Question: Can anyone remember the last time Tiger Woods wasn’t favourite for the Masters? Me neither. My best guess is that you’d have to go back more than a decade, to 1996 in fact, where an Englishman by the name of Nick Faldo shot a final round 67 to cruise home by five shots and become the first non-US player to secure a hat-trick of Masters wins. The following year, a 23-year old Woods became the first non-white player to win at Augusta, breaking the tournament record in the process with an incredible score of 18 under par.

Since then, Woods, who currently hangs four ‘Green Jackets’ in his wardrobe, has been sent off favourite for every tournament played at the course in Georgia. But following a torrid twenty-month dry spell without a win, this year it’s Phil Mickleson who heads the outright market at 11/2 at Blue Square, with Tiger vying for second-favouritism at 10/1.

In keeping with the changing times in world golf, a host of Brits will tee-off on Thursday with an excellent chance of following in the footsteps of Faldo (and Sandy Lyle) by returning home with a Green Jacket of their own. World no.2 Lee Westwood is hot on Tiger’s heals in the market at 16/1, and he represents arguably the UK’s best hope, though the likes of Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy (both 25/1) would be happy to dispute that. Then comes reigning US Open champ Graeme McDowell (28/1) and an English pairing of Paul Casey and Justin Rose both at 30/1 (both of which have been particularly well-backed in the build up) ahead of Padraig Harrington at 35/1. At an even bigger price of 40/1, Ian Poulter catches the eye given he has only failed to miss the cut once at Augusta, and having led for a portion of last year’s event ‘Poults’ should be thereabouts again at a course he clearly gets on with.

Others with solid claims are the current world no.1, Martin Kaymer (20/1), and there are a few in the bluesq office who are keen on the chances of American Anthony Kim at 35/1, who finished 3rd last year (what do we know?!).

A host of betting is now available for the 77th edition of golf’s first major of the year, including our very own ‘mini-performance’ markets, where the smart money will be on Woods to miss the cut at 9/2.

How the mighty have fallen.