Woods is the clear favourite

US Masters betting:Who can stop the Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson show, the American pair having claimed the last three US Masters titles between them? Mickelson (8/1) won in 2004 and again last year but is comfortably a second favourite behind Woods (11/8, Ladbrokes, Powers) who prevailed in 2005 and is the player to beat, given his current form.

Augusta National invariably pushes the same names into the frame for outright victory, a real course-and-distance proposition to use racing parlance. Ernie Els (16/1, Powers) has been runner-up twice and invariably contends but should have closed the deal before now.

Vijay Singh (16/1), the winner in 2000, has finished no higher than eighth in the last five Masters and has already won twice this season.

Adam Scott (33/1, Ladbrokes, Boylesports) won at the weekend while there will be plenty of support for mid-priced candidates like Geoff Ogilvy, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey and Padraig Harrington.

This column likes Chris DiMarco (66/1, Ladbrokes) and Stuart Appleby (80/1, Ladbrokes, Boylesports) and KJ Choi (125/1, Ladbrokes) for those looking for each-way value while David Howell (25/1) to finish as top European could prove good value now that he says he has recovered from a back injury.