Golf News

On Sunday, Louis Oosthuizen narrowly missed winning his second major, losing a two-hole, sudden-death playoff at The Masters to Bubba Watson. Just four days later, Oosthuizen will be teeing off again at The Maybank Malaysian Open, where’s he’s one of three co-favorites with fellow South African Charl Schwartzel and former World Number One Martin Kaymer.

The co-favorites’ stiffest competition is expected to come from the Malaysian Open defending champion, Italian teen phenom Matteo Manassero. Another golfer to watch in this year’s field is two-time Malaysian Open winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand.

Here are your 2012 Malaysian Open odds for all the top competitors:

• Martin Kaymer, Germany (World Ranking: 7) 11/1
• Charl Schwartzel, South Africa (12) 11/1
• Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa (19) 11/1
• Matteo Manassero, Italy (64) 14/1 – Defending Champion at Malaysian Open
• Nicolas Colsaerts, Belgium (66) 16/1

The first major of the year is behind us, but the PGA Tour keeps rolling this week at The RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, South Carolina, where World Number One Luke Donald is the 6/1 favorite. Donald, who failed again last week in his quest to win his first major, was the runner-up at The Heritage last year, losing a three-hole playoff to Brandt Snedeker. Snedeker will be back this week to defend his title.

Donald’s stiffest competition, though, is expected to be Matt Kuchar, who is coming off a T3 finish at The Masters last week.

Here are your 2012 The Heritage odds for all the top competitors:

• Luke Donald, England (World Ranking: 1) 6/1
• Matt Kuchar, USA (14) 14/1
• Jim Furyk, USA (46) 18/1 – Won The Heritage in 2010
• Webb Simpson, USA (13) 22/1

Bubba Watson won The Masters on Sunday after a two-hole sudden playoff with 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, giving Americans two straight major championships. Bubba rallied from four shots down over the final 16 holes of regulation to force the playoff, then came back from a tee shot into the woods on the second playoff hole to par the hole and claim the coveted Green Jacket.

Bubba’s first shot on the second playoff hole found the woods and rested about 165 yards from the hole, but he found a way to hit an incredible hook shot off pine needles that left him just 10 feet from the hole. Bubba then two-putted for bogey to win the tournament, after Oosthuizen missed his own par putt from the fringe.

Tiger Woods is a +400 betting favorite to win The Masters this week, just ahead of Rory McIlroy who is at +550.  Tiger has won the green jacket four times, most recently in 2005, but has finished sixth or better in each of the six tournaments since. Phil Mickelson, who won his third Masters in 2010, is next behind Tiger and Rory at +1100, while defending champion Charl Schwartzel is at +4000.

Others in the field to keep an eye on include World Number One Luke Donald (+1600) will be looking to win his first major, as will former Number One Lee Westwood (+2000). Hunter Mahan (+2200) will try to win for the second week in a row after winning last week’s Houston Open, while Keegan Bradley (+2800) will be trying to win back-to-back majors.

Here are your 2012 Masters odds for all the top competitors: