Bettors backing Tiger Woods as long shot to win Masters
The biggest story heading into this year's Masters tournament is, of course, that Tiger Woods is making a return after being in a massive car wreck just a little over a year ago. His participation at Augusta National this week also has bettors buying in on a big Cinderella moment.
While Woods isn't a running favorite to win the tournament like Justin Thomas or Jon Rahm, the 15-time major champion and five-time Masters winner is a popular pick to defy the odds and wear his sixth green jacket on Sunday.
It's not a complete surprise golf fans think Woods can pull off such an incredible feat just 14 months after almost having the have his leg amputated. The golf great has rebounded from many injuries and surgeries over the course of his decorated career, most recently winning the Masters in 2019.
"Him returning after everything to win in 2019, I think that gives people hope at long odds that something like that can happen again," Jeff Sherman, vice president of risk at the SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas, told ESPN. "I'm pretty sure that's why you're seeing what we're seeing now."
As much as fans may want to see Woods pull off the unimaginable, sportsbooks everywhere are hoping for the exact opposite.
"Tiger winning the Masters would be the worst result for us at any golf tournament since we started operating in the U.S. by far," Jay Croucher, head of trading for PointsBet, told ESPN.
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