Masters tips: Cabrera-Bello and Poulter dark horses at Augusta
Is there anyone in hotter form than Rafa Cabrera-Bello at the moment?
The Spaniard has burst into life this season and, if he takes to the unique experience of Augusta National, he could be well worth a quid at 125/1.
Tied second in Qatar and Dubai, Cabrera-Bello has kicked on in fabulous style – beating Rory McIlroy to third in the WGC Match Play and then following up with a fabulous final round 65 to finish fourth in the Houston Open on Sunday.
Add in 11th at the WGC Cadillac earlier last month and the 31-year-old looks like a player getting used to the big time.
History dictates it takes time to learn the complexities of Augusta, to get to grips with the subtle borrows and undulations of the greens.
But some, like Jordan Spieth, take to the course like a duck to water and Cabrera-Bello could be one of those.
Accurate with his iron shots – he is gaining 1.5 strokes on average from tee to green in his limited PGA Tour starts this season – that is always key at the Georgia track.
General wisdom says Ian Poulter is in a funk. But the Englishman, often criticised for favouring style over substance, can bring out his best at the Masters.
Poulter has often cited Augusta as his best chance of winning a Major, believing the quirky course suits his game.
He has the performance figures to back that up, with three top 10s and six top 20s down the years.
Sixth 12 months ago, his putting has been a concern as he has stuttered through the early stages of the 2016 campaign.
But, even though he didn’t win in Puerto Rico, there were enough signs of life from his third placed showing to suggest he may be on the way back.
At a slightly shorter price of 80/1, it would also be no surprise to see Marc Leishman launch another Augusta assault.
Tied fourth in 2013, having stuck around at the business end of affairs for much of that final day, the Australian missed the cut 12 months later and didn’t play last year.
After tying for fifth at the Northern Trust Open and putting in another decent performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Leishman took a couple of weeks off to prepare for the Masters and could reap the benefits.
Tomorrow, we’ll run the rule over the nationality markets and see who could make a run for a top 10 finish.
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
