Masters Preview
Phil Mickelson has done nothing on of note on a golf course since he last slipped into the Green Jacket 12 months ago. That was until his sensational victory in the final tournament before the Masters, at the Shell Houston Open. Punters weighing up their spread betting decisions ahead of the year's first major will note that not only has this catapulted Lefty into third in the World Rankings, above his rival Tiger Woods for the first time since 1997, but also to the top of the tree in Sporting Index's Maximum Field Finishing Positions at 17-20, making Tiger (22-25) second favourite on the spread. Those selling Mickelson's finishing position will be all too aware of the similarities between the Redstone course – the location of Mickelson's return to the highest level of the podium – and Augusta, but those buying his finishing position, or indeed selling his Leaderboard Index spread, at 24, will hope that this result is simply a freak in an otherwise ordinary year for the three-time Masters winner.
Last year's nearly man, Lee Westwood, is the leading hope for the Europeans according to his finishing position spread of 26-29, ahead of World Number One, Martin Kaymer and their Ryder Cup colleague Luke Donald (both 29-32). These three also head Sporting Index's Top European Index (50-30-20-10). Those who witnessed Scotsman Martin Laird's PGA Tour triumph at the Arnold Palmer Invitational a fortnight ago will rush to buy his index spread at 6, while strong showings from Justin Rose and Padraig Harrington in their respective build ups to the Masters will also encourage buyers.
Sporting Index have hooked into the excitement of the occasion with a number of imaginatively titled group performance spreads where 25 points are awarded for any player finishing in the top 10 with a 25 point bonus if a player in the group wins the tournament. 'The Tweets' hotshots groups serial Twitterers Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy, with a spread of 26-30pts, exactly the same as the market quote for the 'Crash, Bang, Wallop!' group of American big hitters Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Antony Kim and Nick Watney.
For those spread bettors with a negatively skewed view of the world, Sporting Index offer a number of 'coldshot' spreads among their US Masters golf specials, where a group of four players are rewarded 25 points each for missing the cut, with a 50 point bonus should all four miss. Those considering a spread bet on the 'No Jacket Required' coldshot group of Mark O'Meara, Larry Mize, Sandy Lyle and Tom Watson might prefer to sell at 95 considering all have tamed the course in the past.
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