Dustin Johnson leads a packed field of contenders into the 2017 Masters tournamentin what could be a fantastic year for punters hoping to score big with sleepers.The world No. 1 has been in great form of late and is widely expected to add a second major to his tally. Per OddsShark.com, he's the obvious favorite with odds of 5.5-1, ahead of the likes of Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy.The former has been consistently excellent at Augusta National Golf Club the last few years, and after last year's infamous meltdown on the 12th hole, Spieth will have redemption on his mind. McIlroy has been very solid since his return from injury, with his short game looking very well.Here's a look at what to expect from some of the favourites come Thursday, as well as a couple of popular sleeper picks.The Favorites: Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroyIt's difficult to pick just three favorites among this year's field, given just how competitive the Masters could be. Hideki Matsuyama, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and defending champion Danny Willett all deserve mention, and we haven't even talked about Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson yet.Jason Day would likely be listed among the three favorites under normal circumstances, but the 29-year-old is dealing with a personal issue. He dropped out of the World Golf Championships followed by news his mother has been diagnosed with cancer, via For The Win:Day revealed on Tuesday he will play Augusta, according to Tom Webber of Sporting News, but it'll be difficult to keep complete focus for four full days. It would be an incredible story if Day could overcome such a setback, but it also means he's not among this year's favorites.What sets Johnson, Spieth and McIlroy apart is their consistency. The former has three wins under his belt already in 2017 and has finished in the top 10 of the Masters the last two years. Spieth hasn't finished lower than second in three appearances, and McIlroy has three straight finishes in the top 10.Johnson and McIlroy have the raw power to make it to the green in a hurry, but at Augusta, the short game is what truly separates the best. It's why Spieth has been such a consistent force at the Masters.The putting seems to be clicking for Johnson and McIlroy of late, and it's why the two are relatively safe bets to do well. In fact, per Independent.ie, Padraig Harrington believes McIlroy is the only thing standing in Johnson's way of the title:It would be a mistake to overlook some of the field's sleepers, however.The Sleepers: Jon Rahm, Henrik StensonCalling Jon Rahm a sleeper might be a bit of a stretch, as the youngster's incredible surge of late has led to his odds of winning the Masters on his debut being slashed a bit. The 22-year-old definitely isn't considered among the favourites, however, even if he's been in brilliant form of late.He has just a single professional title on his resume and was playing in amateur competitions just 12 months ago, but don't let that fool you. He's been remarkably consistent in his last few starts and pushed Johnson to the very limit in the final of the WGC-Dell Match Play recently.TaylorMade Golf Europe took a look at his swing and his chances at Augusta:And what about Henrik Stenson' The Swede finally proved he can win a major last year, taking the top spot at The Open Championship.Out of the four majors, the Masters has always suited him the least, and he's never finished better than 14th. He also missed the cut during the recent event in Houston, although he didn't seem too bothered about it.And that might be keyStenson tends to play his best golf when he starts tournaments with little pressure. Once he establishes himself and grows into the role of favourite, he has the mental strength to deal with it, but he seemingly likes to start as a bit of an afterthought.And after last year's Open Championship win and his Race to Dubai title, there's little pressure left on Stensonthe same can't be said for his opponents.
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