THE will he? Won’t he? game starts up again, as Rory McIlroy tees off in his 17th Masters this week, still looking for the one Major that will make him a Grand Slam champion.

If you like Rory’s chances – and there is plenty to like after wins at Pebble Beach and Sawgrass, plus a fast-finishing fifth in Houston – you can get 7-1 about the world No 2.

Defending champion and world No 1 Scottie Scheffler heads the market at 5-1. That seems a bit skinny considering he has not managed to win in his six starts this year – although his runner-up finish in Houston was about as close as you will get.

Rory looks better value, but will the weight of expectation prove a crushing burden again?

I hope not. But there is too much pressure – and scar tissue – for me to be tempted at his current odds. 

But there are a few alternatives who DO look tempting……..

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The Masters Odds

• Scottie Scheffler 9/2
• Rory McIlroy 13/2
• Jon Rahm 14/1
• Collin Morikawa 14/1
• Bryson DeChambeau 16/1
• Ludvig Aberg 18/1
• Xander Schauffele 20/1
• Justin Thomas 22/1
• Hideki Matsuyama 28/1
• Joaquin Niemann 28/1

The Masters betting tips

Russell Henley was put forward here as an early bird choice at 50-1. You can still get 45-1 even though the bookies are now offering a few more places in the each way market.

And Collin Morikawa, officially rated the best tee to green player in the world at the moment, is a 14-1 shot to make amends for fluffing his lines 12 months ago.

Morikawa went into the final round in second place, just a shot behind Scheffler. But a ragged closing 74 dropped him into a tie for third place. I would not be surprised to see him finish higher this time.

Bryson DeChambeau, widely available at 16-1, is another player who appeals near the top of the market.

DeChambeau’s recent form in LIV events has been nothing to write home about, but he seems to be developing as a player who saves his best stuff for the Majors – at least those played in America, anyway.

He followed up his best performance at Augusta – a share of sixth last year – by finishing runner-up in the USPGA and winning the US Open.  He is a player you want in your corner at all three events again this year.

Unlike DeChambeau, fellow LIV golfer Sergio Garcia has looked fully dialled in for the events where the rebels make their bread and butter. 

He has shown plenty of glimpses of the form that earned him a green jacket in 2017, particularly when he won the LIV Hong Kong tournament last month, shooting a sparkling final round 63 to get the job done.

At 70-1, he looks a decent each way shout to put his name back on the Masters leaderboard.

The pick of the players at three figures could well be Maverick McNealy, who arrives at Augusta off a tied third finish in San Antonio.

McNealy was tipped for great things when he topped the world amateur rankings eight years ago, but has not really fulfilled that potential. 

He was also second at Torrey Pines this year though, and he could make his presence felt here at 110-1.

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