It’s Masters week, so the eyes of the sporting world will again turn to those perfect fairways and not-far-from perfect rough areas of the immaculate and iconic Augusta National Golf Club.

Few would have tipped Garcia in the ante-post markets. Many would have backed Jordan Spieth heading into the final round, but figuratively screwed up their betting slips when he chipped into the water on the 12th.

Betting should reflect the drama

The Masters and the other major golf events are important for sports fans and broadcasters, and should be very important for betting operators. The betting industry needs to provide a market that can offer punters the chance to put their expertise to the test and should offer a service that reflects the drama taking place on the course. When Rose and Garcia’s play-off was capturing the imagination last year, many golf fans must have felt short-changed in being unable to make those in-play wagers that they expect to be able to make in tennis or football. Everyone had an opinion as to whether Sergio would sink his putt on the 18th, or whether his iron shot on the playoff hole would hit the green, but many would not have been able to do so through their usual bookie, unless it’s one of those that has integrated Metric’s shot-by-shot Super Live service, when TV coverage allows.