Meet your massive-price first round leader of the 2016 Masters
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The first Major golf tournament of 2016 approaches quickly, with Ladbrokes News dedicating plenty of discussion to the Masters in the build-up to the storied event.
We’ve sung the praises of an in-form South African, picked out a couple of players we think will perform at a price and even rated the merits of the top 10 in betting, but there remains one stone we’ve left unturned ahead of the Augusta showpiece.
The First Round Leader market is as popular as any other associated with the famous tournament and this year a 125/1 shot is really catching the eye.
Charley Hoffman enjoyed 2015. He signed off on the season as the world’s 52nd best player, which equalled his best ever year-end ranking, and collected two silver medals and a third-place finish during the campaign.
After a tough start to this term, where he didn’t crack the top 20 in his first four starts, the 39-year-old is beginning to find his groove.
Most importantly for his chances of leading the Masters after the first 18 holes, Hoffman is honing his talent for starting fast.
At last week’s Shell Houston Open he shot the lowest first round with a 64, the third consecutive time he’s shot sub-70 to start an event.
Four times in the last 10 years on the PGA Tour, the Las Vegas resident has ranked inside the top 15 for first-round scoring and on two of those occasions his average opening score was below 70.
At last year’s Masters, the three-time winner recorded a best ever finish in sharing ninth place, doing so after ending the first day in a tie for second having shot 67.
That would have ensured a pay out for savvy each-way backers and at a whopping 125/1, it’ll serve to take that approach with the American once again.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
