This could be major Westwood ends hex

It's just the beginning. That's the one bit of bad news for Lee Westwood, because in major golf tournaments he never gets the tear-jerking Hollywood ending.

A quiet, unassuming good guy from Nottinghamshire, England, Westwood is all too familiar with getting stuck in the bridesmaid role. He knows how to stand off to the side and smile while someone else celebrates.

Westwood is to golf majors what the Buffalo Bills once were to the Super Bowl. He's good enough to get in position to win, and then turns into the Chicago Cubs' bullpen.

Will it be different this time, with Westwood taking a one-shot lead after Thursday's first round of the Masters?

"I would have to side with Westwood," LVH golf oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said. "He's been close so many times, and he's got enough talent. If he just plays some smart golf and doesn't make any large mistakes, he should be right there on Sunday."

A wager on Westwood, who teed off at 20-1 odds, is never the worst thing to have in a major. It seems he almost guarantees you action for the final 18 holes. He placed second at the Masters two years ago. His resume lists 12 top-10 finishes in majors, and he finished tied for third or better in five of his past nine majors.

He is golf's Dan Marino, the best player to never win the big one. Maybe that's about to change, but what is certain is that women are not welcome to join Augusta National and Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are far from the only two in the hunt.

Sherman posted adjusted odds to win Thursday night and Westwood, after firing a 5-under 67 that included seven birdies, is atop the LVH odds board as the new favorite at 7-2.

Woods blasted three tee shots into the trees and carded a 72 before heading to Perkins for some post-round pancakes. The 9-2 favorite going in, Woods' odds were adjusted to 7-1 at the LVH and 8-1 at Cantor Gaming sports books.

"Tiger didn't play that well, and he wasn't driving the ball that well at all," Sherman said. "He said some of his old habits crept back in, and for him to make an admission like that, it's not a good sign."

Still, a wager on Woods at this point is not a terrible risk. Most books in Las Vegas are reporting a record handle on this Masters, with Woods drawing the most action of any player. I didn't bet on him at 9-2, but at 8-1 the price might be right for advantage players.

McIlroy choked in last year's Masters before a breakthrough win in the U.S. Open. His Thursday started with a double bogey, which is how I usually open a round, but he fought back to finish with a 71 to get within four shots of the lead.

"I wouldn't discount McIlroy, either," said Sherman, who adjusted the odds on Caroline Wozniacki's boyfriend to 11-2.

A former bridesmaid to Woods, three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson played as if he was blindfolded and hacked his way to a 74. But he walked off all smiles and announced he will be a serious contender this weekend.

Mickelson opened at 12-1 odds and goes into the second round at 25-1, which I decided to take based on his bizarre optimism.

Sherman was more skeptical, saying, "Mickelson was errant the whole time. You really can't win the tournament the first day, but you can lose it. It's not looking like he's in a good position."

On a sunny day at Augusta, Henrik Stenson made a snowman on the par-4 18th. Instead of going into the clubhouse with the lead and prepping for a happy interview in Butler Cabin, Stenson was writing an 8 on his scorecard.

"To me, he took himself out of the tournament," Sherman said. "I'm sure he'll be thinking about that hole for a long time."

Stenson teed off as a 150-1 shot. His odds were set to be adjusted to around 15-1 before his debacle. He finished with a 1-under 71 and was listed at 100-1.

Louis Oosthuizen, adjusted from 80-1 to 15-1, is one shot off the lead. Don't count on Oosthuizen slipping on the green jacket. Two players I bet before the tournament, Bubba Watson at 30-1 and Jim Furyk at 100-1, are under par and in the hunt.

Most books will be posting adjusted odds and player matchups after the second and third rounds, and the LVH plans to offer in-running wagering for the final round.

The biggest-bet major in history will get bigger if Woods and McIlroy are on the leaderboard Sunday afternoon.

Count on the bridesmaid being in the middle of the action.

Contact sports betting columnist Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. He co-hosts "The Las Vegas Sportsline" weekdays at 3 p.m. on ESPN Radio (1100 AM, 98.9 FM) and thelasvegassportsline.com.