Wednesday at the Masters means it’s time for the Par 3 contest, and although Tiger Woods is a huge favorite to win the green jacket, he sits out the traditionally lighthearted and informal event one day before the real thing gets started. His absence opens up the field, and the oddsmakers have tabbed Luke Donald as the favorite. Donald has long been renowned as one of, if not the best short game player in the world.
2013 Masters odds: Luke Donald favored in Par 3 Contest, Tiger Woods still tournament favorite
The Par 3 Contest has a whole different set of favorites than the Masters itself, with the tournament favorite Tiger Woods sitting things out on Wednesday.
Harry How
Tiger actually has the third-best percentage of birdies or better on Par 3s this year, converting them on 20.3 percent of his attempts, behind just Justin Bolli and Phil Mickelson. The winner of that has never taken the Masters itself -- so in addition to not letting this event get in the way of his preparation, Tiger foreclosing the possibility of a jinx. Even though he’ll abstain, there are comically still odds for Woods, who is listed at 28/1. You know you’re playing well when a sportsbook, such as Bovada, still gives you odds to win an event in which you won’t participate.
Here’s how the odds look for the Par 3 contest:
Luke Donald - 14/1
Padraig Harrington 16/1
Mark O’Meara 33/2
Adam Scott 20/1
Phil Mickelson 20/1
Tim Clark 20/1
Graeme McDowell 25/1
Steve Stricker 25/1
Brandt Snedeker 28/1
Charl Schwartzel 28/1
Jason Dufner 28/1
Keegan Bradley 28/1
Nick Watney 28/1
Rickie Fowler 28/1
Tiger Woods 28/1
Webb Simpson 28/1
It’s easy to see why they picked some of those favorites - Donald won the 2011 Par 3 competition, Harrington won in 2003, 2004, and 2012, and O’Meara won in 2007.
On the other hand, Woods is a 3/1 favorite in the actual event, with Rory McIlroy second -- despite repeated poor showings in 2013 -- at 8/1, and Phil Mickelson at 10/1. Everybody else is way back, with nobody else under 20/1 and Donald, the favorite in the Par 3 contest, all the way back at 33/1 alongside last year’s champion, Bubba Watson.
For the full odds for both the tournament itself as well the Par 3 tournament, head over here.
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