Robert MacIntyre and Justin Rose head bet365's liabilities as the US Masters draws ever closer.
Rose, often a popular selection at this time of the year, has finished as runner-up at the US Masters on no fewer than three occasions, twice losing out in a play-off, most recently this time last year to Rory McIlroy.
But even more popular than Rose is Ryder Cup team mate MacIntyre. The pair played together for MacIntyre's Ryder Cup debut in Rome, and held a four-shot lead going into the weekend at last week's Valero Texas Open, punters are backing the Scot to continue his fine form.
bet365’s Steve Freeth said: "While the majority of people would’ve been cheering on Rory last year, Rose’s sportsmanship in defeat was noted by many and after coming so close on a number of occasions at Augusta, punters are backing him to be the story this year and he’s currently second in our liabilities.
"Unsurprisingly, Rose heads our ‘Masters First Round leader’ liabilities having achieved that accolade on five occasions with 21% of the book on the current 25/1 shot.
"Another Brit, Robert MacIntyre, is positioned just above Rose in the Outright liabilities. The Scot is now a Top 10 player and has been showing some solid form, followed by Matt Fitzpatrick in third and Tommy Fleetwood sitting fifth in our book.
"Bryson DeChambeau is the only American to appear in the Top 5. However, we feel he’s plenty short enough in the betting given his streaky iron and wedge play and Scottie Scheffler is way down in 15th in what would be a great result for us."
The Europeans have a strong contingent heading to Augusta this time around, with Jon Rahm, McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Fitzpatrick, Rose and MacIntyre all holding claims. Scheffler remains the only American to have donned the Green Jacket in the last five years.
