Masters tips: Charl Schwartzel can bag second title

You don’t need me to tell you about those at the top of the charts when it comes to picking a Masters winner this week.

The merits of defending champion Jordan Spieth (second and first in two appearances at Augusta) and Jason Day (second and third in the tournament) are obvious.

Nor would it be a surprise if Bubba Watson (he really likes to win in even numbered years) or Phil Mickelson were to get their hands on another green jacket.

So what do tipsters get paid for? My belief is that we are here to try and find you a bit of a value – a player who might just win it all at a bigger price.

And I think I’ve got one. Charl Schwartzel.
The great thing about so many of the game’s bigger stars having notched a victory in the run up to the first Major is that the prices at the top of the market have really contracted as a result.

There’s only five points between favourite Jason Day (6/1) and Adam Scott (11/1) at fifth in the odds charts.

That means there are bigger prices down the list and Schwartzel really does look a standout.

If I told you that you could back a previous Masters champion, a man who has won twice already this season (Tshwane Open on the European Tour and the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour), and you could have a price nearly seven times the price of Day, you’d bite my hand off. Right?

Trends, as well as form, also favour the South African.

The excellent Dave Tindall – follow him on twitter @davetindallgolf – points out that Schwartzel passes mustard on a series of qualification tests including: making the cut the previous year, posting a top 10 this season and being ranked in the world’s top 30.

He also points out that seven of the last 10 Masters winners have enjoyed a starting price of 20/1 or higher, all of which point positively towards Schwartzel, who warmed up in impressive – and understated – fashion with a top 20 display at the Houston Open last week.

When the better each way terms become available through the week, and we can start taking advantage of place terms down to a low as seventh, the 31-year-old really starts to look like a must play.

Tomorrow we will look at some of the dark horses down Magnolia Lane. There are some huge prices out there.