As is tradition every April, the golf world is set to descend upon Augusta National Golf Club for the 2023 Masters Tournament.
However, rarely has the golf world been more divided.
It has been over eight months since the conclusion of golf’s last major championship, which saw Cameron Smith claim the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews shortly before making the decision to join LIV Golf. The Australian shared third place with Shane Lowry at the 2022 Masters, with both players finishing five strokes behind Scottie Scheffler.
The No. 1-ranked golfer in the world was on a tear last spring in the lead-up to his first major championship and has demonstrated similar form in recent weeks. Can Scheffler be the first repeat Masters winner since Tiger Woods won his second and third Green Jackets in 2001 and 2002?
Let’s dig into the latest odds to pick out a Masters winner, some of our favorite sleepers, and a long shot.
Masters Favorites
The Masters winner odds are current as of Wednesday, April 5, at 11:30 a.m. ET and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Scottie Scheffler (+650)
- Rory McIlroy (+750)
- Jon Rahm (+850)
- Jordan Spieth (+1800)
- Tony Finau (+1800)
- Patrick Cantlay (+2000)
- Justin Thomas (+2200)
- Jason Day (+2200)
- Dustin Johnson (+2200)
- Xander Schauffele (+2500)
- Collin Morikawa (+2800)
- Max Homa (+2800)
In addition to this welcome offer, all DraftKings customers can get a (+300) odds boost on any golfer to win The Masters. Check out this DraftKings Masters promo, or continue reading for more predictions.
The Masters Field
As you would expect for the first major championship of the year, the field is full of elite talent.
Unlike the other majors, however, The Masters has a more exclusive field and this year 88 players are set to participate. Included in that group are a handful of amateurs and past champions that don’t have a chance at winning (or likely competing), so making it through the cut (top 50 and ties) is generally easier at the Masters than at other majors.
Will Tiger Woods Play in The Masters?
All signs point toward the five-time Masters champion teeing it up at Augusta. Woods hasn’t played in a PGA Tour event since the Genesis Invitational in February, after which he stated his schedule will essentially consist of the majors.
Given his age and injury history, Woods has to be selective about which events to play, and there’s no doubt that The Masters likely ranks No. 1 on his list. Still, while Tiger has proven over and over that he can never be counted out, there’s a reason that he’s currently pretty far down the odds board (+9000) in terms of an outright bet.
Still, there is some value on him to make the cut at Augusta, so check out our favorite Tiger Woods Masters props.
Can LIV Golfers Play in The Masters?
As alluded to in the open, players that ply their trade in LIV Golf, like Cameron Smith, are eligible to play in the Masters as long as they have met the tournament’s qualifications.
This year, LIV will have 18 representatives in the field, including past Masters champions Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed, Sergio García, and Charl Schwartzel.
Their presence will likely make the traditional Masters champions dinner a bit more awkward, but elite players like Johnson, Smith, and Bryson DeChambeau are here to prove a point.
Masters Winner Prediction
Scottie Scheffler (+650) • DraftKings Sportsbook
Bettors typically don’t like to pick last year’s winner, but there’s no doubting Scheffler’s status as the top player in the game right now.
The 2022 Masters champ successfully defended his title in Phoenix in February and nearly did so again at the Dell Technologies Match Play event in Austin. Scheffler added to his trophy case with a victory at the PLAYERS in March and remarkably hasn’t finished outside of the top 15 in an event since last October.
The Texan is a world-class striker of the golf ball and his consistency is essentially unparalleled. Scheffler has immaculate touch around the greens — a must at Augusta — and although his putter can be hit or miss, it always feels like he makes the eight-foot par putts he needs the most.
Another win would be historic, but given the heater he’s on, it’s not unlikely.
Masters Winner Best Bets
Collin Morikawa (+2800) • DraftKings Sportsbook
A solo fifth-place finish a year ago, thanks in large part to a final-round 67, ended any chatter of the thought that Morikawa wasn’t well-suited for Augusta.
As one of the best ball-strikers on the planet, the 26-year-old is rightfully a contender in any tournament he plays in. And most importantly, when it comes to his chances at The Masters, his short game is improving.
Morikawa has gained strokes around the green in two of his last three events, but perhaps more importantly, he is no longer chipping his way out of tournaments. The putter can still be hit-or-miss, but when it catches fire, look out.
If you don’t want to start your Masters betting card as low as Scheffler, which is understandable given the price, taking a two-time major champion at 28-1 seems like a good option.
Cameron Smith (+3500) • DraftKings Sportsbook
Given his affiliation to LIV Golf and his lack of form in 2023, Smith has seen his odds plummet considerably over the course of the week (he opened at +2000 last Friday). But at this price, I can’t help myself from taking a chance on the Aussie.
After finishing in the top 10 four of the last five years, Smith’s Masters record speaks for itself. He has posted three top-five finishes in that span but just hasn’t been able to close the deal on Sunday.
- Wager on a winner with the top Masters Betting Sites.
Those results make plenty of sense because his game is perfectly suited for Augusta. A sometimes errant driver is welcomed with wide fairways, while his immaculate, imaginative short game and putting ability help him tame the greens a la Jordan Spieth.
Returning to Augusta with the confidence of a major championship victory under his belt will go a long way. I wouldn’t be shocked if Smith finally seals the deal on Sunday.
