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The Masters: Expert Betting Tips
The most eagerly awaited tournament of the golf season, the Masters at Augusta, is almost upon us as the world’s top stars prepare to battle it out for the famous green jacket.
The divide between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf still dominates the build-up, especially with defending champion Jon Rahm having defected to the breakaway tour.
It’s world number one Scottie Scheffler, though, who will have all the spotlight on him ahead of the tournament with the American the hot favourite to be crowned champion come Sunday evening.
- Tip 1 – Scottie Scheffler to win the Masters @ 4/1
- Tip 2 – Matt Fitzpatrick top 5 finish @ 11/2
- Tip 3 – Dustin Johnson first round leader @ 40/1
Tip 1 – Scottie Scheffler to win the Masters @ 4/1
Scheffler may be the shortest-priced favourite for the Masters since Tiger Woods but it’s hard to oppose him with the form he is currently showing.
The 2022 green jacket winner looks to have solved his putting issues and his recent formline highlights just why he is such a strong favourite.
Scheffler has not finished outside the top 20 in all eight of his tournament appearances since the turn of the year – winning two and finishing tied for second in his last three events.
In 31 tournament rounds in 2024, the 27-year-old has only once carded over 70 while six of his last eight rounds have been 68 or lower.
With form like that, it’s no surprise to see Scheffler lead the PGA Tour in tee-to-green, approach the green and greens in regulation stats.
The Players Championship winner has also got an impressive record at Augusta as he prepares to make his fifth appearance at the year’s first major.
The man from New Jersey finished T19 on his Masters debut in 2020, following that up with a T18 finish in 2021. He then claimed the green jacket a year later and finished tied for 10th in his defence of the title in 2023.
A second-round 75 proved too big a setback to bounce back from last year but Scheffler doesn’t look likely to card an over-par round this time with the form he is in.
Tip 2 – Matt Fitzpatrick Top 5 Finish @ 11/2
Only two English golfers have ever won the Masters since the inaugural event in 1934: Nick Faldo (1989, 1990 and 1996) and Danny Willett (2016).
Matt Fitzpatrick, another Sheffield golfer like Willett, could well add his name to that list having shown a real liking for Augusta.
In his nine appearances, the Ryder Cup player has two Masters top 10s – one of which came last year – as well as two top-25 finishes to his name.
Considering his recent PGA Tour form, Fitzpatrick should also head to the tournament with a positive mindset. The 29-year-old was fifth in the Players Championship last month before finishing T10 at the Texas Open last week.
The Yorkshireman, ranked 10th in the world, showed in his 2022 US Open success that he has the temperament on the big stage to challenge for more major titles.
Fitzpatrick dropped two shots in the first five holes of his opening round last year – a better start this week should further aid his chances of a top-five finish.
Tip 3 – Dustin Johnson First Round Leader @ 40/1
Weather conditions look like being tougher on the first day compared to the rest of the week, so course knowledge could be particularly key on Thursday.
One man who certainly has that in abundance is Dustin Johnson. The 2020 champion – when the tournament was rescheduled in November – is playing in his 13th Masters.
As well as his one green jacket, the LIV golfer has a further four top-10 finishes to his name and has missed the cut on just two occasions.
DJ was joint leader after round one en route to victory when a first-round 65 left him on seven-under-par.
The year before his victory, Johnson was T4 after the opening 18 holes, carding a four-under round of 68. He then carded a 69 on the first day of the 2022 tournament to leave him in a tie for third.
The 39-year-old has already won on the LIV Tour this year, with a victory in Las Vegas in February, while his opening rounds in the five events to date read 67-67-66-70-70.
