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Heading into the 2017 Masters, it feels like there are three favorites who are head-and-shoulders above the rest of the contenders. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson has probably forgot what it's like to lose, as he heads into Augusta with three consecutive victories. Jordan Spieth--no matter what happened on the 12th hole on Sunday last year--is a perfect fit for Augusta, as his ludicrous second-first-second track record would suggest. And Rory McIlroy, who doesn't have a win this season but has been piling up the Top-10's, is arguably better than both of them when his putter is locked in.
The oddsmakers agree, as DJ, Spieth and Rory have the shortest odds in the field--and it's not really close. You can find the complete odds list for the 2017 field right here.
When betting on the Masters, there are two ways to evaluate this situation. On one hand, you can ignore the long-shot picks because there's such a good chance of one of those three donning the Green Jacket. On the other, that trio being regarded as such strong favorites gives everyone else in the field more favorable odds. And let's be honest, if you're looking for any sort of profitable return, betting on the guys deeper down the odds list is the way to make that happen.
Danny Willett got it done last year at 50-to-1, and there are a handful of players in a position to provide a similar return in 2017. You can click through the gallery for my favorite value bets and sleeper picks, or you can head here for an in-depth look at my Top 10 contenders for Augusta. (Getty)