[h=1]Las Vegas picks Jordan Spieth as Masters favorite[/h]
Darren Rovell, ESPN.com Sports Business reporter
Jordan Spieth was installed Monday as the favorite to win the 2016 Masters.
The Westgate Las Vegas Superbook posted the Masters and U.S. Open champ, who came in second at the PGA Championship on Sunday, at 5-1. Rory McIlroyis at 6-1, while PGA champion Jason Day is at 10-1.
After 2012 and 2014 Masters champ Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson at 15-1,Tiger Woods, who hasn't won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open, is at 25-1.Justin Rose, Adam Scott and Rickie Fowler join him at 25-1.
"With eight months to rest, we expect action to pick up on Tiger," said Jeff Sherman, assistant manager of the race and sportsbook, as well as golf oddsmaker.
Sherman said the young players in the game have contributed to an excitement on the gambling side that he hasn't seen before.
"We had the normal volume of bets for the Masters and the U.S. Open," Sherman said, "but the British Open and PGA put us at record levels for golf betting. Total handle for those majors was up about 20 percent more than usual."
John Avello, director of race and sportsbook at the Wynn and Encore, said betting at his establishments this year was equivalent to when Woods was playing his best, though golf wagering is still small compared to other sports.
"We'll get the same amount of money bet on five baseball games as we get on a golf major," Avello said. "And the money bet on a major isn't even equivalent to the money bet on a single NFL game."
Darren Rovell, ESPN.com Sports Business reporter
Jordan Spieth was installed Monday as the favorite to win the 2016 Masters.
The Westgate Las Vegas Superbook posted the Masters and U.S. Open champ, who came in second at the PGA Championship on Sunday, at 5-1. Rory McIlroyis at 6-1, while PGA champion Jason Day is at 10-1.
After 2012 and 2014 Masters champ Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson at 15-1,Tiger Woods, who hasn't won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open, is at 25-1.Justin Rose, Adam Scott and Rickie Fowler join him at 25-1.
"With eight months to rest, we expect action to pick up on Tiger," said Jeff Sherman, assistant manager of the race and sportsbook, as well as golf oddsmaker.
Sherman said the young players in the game have contributed to an excitement on the gambling side that he hasn't seen before.
"We had the normal volume of bets for the Masters and the U.S. Open," Sherman said, "but the British Open and PGA put us at record levels for golf betting. Total handle for those majors was up about 20 percent more than usual."
John Avello, director of race and sportsbook at the Wynn and Encore, said betting at his establishments this year was equivalent to when Woods was playing his best, though golf wagering is still small compared to other sports.
"We'll get the same amount of money bet on five baseball games as we get on a golf major," Avello said. "And the money bet on a major isn't even equivalent to the money bet on a single NFL game."
