmer result has affected his Masters odds to the extent that there is now plenty of value in backing McDowell.

This will be McDowell’s fourth Masters and while his record reads 2005-cut, 2009-T17, 2010-Cut, the Northen Irishman is a big danger this week, especially after taking the money off Ian Poulter and Justin Rose in their practice round yesterday.

Rose has shorter Masters odds than McDowell of 33/1 after three top five finishes in his last three tournaments, and in his five attempts at the Masters, Rose has never failed to make the cut with a highest finish of fifth place.

“Good day at the office today,” said McDowell via Twitter. “Played with @ianjamespoulter and @justinrose99. Took the cash but we all played nicely. Game coming round.”

The Masters odds are based on current form and seeing as McDowell beat Rose on Monday, albeit in practice, there’s an argument for McDowell’s Masters odds to be shorter than Rose’s.

Poulter is available at 50/1 and he’s a man who always ups his game for the Majors, and with finishes of 10, 20, 25, 13 in his last four Masters appearances, he should be respected.

But McDowell proved his mettle when defeating Tiger Woods in a play-off in December, and the Irishman’s world number five ranking certainly shouldn’t be underestimated.

A £20 stake on McDowell winning the Masters would return £820. New customers can sign up here to get £60 in free bets.