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Wanted to get recommendations up early this week as a couple of match-ups I was looking to put up have disappeared completely and prices might also deteriorate:

5.5pts Jose Maria Olazabal to beat Bernhard Langer 11/10 skybet (tie no bet) (also available at 6/5 at betfred but tie loses)

Langer's performances at Augusta have really tailed off over recent years despite his continued dominance on the Champions Tour. The veteran German has a winner's mentality and I suspect he knows deep down that on a track where length is so vital, he simply hasn't any chance of victory with his advancing years. It's telling that he appears unable to string together two decent rounds and has recorded a round of 77 or worse in his last 6 appearances including two 80s.

Olazabal's powers are clearly on the wane as well but I've no doubt he will be hugely motivated to put on a good performance this year on his first appearance Stateside since masterminding Europe's incredible Ryder Cup victory in September. He's also shown glimpses of form, notably a top twenty finish in Dubai in February. Motivation aside perhaps the most compelling statisitic in the Spaniard's favour is the fact he has beaten Langer on 4 of their last 5 mutual appearances at Augusta National (the other being a tie). At odds against Olazabal is a really strong wager in my book.

6.6pts Russell Henley to beat Thorbjorn Olesen 10/11 betfair fixed odds (tie no bet)

Two Masters debutants pitched together here but Georgian native Henley will be much the more familiar with Augusta's hallowed terrain and revealed yesterday that he he's played the course around ten times. On a course as treachorous as Augusta National such experience alone will gIve him a massive advantage over the Dane. The fact Olesen has had a very interrupted preperation having sustained whiplash injuries in a car crash just prior to the Houston Open just adds more weight to the very solid case for Henley here.

5.5pts Angel Cabrera to beat Zach Johnson 10/11 sportingbet

Whilst head to heads over all tournaments would leave you leaning towards Johnson just about everything else appears in the Argentine's favour. Cabrera leads Johnson 5-2 with one tie since Johnson's debut in 2005 and he remains very much a course specialist with a victory and 4 other top ten's having competed every year since the turn of the century. It's notable that El Pato often finds his form at The Masters having seemingly been in the doldrums (his victory in 2009 being a good example) so the fact he enters this week on the back of a solid top twenty at Houston has to be positive. Zach on the other hand is struggling to adapt to swing changes and his recent form reflects that with a best finish of 18th back in January in the limited field Tournament of Champions. Again this is another strong fancy. 

6pts John Merrick to beat DA Points 3/4 pinnacle (tie no bet) 

Again looking simply at head to heads you'd be inclined to give the nod to Points but there are a couple of crucial factors in Merrick's favour here. Firstly mental fatigue. Although often overstated, the fact Points enters this incredibly demanding week on the back of six consecutive weeks of tournament play - including a hard fought victory just two weeks ago in Houston - you have to wonder how much energy he's got left? The second factor is the vaue of Merrick's excellent 6th place finish here back in 2009, a very impressive performance on debut. His confidence buoyed by a richly reserved maiden PGA Tour victory at Riviera, Merrick should have a clear edge.

4.4pts  Keegan Bradley to beat Bubba Watson 15/16 pinnacle (tie no bet)

The poor record of defending Masters champions down the years is well documented and I can't see that changing this year. Bradley in contrast comes into the event in stellar form yet a little under the radar with all the talk of Tiger and Rory. I'm expecting another strong showing from Bradley this week on a course that should suit him dowm to the ground with his massive length off the tee, deft short game and the benefit of numerous practice rounds with good friend and Augusta master Phil Mickelson.