Masters Sleeper Pick to Win
Will Zalatoris (+4500) • DraftKings Sportsbook
Zalatoris missed the end of last season with a back injury and hasn’t quite found his form in 2023. He recently was forced to withdraw from the Match Play event with a stomach bug and has posted just one top-10 finish – a solo fourth at the Genesis Invitational — this year.
However, we know the 26-year-old is one of the game’s elite ball-strikers when healthy and he seemingly has a knack for popping up in contention at the majors.
His time at Augusta National has been no different. The Wake Forest product has played The Masters twice in his career and never finished worse than tied for sixth.
If Zalatoris was healthy and playing well, his price would be half of this. I’m plenty comfortable taking the discount and hoping one of the game’s top talents is back to 100%.
Corey Conners (+5000) • DraftKings Sportsbook
After earning his second career PGA Tour victory at the Valero Texas Open on Sunday, Conners’ price was slashed to +3500 on Monday. Clearly, that number didn’t get many bites (as it shouldn’t have), which is why we’re back to where we started last Friday.
While backing the Canadian to reel off a second straight victory feels unlikely, especially considering his only previous win also came at Valero in 2019, there are still plenty of reasons to like Conners at Augusta.
His Masters track record is superb for a player of his caliber as he has finished in the top 10 each of the past three years (T-6, T-8, T-10). Given the confidence and relief that should come with a first victory in four years, I think Conners is a good first-round leader play (find out why in our favorite 2023 Masters props.)
However, since he just raced out to the first-round lead at Valero and went on to win, backing him from an outright perspective isn’t the worst idea either.
The 2023 Masters winner will most likely come from the top of the odds board, so investing much in Conners or any other player beyond +5000 likely isn’t a good idea.
Masters Longshot Picks to Win
Patrick Reed (+8000) • DraftKings Sportsbook
Reed’s price has fluctuated over the course of the week, but after finishing in a tie for third at the LIV Golf event in Orlando last weekend, there are enough encouraging signs to take a stab at this number.
The 2018 Masters champion is probably public enemy No. 1 amongst the LIV crew — I’ll spare you all the details of his recent ongoings with Rory McIlroy and others — but it’s safe to say that he probably has the biggest chip on his shoulder coming into this week.
Reed has posted two top-10 finishes in his last three trips to The Masters and given his recent form, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the mix on Sunday.
Si Woo Kim (+9000) • DraftKings Sportsbook
A four-time winner on the PGA Tour, Si Woo Kim has the talent to beat the best players in the world.
He showcased that when he won the PLAYERS Championship as a 21-year-old back in 2017 and recently added to his trophy case with a victory at the Sony Open in January. Kim’s lead-in form isn’t particularly noteworthy, but he can produce these spike performances at any time as his putter is very hit-or-miss.
Of the four majors, the South Korean tends to play his best at Augusta. He has settled in the top 40 each of the past five years and peaked with a 12th-place finish in 2021, despite breaking his putter in frustration and putting with a three wood for multiple holes of the second round that year.
If the putter cooperates, Si Woo has the ball-striking ability to put himself in the mix on the weekend.
The Masters Tournament Event Details 2023
- Dates: Thursday, April 6 - Sunday, April 9, 2023
- Course: Augusta National Golf Club
- Course Dimensions: Par 72 (7,510 yards)
- 2022 Masters Winner: Scottie Scheffler
- How to Watch: ESPN/CBS
The Masters Weather Forecast
There’s still time for this forecast to change, but at the moment, Augusta is expecting off-and-on rain showers throughout the week. That’s not exactly what we want to hear from a golf betting perspective, as this could throw some chaos into the mix when it comes to tee times and weather draws.
A consistent dose of rain throughout the week could also soften the conditions for players, meaning scores could be lower than normal.
The temperature is expected to peak on Thursday, with highs hitting the high 80s, and descend as the wet weather hits the area. Saturday’s forecast currently calls for a high temperature of 52, which when coupled with the rain, could make things miserable for players and spectators alike.
The Masters Course Tips
Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta, Ga.)
- Par 72 (7,510 yards)
- As the only major championship that is played annually at the same course, we generally know what to expect from Augusta National. It’s a long layout that is made more challenging by severe undulations, not just on the greens, but of the terrain itself.
- Wide fairways are typically easy to find off the tee, but the course isn’t going to punish golfers that drive it into the rough. This isn’t a U.S. Open setup. Instead, driving distance is more of a distinguishing factor than accuracy, as there are multiple Par-4s that measure around 500 yards. Shorter hitters will have a tough time reaching those greens in regulation.
- The green complexes at Augusta are very complicated, which usually gives players that have more experience at The Masters an upper hand. The greens themselves are comprised of bent grass and will typically play firm and lightning-quick.
- The 2020 edition, won by Dustin Johnson with a record score of 20-under, was an exception to that. It took place in November due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Rain had softened the course, which allowed players to target the pins and led to record-low scoring. Scheffler won at 10-under last year, which was closer to the range we typically see.
- If you want to get yourself a Green Jacket, you’re going to have to take advantage of the four Par-5s. They rate out as the four easiest holes on the course, per Fantasy National. Only two other holes, No. 3 (Par-4, 350 yards) and No. 16 (Par-3, 170 yards), have surrendered birdie or better to the field at least 15% of the time.
