The 89th Masters Preview & Predictions

April 10th – 13th

Augusta, Georgia

Augusta National has been the home of the Masters Tournament since 1934. It is the most significant event in golf, and some people argue it is the most significant event in sports

I put it behind the World Cup, Super Bowl, and Olympic Games; however, it is a top-five event in sports.

Most Green Jackets

Jack Nicklaus 6

Tiger Woods 5

Arnold Palmer 4

Only 18 men have won the event multiple times; it is impressive that these three legends did it as often as they did.

The Favourites: Odds Via BETMGM

Scottie Scheffler + 450

Rory McIlroy +650

Collin Morikawa +1400

Bryson DeChambeau +1600

Jon Rahm +1600

Ludvig Aberg +1800

Xander Schuffele +2000

Justin Thomas +2200

Scottie Scheffler is the favourite to win back-to-back green jackets. He was the winner last year at -11, 4 shots better than Aberg, the second-place finisher. He had a career year last season with a nine-tournament win season, a major title, Olympic Gold Medal and the Fed Ex Cup Winner.

His current form is solid; he finished 2nd a few weeks ago at the Houston Open. No wins yet for Scottie in 2025.

2025 Key Stats:

2nd Scoring Average: 69.49

3rd SG: Total

3rd SG: Tee-to-Green

42: SG Putting

If you want to find one negative, it would be that his putting hasn’t been consistent. He has changed putting grips multiple times this year. Only three golfers have won The Masters back-to-back. It's a tall task, but if anyone can do it, Scottie can.

Rory McIlroy is having the best season out of anyone in this event. Two wins on tour already this year, and nothing worse than a tied-for 17th finish. His last two events have been a win and a 5th. He finished second in 2022 and has four Top-5s around Augusta. I argue that he is playing his best golf coming into this Masters.

Is this the year he gets his Green Jacket and completes the Grand Slam? I will have an outright on him, just in case.

2025 Stats:

1st Scoring Average: 69.2

1st SG: Total

2nd SG: Tee-to-Green

1st SG: Off–the–Tee

12TH SG: Putting

Ludvig Aberg is one of the futures of the sport. He has already finished 2nd in his debut last year. He has a win on tour this year at the Genesis Invitational, a ticket I cashed at +2500. He is coming off a missed cut at the Players and a 22nd before that, so his form isn’t spectacular coming into the event, and his overall approach play is just average now. I will be staying away from Ludvig in the outright market.

2025 Stats:

115th Scoring Average: 71.6

64th SG: Total

64th SG: Tee-to-Green

12th SG: Off-the-Tee

(Keep in mind he missed a few events and had a WD due to injury and illness) 

Other favourites I need to mention are Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas. 

Collin has been excellent this season, with two second-place finishes in just five events. He also comes off a respectful performance at the Players with a 10th. He will come rested into The Masters and is coming off his best finish last year here with a 3rd place. He has had three top-10 finishes in the previous three years, and I love that he is number one on tour in strokes gained approach. I will be backing Collin in the outright and prop market this week.

Justin Thomas has played a lot this year, with eight events already under his belt. His form is solid, coming off a 2nd-place finish at the Valspar and four Top 10 finishes in eight events. His best finish around here is a 4th in 2020 with a scoring average of 71.9.

Justin's concern is winning and doing well in Majors. The PGA Championship in 2022 was the last major he won, and he only had one top-30 finish in the previous 10 majors. You can argue his form is good coming into The Masters, which could give him a shot this weekend. However, I'm staying away from him this week.

Favourite LIV Golf Player

Joaquin Niemann has been the best player on the LIV Golf tour. He has won two of the first four LIV golf tournaments this year. The only issue is that he hasn’t played well in Majors. In 22 tries, he hasn’t had a single top-15. Is he ready to break through? Recent play says yes, but remember it is the LIV golf tour. If you want to be safer, look for more proven guys like Rahm, Bryson or Cam Smith.

Long shot (Best price FanDuel)

Sepp Straka +8000 

Win the tournament, probably not, but the value is there at this price. I have Sepp at +5000, so we see a ton of value here. He has made the cut in all three tries here and Tied for 16th last year. He won on tour this year, along with three top 10s. He also ranks 5th on tour in SG: Approach coming into this event.

Prop Market

Top 30

Sepp Straka -110

*See Above

Top 20

Tommy Fleetwood +115

Reason: He is coming off his best performance at The Masters, a third-place finish in 2024. He has five top-20 finishes in his last six starts worldwide and has been a top-20 machine throughout his career.

Seven made cuts around Augusta National out of 8 tries with a scoring average of 72. Tommy doesn’t win many tournaments; however seems always to be hanging around on the weekend, especially in Majors. He is in the top 20 in most Strokes Gained stats on the year.

Top 10

Collin Morikawa +145

*See Above

*Value Matchup

Cantlay vs Henley +110

Reason:

This would be Cantlay’s worst major on tour, with a scoring average of 72.4. His best finish was in 2019 when he Tied for 9th.

Henley finished fourth in 2023 and in the top 25 in five of his last eight majors. He is also a Georgia native, so he will be used to the climate and should have some home cooking and rest this week.

Henley’s form is also better coming into this event with a win, 6th and 5th in his last five starts.

Cantlay played this past weekend and struggled at times, finishing 33rd. His putting numbers are down at 54th on tour this year in SG: Putting; Henley is Top 20 in that department.

I have this matchup at -110, so I see value at this price.

Enjoy one of the greatest tournaments in all of sports, the Masters.