The first major of the year is hugely anticipated with Scottie Scheffler a hot favourite to win his second green jacket at the Masters. The best players in the world will be reunited at Augusta National with 13 LIV Golf players, including defending champion Jon Rahm in the field.
The 7,545-yard par 72 always presents a stern test with power undoubtedly an advantage in Georgia. But far from being a putting contest, strokes gained on approach is a key stat with players needing to hit plenty of greens to contend. Strong scrambling around the devilishly fast greens is also crucial and previous experience often pays off. Heavy rain during the first day and strong winds over the opening two rounds will test the field before conditions are forecast to improve with a dry and sunny weekend.
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⚡ The Masters Boosted Treble
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⛳ Xander Schauffele Top 5 Finish
⛳ Sahith Theegale Top 10 Finish
⛳ Patrick Reed Top 20 Finish
Xander Schauffele Top 5 Finish
Xander Schauffele is extremely popular in the outright market with his odds tumbling but preference is to combine him in a bet featuring a top 5 finish. Schauffele has been a model of consistency in the biggest events, with no fewer than 10 top 10s in his last 22 majors. This includes second place at the 2019 Masters and third two years ago. His form this season is rock solid with four top fives in his eight starts, including second at the Players Championship, and it is difficult to envisage him failing to feature prominently on the leaderboard this week.
Sahith Theegala Top 10 Finish
Sahith Theegalawas also strongly considered as an outright selection and the swashbuckling American merits support in this bet to post a top 10 finish. Theegala’s creativity looks ready made for Augusta National and he proved this with a strong debut last year, shooting 67 on Sunday to finish ninth. His form this year has been encouraging, with four top 10s including second at the season opener in Kapalua and fifth at the Phoenix Open. Ranked 11th for greens in regulation this year, Theegala’s improvement off the tee suggests he could contend and a top 10 finish is well within his sights.
Patrick Reed Top 20 Finish
Patrick Reed is a Masters champion and the spiky American is worth backing to complete this combination bet with a top 20 finish. The 2018 winner has built a consistent record around Augusta National which includes fourth place last year. Reed has posted four top 20s at this major over the last six years and his experience is a significant advantage. Ninth place last week at LIV Miami was a solid warm-up and Reed can handle any adverse weather over the first two days. Another victory looks a long shot but a top 20 finish appeals to round off this combination bet.
The Masters Outright Winner
🏆 Scottie Scheffler to win
Scottie Scheffler heads into the Masters as the dominant favourite and the world number one can justify his status by winning his second major at 4.50. His ball striking has been phenomenal this year, helping him land two victories and five other top 10s. His win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational was followed by success at the Players Championship as he became the first golfer to win back-to-back at Sawgrass.
The 27-year-old was runner-up on his last start at the Houston Open and has not posted a single round over par this year. The 2022 Masters champion leads the rankings this season for strokes gained tee to green, strokes gained approaching the green, greens in regulation, birdie average and bogey avoidance. It is impossible to envisage Scheffler failing to contend and he is a confident win only selection for another Masters triumph.
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⛳ Hideki Matsuyama E/W
Matsuyama stormed to victory at Riviera in February – a course with notable correlations to Augusta National. He has since added 12th at Bay Hill, sixth at the Players Championship and a tie for seventh last week at the Texas Open. Matsuyama, who is ranked third for strokes gained tee to green and first for strokes gained around the green, looks a huge contender this weekend.
⛳ Wyndham Clark E/W
Clark has since finished runner-up at Bay Hill and Sawgrass with only Scheffler’s brilliance denying him another title. His last tournament in Georgia resulted in third place at the Tour Championship and he has all the tools to excel at Augusta. Ranked second for par breakers and fourth for par five birdie or better leaders, powerful Clark offers each way value at 25/1.
⛳ Will Zalatoris E/W
The 27-year-old has already finished second in three of his 10 major starts. His recovery from a major back injury has been a success, with second place at Riviera and fourth at Bay Hill in recent months. Ranking eighth for strokes gained approaching the green, Zalatoris’ long-game class and ability to handle tough courses bodes well for his chances at 28/1.
⛳ Russell Henley E/W
Henley impressed last week, finishing fourth at the Texas Open and was also fourth at the challenging Bay Hill last month. Ranked 11th for both scrambling and bogey avoidance, Henley can hang tough this week and contend at 50/1 each-way.
* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.
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