Mickelson at top of Las Vegas betting boards entering Masters for first time

By Case Keefer (contact)

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 | 2:05 a.m.

Phil Mickelson can become the world’s top ranked golfer this weekend if he can win his second consecutive Masters in Augusta, Ga.

Based on the odds, Las Vegas sports books believe No. 1 is a title that already belongs to the 40-year old PGA Tour veteran. Mickelson is posted as the favorite to win the Masters all around town, including at the Las Vegas Hilton Superbook.

“He had a dominating performance last week,” said Jeff Sherman, assistant Superbook director and the city’s top golf oddsmaker. “He shifted from the second favorite to the favorite because of it.”

Sherman, who also runs the website Golfodds.com, had Mickelson posted at 10-to-1 and slightly behind Tiger Woods at 8-to-1 a week ago. But Mickelson made 18 birdies in the Houston Open and finished 20-under par to win a tournament he was considering a tune-up before the first major of the year.

The performance made Sherman adjust his numbers and list Mickelson as a 13-to-2 favorite. Woods inflated to 10-to-1. It’s the first time Mickelson has ever been favored at the Masters as he’s assumed the co-headliner slot for more than a decade behind Woods.

Mickelson told the Associated Press he wasn’t sure what to make of his new role of favorite Tuesday at Augusta National.

“I don’t know,” Mickelson said. “I certainly enjoy being in this place and have enjoyed and have felt great on this golf course even before I won here. I felt like it was a course I could play well on, and I really enjoy playing here every year.”

Woods hasn’t won a tournament since returning to golf before last year’s Masters. That hasn’t stopped bettors from backing him, according to Sherman.

Sherman said Woods should be a higher underdog than 10-to-1, but the money his name brings in keeps the price low. Woods is once again one of the most popular bets on the board, but Sherman wouldn’t advocate taking a chance with him.

“He’s only had a couple good performances in the last year,” Sherman said. “He’s shown nothing near the dominating performances that made him the great golfer he was. There are chances for a lot more golfers than ever before.”

Sherman advises casual bettors to find a handful of golfers they like in the 20- to 40-to-1 range and placing bets on them. One example is Dustin Johnson at 20-to-1, a wager the Hilton has printed the most tickets on as of Tuesday afternoon.

Other names Sherman threw out as having chance to win included Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan and Luke Donald. All three are at 25-to-1.

“You are trying to find someone that can give you a good payout,” Sherman said. “As open as this field is, you aren’t going to find someone who is up five shots after three rounds. If you can find four or five guys who you think are going to be within striking range, that’s what you want.”

The wide-open nature of this year’s event has benefitted the books. The Hilton broke its previous Masters handle record, which was set last year, two days before the first tee time.

Other than the future odds, the most volume has come in on one of the 15 head-to-head wagers Sherman released. To no one’s surprise, it’s the matchup between Mickelson and Woods.

Mickelson is listed as a -150 (risking $1.50 to win $1) favorite to finish ahead of Woods, who is offered at +130 (risking $1 to win $1.30).

“They’re betting on Phil in that one,” Sherman said. “He’s popular with the bettors.”

This year, it seems, more than ever.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.