Masters 2024 Picks & Odds: Predicting How the Favorites Will Finish

The Masters Tournament has had some chalky winners the last couple of years with Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm claiming the last two Green Jackets and it wouldn’t be a surprise if that trend continues.

Scheffler, the 2022 champion, is a massive favorite heading into the 2024 Masters thanks to multiple wins and some ridiculous stats. The defending champion and LIV defector, Rahm has the third-shortest odds and will attempt to win back-to-back Green Jackets for the first time since Tiger Woods in 2002.

And of course, Rory McIlroy is sandwiched in the middle. I break down the Masters odds and give you my Masters predictions for how this trio of favorites will fare at Augusta National.

Scottie Scheffler odds analysis and best bet 

I remember thinking +700 was a crazy short price for Scottie Scheffler to win a second consecutive Green Jacket last year. Imagine what I thought when I saw Scheffler listed at +450 this time around.

Those are the shortest odds to win the Masters Tournament since Tiger Woods in 2013, but let’s get this out of the way: Scheffler deserves to be a favorite of this magnitude. 

The World No. 1 has already won twice on the PGA Tour this season, including an awesome come-from-behind win at THE PLAYERS. He leads the PGA Tour in total strokes gained at 2.812 per round, almost an entire stroke higher than the person in second (Xander Schauffele). 

Oh, and he definitely has the experience at Augusta National. The 2022 champion won with a 10-under score, three shots clear of runner-up Rory McIlroy. With all that said, I can’t bring myself to back him to win a golf tournament at this price, even if there’s a good chance I'm kicking myself come Sunday. 

Instead, I’ll happily snag his Top 5 at plus money. He already has five Top-5 finishes this year and has a staggering 25 such results dating back to his Masters win in 2022.

Best bet: Scottie Scheffler Top 5 (+105 at DraftKings)

Rory McIlroy odds analysis and best bet 

Can Rory McIlroy finally, after all these years, complete the career Grand Slam by winning at Augusta? The golf odds give him the second-best shot to do so at +1,000.

Rory has all the tools necessary to be successful here. He’s great off the tee and his approach game has been solid. And while he doesn't have a Tour win yet this season, he’s finished T21, T21, T19, and third in his last four starts, which includes him shooting a blistering final-round 66 on Sunday of the Texas Open.

So, Rory has the game to win this tournament. The question is whether he can get over the mental hurdle of not winning a major championship since 2014, and adding the final piece to his grand slam puzzle by adding a Green Jacket to his trophy case.

As much as McIlroy will say it doesn’t weigh on him, the results are telling. Despite Augusta being the type of course he should dominate, slow starts have held him back. McIlroy’s strokes gained in Round 1 since 2019 sit at -0.81, with that mark jumping to +5.01 in Round 4.

The key to being in contention on Sunday is a good start on Thursday — Rory knows this. I’m betting he comes out with a solid game plan in Round 1 and finishes Thursday inside the Top 20.

Best bet: Rory McIlroy Top 20 after Round 1 (+100 at DraftKings)

Jon Rahm odds analysis and best bet 

Jon Rahm was lighting the golf world on fire heading into last year’s Masters. He already had three wins on the season and was arguably the best player in the world. His game is the perfect fit for Augusta so it didn’t come as a surprise when the Spaniard claimed his first Green Jacket, shooting 12-under par to win by four.

That said, there are more questions concerning the reigning champion than one would expect prior to this year’s event. That’s because following last season, LIV Golf offered Rahm a staggering amount of money and he left for the rival tour.

You're kidding yourself if you wouldn’t take the money either, but it does appear the move has left the former World No. 1 a little wanting. Prior to the Masters, he's come out to say things like he "misses 72-hole tournament golf" and "defending his titles". 

Well, he’ll be able to defend one of the biggest titles in golf this weekend and is the third favorite to do so at +1,100.

I do wish we could have seen a few more competitive rounds from Rahm but this is still one of the best players in the world. His game is a perfect fit here and other LIV players have proven they can still compete in majors.

Furthermore, he knows his way around Augusta better than most. Since 2018, he’s finished fourth, T9, T7, T5, T27, and of course a win last year. 

Best bet: Jon Rahm Top 10 (+115 at DraftKings)

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