The 2023 Masters are upon us and Augusta National has been the home to some of the greatest moments in golf. There have been heart-stopping moments in the past, but you can make the case that this is the most exciting and competitive field ever.
Scottie Scheffler will try to become the first player to win back-to-back Green Jackets since Tiger Woods in 2002. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy makes another attempt at the career grand slam. Scheffler and McIlroy are the current Masters odds favorites, with Jon Rahm not too far behind.
Other big names like 2015 champion Jordan Spieth and two-time major winner Justin Thomas are also sure to be in contention this weekend. However, only one player can sport the Green Jacket on Sunday evening.
So, what are the best ways to wager these big guns at Augusta National? Read on as I break all the golf odds down and give you my Masters picks for these betting favorites ahead of Round 1 on Thursday.
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Scottie Scheffler
If there’s anyone who can repeat, it’s Scheffler at +700.
The No. 1 ranked player in the world is playing at another level right now, with his last five tournament appearances consisting of two outright wins and two finishes in the Top 5.
And in three starts at the Masters, he finished 19th and 18th before culminating in his victory last year.
Scheffler certainly has the game to repeat, especially considering Augusta National is a second-shot course. In fact, Scheffler ranks sixth in Strokes Gained: Approach, first in Greens in regulation percentage, and second in total strokes gained.
Unfortunately, I don’t think there is a ton of value in his outright price and history is against him repeating, but I do love the chances of a Top-10 finish. This is a feat that Scheffler has accomplished in seven of his 10 starts on Tour this season.
PICK: Scheffler Top-10 finish (-125 at bet365)
Rory McIlroy
Can Rory finally win the Masters and complete the career grand slam? That’s the question everyone will be asking heading into this year’s Masters Tournament. It’s crazy to think, but even at just 33-year-old, this will be McIlroy’s ninth attempt to complete the grand slam.
McIlroy has won four of the last 10 tournaments he’s played in. He also ranks seventh in Strokes Gained: Approach and eighth in Strokes Gained total, so his game is primed for Augusta.
It truly feels like Rory's been knocking at the door here forever. McIlroy has seven Top-10 finishes in his last nine Masters appearances, including ending up in second place just last year.
I’m not sure if this is finally the year where McIlroy gets over the hump and wins that elusive Green Jacket, but a finish in the Top 5 certainly looks plausible.
PICK: McIlroy Top-5 finish (+162 at bet365)
Jon Rahm
It sounds kind of funny to say that the guy with the third-best odds to win the Masters is being overlooked. But I think you can make that case with Jon Rahm.
Despite the bigger narratives surrounding Scheffler and McIlroy, you can make the argument that Rahm is still the best golfer in the world right now. He has three victories this season and his game is on point, as he ranks third in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, fourth in approach, 12th in putting, and first in total strokes gained.
Getting arguably the best golfer in the world at the third-best odds to win is worth a play. It feels like Rahm is on the precipice of the Green Jacket, as he has four Top-10 finishes under his belt in Augusta and has never finished worse than 27th in his six career starts at the Masters.
PICK: Rahm to win outright (+950 at FanDuel)
Jordan Spieth
The 2015 champion certainly knows what it takes to get around Augusta National, as he has five Top-3 finishes in his nine Masters starts.
However, Spieth also missed the cut last year. And of course, you can't forget the infamous Back 9 meltdown in 2016.
Luckily for the Texas native, Spieth comes into this year’s Masters playing well. Despite not getting a win, he has finished T6 or better in three of his last six starts, including a T3 at the Valspar Championship just a couple of weeks ago. If Spieth can get hot with the putter, he’ll have a chance to contend this week.
With the weather looking like it will be at its best on Thursday, I like Spieth to get out to a hot start. He’s worth a wager to be the first-round leader in a quest to earn his second career Green Jacket.
PICK: Spieth to finish as the first-round leader (+2,500 at DraftKings)
Justin Thomas
When he is on his game, the two-time Major winner is arguably the best iron player in the game.
Thomas might be rounding into form at the right time, as he has two Top-10 finishes in his previous five starts, including a T10 placing at the Valspar Championship. Thomas currently ranks 23rd in Strokes Gained: Total, and is tops on Tour in SG: Around the Green.
While he doesn’t have the best track record at Augusta, it’s not like he’s been bad either. Thomas finished 12th, fourth, 21st, and eighth in his last four Masters. In a course that requires creativity, the 29-year-old can still excel.
Getting him to land in the Top 10 at 2/1 is solid value.
PICK: Justin Thomas Top-10 finish (+200 at DraftKings)
