Golf / Mathew Thompson / 07 April 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Mathew Thompson takes a look at how the Aussies stack up for the US Masters.

The player that many golf followers believe will lead the Australian charge at this week's US Masters is offering Betfair punters huge value for their money.

The in-form Aaron Baddeley tasted tournament success in Houston earlier this year and unquestionably has the game to compete with the world's best. The main question remains: does he have the mental capacity to cope with four days of high pressure golf?

Baddeley is trading at the staggering price of $75 on Betfair compared with a top price of $35 among other Australian corporates.

Therein lies the benefit of the international exchange, where punters bet against each other, meaning the prices are a true reflection of punter sentiment and don't reflect a bookmaker's liability.

The following six men will take on Augusta this week looking to become the first Australian to win the coveted 'green jacket.'

Aaron Baddeley
Tournament winner: $75 / Top 10: $6.80 / Leading Australian: $4.20

Brings the best recent form of the Australian representatives. He has the putter working well but keen observers believe the tight Augusta fairways could test his accuracy off the tee and fairway. Baddeley's record in major championships is also poor with best results of 13th at the 2007 U.S Open and 2008 USPGA Championship.

Can he stand-up to the rigors of four days of high-pressure golf?

Geoff Ogilvy
Tournament winner: $85 / Top 10: $7 / Leading Australian: $4.40

Generally goes by the moniker of 'former U.S Open champion' but 2006 was a long time ago. Aside from his only major victory, Ogilvy has managed top ten finishes in major tournaments on five other occasions, making him our most consistent player on the big stage in recent times.

While his recent form hasn't been his best, Ogilvy always plays well at The Masters and can do so again.

Adam Scott
Tournament winner: $100 / Top 10: $9.20 / Leading Australian: $5.60

Adam Scott has been a firmer on Betfair in the last two weeks, shortening from $125 to his current tournament price of $100. This prodigious talent has made a habit of disappointing the punters over many years, but he's given a good chance of performing well this week after rediscovering some form with a new broom stick putter.

His record in major tournaments over the last two years is woeful, having missed the cut four times from eight starts.

Jason Day
Tournament winner: $160 / Top 10: $11.50 / Leading Australian: $8

The 23 year-old Queenslander enjoyed a breakthrough year on the PGA Tour in 2010, winning the Byron Nelson Championship and finishing 10th in the USPGA. The US Masters is a different scenario for an inexperienced, albeit immensely talented player, however given his precocious nature, it wouldn't surprise to see Day acquit himself successfully.

Perhaps the $8 available for Day to finish as the leading Australian at Augusta is a value bet.

Robert Allenby
Tournament winner: $170 / Top 10: $9.80 / Leading Australian: $6.80

The Victorian deserves a major tournament victory more than anyone on the PGA Tour, but is he playing well enough to figure in the finish here? His performances in major championships are poor: 55 starts for five top 10 finishes and 19 missed cuts. He'd need a significant form reversal to be a contender.

Betfair punters might be keen to lay him as the leading Aussie at single figure odds.

Stuart Appleby
Tournament winner: $300 / Top 10: $15/ Leading Australian: $10

No one could forget how close Stuart Appleby came to winning the 2002 British Open when he lost in a three-way play-off. He has the mental capabilities to compete with the big guns and his record at the Masters is very good; 7th in 2007, 14th in 2008 and 30th in 2009. Appleby shot 59 to win the Greenbrier Classic in August last year. Has the profile of a player who's poised to play well at Augusta, and providing he can make a solid start, he will shorten in betting from his current Betfair price of $300.

Could be one for the traders.