Why betting on Masters favorite Scottie Scheffler just became incredibly risky

Scottie Scheffler arrived at Augusta National this week as the clear favorite to win the 2024 Masters.

In fact, his odds at BetMGM opened at +900 and moved to +400  on Tuesday before the event tees off. You can’t even really talk about those numbers without mentioning how close they resemble the lines oddsmakers used to set for Tiger Woods at the Masters during his prime.

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Yet the low return hasn’t stopped bettors from absolutely hammering Scheffler’s odds. At BetMGM, he’s become one of the book’s biggest liabilities at the Masters with 18.7 percent of the total betting handle and 8.1 percent of all wagers riding on Scottie to win his second green jacket.

Suddenly, all of that faith in one of the best golfers in the world looks a bit questionable — and it has nothing to do with his game.

Meeting with the media ahead of play this week, Scheffler noted that he and his wife, Meredith, are expecting their first child this month, adding that he would withdraw from play if she goes into labor during the tournament.

Scheffler is not alone here. Sam Burns is also expecting a child this month and has also vowed to withdraw if his wife, Caroline, goes into labor.

It’s unclear what sportsbooks would do in this situation. A voided bet is by no means a guarantee. Especially with this much money on the line. Scheffler and Burns both making their intentions clear should provide bettors with enough of a warning that “buyer beware” comes into play.

So if you’re still thinking of betting on Scheffler this week, make sure you check the house rules at your preferred sportsbook and don’t get too upset if Scottie and Burns head home early.