With JJ Spaun’s victory at The Valero Texas Open, the Masters field increased to 108 players. Do they all have a chance to win? Sure, if you’re putting a tee in the ground on the first tee Thursday, there’s a chance. But, let’s be honest. Some have a better chance than others.
So after looking at the best potential Top 10 and Top 20 finish odds yesterday, today, let's go in a different direction.
Here are five players that have the talent, the game, the experience to wear the Green Jacket Sunday night and pick the Champions Dinner in early April of 2023.
And as always, our odds are presented by our partners at DraftKings and the DraftKings Sportsbook
Collin Morikawa (+2000)
The reigning British Open champ is the only player in the field that can win back to back majors having hoisted the Claret Jug in July. He leads the tour in strokes gained and approach, two huge stats that equate to success in the Masters. Morikawa is also fourth in total driving, sixth in birdie average, and seventh in greens in regulation.
Jon Rahm (+850)
The world’s former number one ranked player has four straight top-10 finishes in Augusta. He also happens to be ranked first in greens in regulation and total driving. Rahm has also been knocking on the doorstep of a major win. He has finished in the top 5 in the last five major events. That all adds up to being in the mix late Sunday afternoon.
Justin Thomas (+1400)
JT’s game is suited for Augusta but the results are not what you would have suspected. In six appearances, he has mustered only one top 5 finish (fourth in 2020). But he is on top of his game with eight top 10’s in his last 12 tournament starts. He is ranked sixth in scrambling and eighth in putts per round, both of which are important stats at The Masters.
Scottie Scheffler (+1200)
All Scheffler has done is win three of his last five starts, ascending to the world’s top ranking. So, yeah, he is playing the best golf of his career heading into Masters week. He has finished 19th and 18th in his last two trips to Augusta. Ranked fifth in birdie average, Scheffler has also posted top-15 finishes in his last three majors. There’s no better time than now for Scheffler to don a green jacket than this week.
Brooks Koepka (+1800)
If there’s a player who takes majors personally, it’s Koepka. He plays his best in these events, having won four since 2017. His 2022 season has been up and down, but if there is someone who can turn it on for four days and make Sunday afternoon important, it’s Koepka. In 2021, he posted a tie for second at the PGA and sixth place at The British Open. He missed the cut at last year’s Masters, but has also finished 11th, second, and seventh prior to that. He knows his way around Augusta, hits it a long way (ranked 7th in driving distance), and wouldn’t be a stranger to Sunday pressure in a major.
Wait, Tiger (+4000) isn’t in the mix?
Would anyone be surprised if El Tigre played his way into the first page of the leaderboard at some point in this year’s Masters? Not me. Having said that, can you put hard-earned American money on him not knowing his physical condition combined with this being his first tournament since that infamous car accident? I can’t. Maybe you can. The payout would be great. The ratings off the charts. But, Tiger has a better chance at a missed cut than a Sunday appearance on the first page of the leaderboard. I hope I am wrong. So does CBS and its sponsors.
So, there you have it. Five players with the best chance to have last year’s champion Hideki Matsuyama put a green jacket on them Sunday night in Augusta. Enjoy the tournament.
For full Masters odds via DraftKings, click here
Follow Stephen Kirck on Twitter @SKirck
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN).
*21+ (18+ WY). AZ/CO/IL/IN/IA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Min $5 deposit. Min $5 wager. Eligibility restrictions apply.
See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.
Comments