Forget the faves, Adam Scott is primed for US Masters bid

The every move of favourites Tiger Woods (5/1) and Rory McIlroy (8/1) will be watched, analysed and scrutinised in the three weeks leading up to the US Masters, set to begin on Thursday 11th April.

But while Woods is looking as ready as McIlroy is rusty – the former having recently won the WGC Cadillac Championship last week while the latter having endured a miserable start to the year that has seen his lead at the top of the rankings cut to one point – there are a number of other names worth keeping an eye on as they make quiet progress in the background.

One such is Aussie Adam Scott, who at 32-years-old is yet to win his first major but has every reason to believe that his duck will come to an end this year.

He has come close in the not-so-distant past. Scott endured a crushing collapse in the final round of last year’s Open, while Augusta in 2011 was the scene of his first serious challenge for a major, when he briefly shared the lead before Charl Schwartzl birdied the last four to win by two.

And if his recent form is anything to go by, he’ll be confident of another shot at the green jersey.

He’s not finished outside of the top twenty places in his last nine stroke-play events, a strong run that includes a win at the Talisker Masters and a tied third at the Cadillac Championship where Woods reigned, shooting a 64 to share the podium with Graeme McDowell, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia.

Such company proves that the Adelaide man is certainly in the mood, and capable of mixing it with the game’s biggest and best.

Scott has made the cut on nine of his 11 appearances at Augusta, and already boasts three top ten finishes. At 25/1, the world number seven offers great value to end his majors drought in April.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.