Who will win the Masters 2019? Odds, betting favorites, sleeper picks, Tiger Woods prop bets

The azaleas have bloomed, cheap pimento cheese sandwiches are prepped and a crisp, new green jacket awaits. The 2019 Masters is upon us.

With no disrespect to the Players Championship or the PGA's swing through Florida, the golf season really gets under way with its first major of the year at Augusta.

For the first time ever, the new PGA schedule posits one major a month, shortening the gap between the Masters and the U.S. Open, making momentum from a good Masters performance even more important. Patrick Reed, the 2018 champion, failed to capitalize on winning his first green jacket, finishing inside the top five of a tournament just one time post-Masters en route to a 22nd-place finish in the FedEx Cup standings.

MORE: 2019 Masters field by the numbers

Tiger Woods returns to Augusta for the second consecutive year after missing the prior two years. It's been 14 years since Woods won his fourth green jacket. Woods hasn't finished in the top five since 2013. He's played in five PGA events this season, but has failed to finish inside the top 10 at any of the tournaments.

Rory McIlroy still seeks the elusive Masters victory to complete the career majors grand slam. He's off to a good start this season, having won the Players Championship in March, but has never finished better than fourth at Augusta. He infamously blew a four-stroke lead on Sunday at the 2011 Masters by shooting the worst score in the history of any professional golfer leading after the third round of the Masters.

Who will win the Masters 2019?

As always, the Masters can be unpredicatable. No golfer has ever won back-to-back green jackets since Woods did so in 2002. This season Matt Kuchar, McIlroy and Xander Schauffle sit atop the FedEx Cup standings entering Masters week. Jordan Spieth, normally a name near the top of leaderboards, has struggled this year, coming off a season-best finish of T30 at the Valero Texas Open this past Sunday.

MORE: Picks, sleepers, betting advice for 2019 Masters

Masters 2019 betting odds

Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson have emerged as the tournament favorites with 8/1 and 10/1 odds, respectively, to win it all. Justin Rose and Tiger Woods are close behind with 14/1 odds to win. Last year's champion Patrick Reed sits with 60/1 odds.

For those looking for a Cinderella story, Jose Maria Olazabal is currently the longest shot to win a green jacket with 2000/1 odds, according to Vegas Insider. 

For more in-depth analysis, Sporting News contributor Bennett Bedford broke down all of the gambling angles to this year's Masters tournament.

Masters sleeper picks

According to Bennett, Webb Simpson, Charles Howell and Charley Hoffman are some of the best values at this year's event. Tony Finau, Matt Kuchar and Patrick Cantlay provide more of a mid-range value.

Here's the full list of odds for the 2019 Masters field.

*Odds as of 5 p.m. ET April 10

Tiger Woods prop bets

As is standard, all eyes will be on Tiger and his attempt at returning to glory. With Woods being the most-watched golfer, numerous prop bets have been offered surrounding the four-time Masters champion.

(via DraftKings)

List of Masters winners by year

The list of Masters winners is filled with golf's best of all time. Jack Nicklaus holds the record for most Masters victories with six. Tiger Woods will have a chance for his fifth victory at Augusta this year. He is currently tied with Arnold Palmer with four wins. Woods, Nicklaus and Nick Faldo are the only golfers to win consecutive Masters, so Patrick Reed will join rare company if he can accomplish the feat this year.

The tournament record of 18-under par is held by Woods, who set it in 1997, and Jordan Spieth, who tied it with his 2015 victory. Woods' win also set the record for largest margin of victory at 12 strokes.