Dustin Johnson 8/1 Favourite for 2021 US Masters

Dustin Johnson Favourite for 2021 US Masters

Dustin Johnson’s stunning victory last weekend at the US Masters in Augusta has encouraged speculation that the American will retain his title next year.  36-year-old Johnson is at the top of the betting leaderboard after his win, with odds of 8/1 from Paddy Power.  Johnson won the Masters last week by the huge margin of 5 shots at 20 under par, beating the course record.  But normally, the margins in golf between the winner and the also-rans are pretty slim, so the betting odds on the second favourite for the 2021 Masters, Rory McIlroy, are just a whisker behind Johnson, at 10/1 from Will Hill.

McIlroy will need to radically improve his first round performance next year in order to win; certainly, his day one round at the 2020 Masters lost him the green jacket and he finished the tournament in fifth place, on 11 under par.  His score for the opening round was ten worse than Johnson; his score for the next three days was one shot better.  31-year-old McIlroy is doggedly chasing the Masters title – the only one of the four Majors still to elude him – and, if he can conqueror his first day nerves, he has a good chance of winning the title in 2021 and attaining his career Grand Slam.  

Bryson DeChambeau may not have won the Masters this time round, but he certainly won the competition for the most press coverage beforehand.  The 27-year old American teed off on the first last Thursday as favourite to win the Master following his triumph at the US Open in September, but in the end he failed to deliver, finishing way down the leaderboard on 2 under par.  Nonetheless, the bookies reckon he can deliver in Augusta next time round, with odds of 11/1 from Betfred.  

The quality and depth in the men’s tour is astounding just now and there are many other golfers who can realistically win the 2021 Masters.  Former world number one, Justin Thomas, is right up there, along with Spaniard Jon Rahm.   Don’t discount Tiger Woods either…the winner of the 2019 Masters, he had a ‘mare on the final round when he put the ball in the water three times and ended up with a ten, for that one hole.  Needless to say, he finished well down the leaderboard but he still had a smile when he handed Johnson his green jacket and acknowledged later “This sport is awfully lonely sometimes.  You have to fight it…That’s what makes this game so unique and so difficult mentally”.

Remaining calm is a quality that Dustin Johnson has in spades and it served him well in Augusta.  His concentration rarely faltered and his short game was exemplary over the four days.  If he can sustain his form, Johnson could undoubtedly contend for the green jacket next April.   The final word on Dustin Johnson should rest with his rival, Rory McIlroy, who commented on Johnson’s recent stellar performance “I played with him the first two days here, and he’s got the ball on a string”.  

By Matchedbets Experts

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