Masters insights: Scheffler most popular pick, Tiger biggest liability
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Scottie Scheffler is bettors' top choice to win the 2024 Masters despite having the shortest odds of any favorite since Tiger Woods in 2013, according to data from theScore Bet and ESPN Bet - two sportsbooks operated by PENN Entertainment.
As of Wednesday, Scheffler - priced at +450 to win for a second time at Augusta National - has amassed 22% of the total handle (money wagered) and 10% of all bets on the outright market. Two-time Masters runner-up Brooks Koepka is second in both categories.
Here's a look at the top five players in handle percentage and total percentage of bets.
| Player (Odds) | Handle % |
|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler (+450) | 22% |
| Brooks Koepka (+1400 | 11% |
| Rory McIlroy (+1100) | 8% |
| Xander Schauffele (+1400) | 7% |
| Tiger Woods (+8000) | 6% |
| Player (Odds) | Total % of bets |
|---|---|
| Scheffler (+450) | 10% |
| Brooks Koepka (+1400) | 9% |
| Tiger Woods (+8000) | 7.5% |
| Rory McIlroy (+1100) | 5% |
| Wyndham Clark (+3000) | 4% |
Woods earned a spot inside the top five in both categories, and given his long odds that have since shortened to +8000, he's by far the biggest liability at the two sportsbooks.
Tiger has amassed a liability nine times larger than the closest player.
And that's not where the Tiger love ends. Of all the bets placed on a player to make the cut, 67% have landed on Woods to advance to the weekend. However, the split on whether Tiger will make or miss the cut remains around 50-50.
Despite not being in the best form this year, Rory McIlroy remains a popular selection among bettors. He's the second favorite at +1100, odds over twice as long as Scheffler's.
Outside of Koepka, LIV players are not earning the bettors' money. Defending champion Jon Rahm has only amassed 5.5% of the total handle placed on the outright market, and Dustin Johnson is next at 1.8%
Nick Taylor and Corey Conners are dead even in the most-bet Canadian race.