The Loop

After five straight birdies, oddsmakers make Bubba Watson huge favorite to win the 2014 Masters

After making the turn on Friday in 36 (which included his first bogey of the tournament on the ninth), Bubba Watson started his back nine with two straight pars before rattling off five consecutive birdies -- including a near-ace on the 16th hole.

That streak got Bubba to eight under and gave him a four-stroke lead at one point (a bogey on the 18th hole dropped him to seven under) with many of his a chasers playing throughout the afternoon when the forecast predicted heavy winds.

That was enough to convince multiple oddsmakers that he was fast on his way to becoming the next Masters champion, with his odds to win shortening from 7/1 at the start of the day to 3/2 and even 13/8 in some markets. Interestingly, this in spite of the fact that of the eight 36-hole leads Bubba Watson has enjoyed on tour, he's only converted one into a victory. Adam Scott climbed to 7/1 from 5/1 at the start of the day, joining Rory McIlroy as the next favorite.

"This has been an incredible round," Dave Kelner, a member of the broadcast division at William Hill and host of William Hill's Golf Betting Podcast, said. "His iron play has been superb and his birdies on 12 and 16 were tap-ins ... he's definitely the man to beat."