Masters Picks

Golf’s first major of the season begins on Thursday with the 87^th edition of The Masters. All of the world’s top golfers will be in the field, including players from the LIV Tour who can’t play in PGA Tour events. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and No. 2 Rory McIlroy are listed as co-favorites at odds of +700 at BetRivers to win The Masters. World No. 3 Jon Rahm is listed at odds of +850 and then there is a big gap to Jordan Spieth and Patrick Cantlay at odds of +1600. Scheffler is the defending champion and looking to become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2001-2002 to defend his Masters title. Let’s look at Masters picks.

Venue: Augusta National Golf Club is a par 72 that measures 7,545 yards. The layout has changed for this year, as the par-5 13^th hole was lengthened by 35 yards. The 13^th had been one of the easiest holes on the course but that should no longer be the case.

Last Year: Scottie Scheffler blitzed the field a year ago, winning by three shots. Rory McIlroy made a late move with a final round 64, but it was too little, too late. Cameron Smith and Shane Lowry tied for third, while Collin Morikawa finished in fifth.

TV Coverage: CBS & ESPN

Masters Odds

Scheffler, Scottie +700

McIlroy, Rory +700

Rahm, Jon +850

Spieth, Jordan +1600

Cantlay, Patrick +1600

Schauffele, Xander +2200

Smith, Cameron +2200

Finau, Tony +2200

Thomas, Justin +2200

Homa, Max +2500

Morikawa, Collin +2500

Young, Cameron +2800

Johnson, Dustin +2800

Day, Jason +2800

Hovland, Viktor +3300

Koepka, Brooks +3300

Sungjae Im +3300

Conners, Corey +4000

Burns, Sam +4000

Fitzpatrick, Matthew +4500

Matsuyama, Hideki +4500

Zalatoris, Will +4500

Hatton, Tyrrell +4500

Rose, Justin +6000

Fleetwood, Tommy +6600

Lowry, Shane +6600

Woods, Tiger +7000

Reed, Patrick +7000

Min Woo Lee +7000

Niemann, Joaquin +7000

Kim, Tom +8000

Pereira, Mito +8000

Si Woo Kim +9000

Kirk, Chris +9000

Mitchell, Keith +9000

Scott, Adam +9000

Bradley, Keegan +9000

All other players are listed with odds of +10000 or more

Favorite

Scheffler & McIlroy +700

The favorite lost again last week on the PGA Tour and the favorite, other than Jon Rahm, earlier in the season, has been a losing proposition. I say every week that there is no value in betting golf favorites and that is the case again this week. That begin said, I was tempted to go with either Scheffler or McIlroy this week because both are in very good form and they each do well on this course. While I am tempted to back them, I just have to stick to my guns and not bet the favorite, or in this case, the favorites.

Value Picks

Spieth, Jordan +1600

I haven’t been on Spieth in a long time, but he has played better this year and there is no denying his success at Augusta National. He ranks very highly in a number of categories this season and his putting is better this year. I’ll take a shot on Spieth at these odds.

Cantlay, Patrick +1600

Cantlay is long and straight off the tee and that usually means success at August National. He is second in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee this season. He is also sixth in GIR. He is definitely someone who should be in the mix this week.

Thomas, Justin +2200

Thomas made the unusual decision to skip the Match Play event and get ready for The Masters. He is coming off a 10^th place finish at the Valspar so he comes into this event in decent form. It is worth noting that his last six PGA Tour wins have come when he finished in the Top 17 in his previous event.

Young, Cameron +2800

There is no doubt that Young is one of the top young players in the world. He has soared up the World Golf Rankings and is now in the Top 15. We saw just how good he can be at the Match Play when he knocked out McIlroy. Young’s new caddy Paul Tesori knows Augusta well having caddied for Webb Simpson. Young in only his second year had top-3 finishes in Majors so we know he can handle tough courses.

Burns, Sam +4000

I am shocked that the number on Burns is this high. He is ranked in the Top 10 in the world and he continues to get better. He hasn’t played his best in the majors, but he hasn’t had that many chances, as he is just 26 years old. This is simply a value play, as there is no way Burns should be 40-1.

Lowy, Shane +6600

If the weather is as bad as the early forecast indicates, then Lowy has to be given a shot. He plays his best in bad weather and don’t forget he played well a year ago, finishing in a tie for 3^rd. I think he is worth a longshot flyer.

Fleetwood, Tommy +6600

I know that Fleetwood has yet to win a Major and hasn’t won on the PGA Tour, but he is a player to watch in bad weather. He is getting closer to his first big win and it just might be this week. He has actually been in the Top 10 heading into Sunday in each of the last three Masters.

Check out the latest Masters odds at BetRivers.