Are you ready for it?
One of the best weeks of the year is here as the Masters commences on Thursday. In this story, I’m going to take a look at my top 20 players and some of the best bets on the board.
This Week: Masters Tournament
- Date: April 9-12, 2026
- Location: Augusta, Georgia
- Course: Augusta National Golf Club
- How to watch: CBS, ESPN, ESPN+, Masters.com, Prime Video
- Purse: $21,000,000
- Defending champ: Rory McIlroy
Which skills the course rewards
Augusta National was designed by Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones in 1932 and has hosted the Masters Tournament since 1934. It’s the only major that stays at the same course every year.
As a par 72 at more than 7,500 yards, Augusta has changed drastically over the years to keep up with equipment and make it a test to the best players in the world. But the overall design keeps most of the original elements, especially on the greens.
While the undulated and raised bent grass greens get most of the attention at Augusta, what’s overlooked the most is the distance needed to compete there of late. Eight Masters winners since 2010 were in the top eight in driving distance for the week. Of the other eight winners that weren’t at the top in distance, they finished 4th, 3rd, 7th, 1st, 6th, 2nd, 1st and 19th in greens in regulations for the week.
Basically, if you aren’t hitting it long, you must nearly lead the field in greens hit to have a chance at winning.
As always, approach play matters at Augusta. The rarity, though, is that greens in regulation numbers may be just as important as SG: Approach. The reasoning for that is SG: Approach doesn’t account for how penalizing short-siding yourself can be at Augusta. Hitting the green 30 feet away typically isn’t as rewarding at most courses—but it is at the Masters where short-sided nightmare scenarios are everywhere.
Related to that, getting up and down around the diabolical Augusta green complexes is an absolute must. In fact, of the last 16 winners, 13 of them finished in the top 10 in scrambling for the week. The other three winners finished 12th, 15th and 16th.
Scrambling is much preferred to putting, which I hardly account for at the Masters. While many casual viewers think of Augusta greens and assume you need to be a great putter to win, the difficulty actually negates some of the disadvantages of bad putters. We’ve seen Scottie Scheffler, Hideki Matsuyama, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Adam Scott put on the green jacket as poor putters at the time. And Rory McIlroy won last year’s Masters despite losing strokes on the greens.
How the model works
The weighted model this week over the last 24 rounds is 15% driving distance, 15% greens in regulations, 10% SG: Around the Green, 10% SG: Approach, 10% SG: Putting (fast bent), 10% Par 4: 451-500 Yards, 10% scrambling (short grass), 5% SG: Par 5, 5% 3-putt avoidance (fast), 5% bogey avoidance (difficult) and 5% SG: Total (Augusta).
Power rankings
(DraftKings odds subject to change—winner/top 5/top 10 with favorite picks in bold)
20. Jason Day (+6900, +910, +380)
Model rank: 23rd
Day did just enough in Houston to provide some intrigue for his chances at Augusta. He was in contention all week last year before a mediocre Sunday dropped him to T8. The short game is incredible, so if he can get the irons going, the Aussie could get in the mix. Ranks 6th in scrambling (short grass).
19. Akshay Bhatia (+6600, +900, +380)
Model rank: 25th
One of the best players to start the season, Bhatia will get plenty of interest this week as a left-hander in good form. I do worry a bit about his short game around here, as well as his struggles with ball striking in two Augusta starts. But his form should make him an option on its own. Ranks 3rd in SG: APP.
18. Si Woo Kim (+4700, +660, +280)
Model rank: 20th
Kim logged another strong start in San Antonio last week, continuing his great start to 2026. The ball striking and tee-to-green work has been superb all year, which makes the putter the worry at Augusta. But shockingly, Kim has gained on the greens in six consecutive starts at the Masters. Ranks 10th in SG: APP.
17. Nicolai Hojgaard (+8400, +1100, +465)
Model rank: 14th
Hojgaard has been awesome this year and really feels like a candidate for a huge breakout in 2026. The Dane also held the solo lead at Augusta on Saturday heading to the second nine as a debutant in 2024. That experience will be huge as he looks to get back in the mix, and his form suggests he definitely could. Ranks fourth in scrambling (short grass).
16. Robert MacIntyre (+4000, +600, +260)
Model rank: 32nd
MacIntyre will be the favorite for lefties to get another win in Augusta this week. He finished T2 in San Antonio last week after dominating in the early rounds, and that followed a solid 4th at Sawgrass. The Scot finished T12 as a debutant in 2021, but he’s followed that with a T23 and MC last year. Ranks first in scrambling (short grass).
15. Chris Gotterup (+4300, +670, +300)
Model rank: 15th
Gotterup will feel like one of the best chances for a debutant to win the Masters for the first time since 1979. He’s already won twice this year, which is a good sign considering the form of recent Masters winners. After some poor starts in Florida, he found success again with a T6 in Houston. Ranks 8th in driving distance.
14. Tyrrell Hatton (+6900, +940, +400)
Model rank: 9th
Hatton hasn’t had his best stuff on LIV this year, but I do feel like he’s a player who brings his best out in the year’s biggest tournaments at this point. He was 16th or better at three of four majors last year, and he’s been T14 and T9 in his last two Masters starts. Ranks 3rd in SG: Par 5.
13. Patrick Reed (+4500, +670, +300)
Model rank: 18th
Reed has been incredible on the European Tour in 2026 after leaving LIV Golf. That decision has worked so far, as he’s basically already guaranteed his PGA Tour card for 2027. He’s also up to 23rd in the world rankings. Reed simply has it figured out at Augusta and could very well contend again. Ranks 4th in SG: ARG.
12. Collin Morikawa (+3100, +485, +215)
Model rank: 7th
Without the back issues, Morikawa would be higher on this list. But it’s not ideal preparation for him to pull out of The Players after one hole and not make another start until teeing it up in Augusta. Without considering that, Morikawa was in incredible form after winning at Pebble Beach and contending at Riviera and Bay Hill. He’s also been superb at the Masters over the last four years. Ranks 3rd in GIR%.
11. Adam Scott (+6200, +860, +365)
Model rank: 16th
I really like Adam Scott this week. The Aussie has been hitting it wonderfully since late last year and seems due to get in the mix at Augusta. His iron play hasn’t looked this good in a very, very long time, and he still hits it a long way off the tee. The 2013 champion should have a nice chance to be in contention if the putter warms up. Ranks first in SG: APP.
10. Justin Rose (+3600, +590, +265)
Model rank: 17th
It sure would be great if Rose could win a green jacket. Last year’s runner-up has been all over the place in 2026. He absolutely destroyed the field at Torrey Pines to win, but then missed three of his next four cuts. A T13 in his last start at Sawgrass showed promising signs, though, and if he can hit it like that at Augusta, watch out. Ranks 5th in GIR%.
9. Cameron Young (+2400, +400, +184)
Model rank: 11th
Young will likely be one of the most popular picks this week after winning the Players, and it does make sense. He was T7 here in 2023 and T9 in 2024, showing that his skill set could definitely get it done at Augusta. His short game can get a bit shaky, so that will be the key. Ranks 7th in GIR%.
8. Xander Schauffele (+1850, +305, +138)
Model rank: 6th
It feels like the Schauffele of 2024 is back. After a rough 2025 following an injury, he’s been near the top of the leaderboard consistently this season and is showing the balance of his game that makes him so dangerous. Schauffele has finished in the top 10 in five of his last seven Masters starts. Ranks 2nd in SG: Putting (fast bent).
7. Ludvig Aberg (+1750, +325, +154)
Model rank: 10th
It’s clear that Aberg is playing some fantastic golf right now, but it’s concerning how bad he’s been late on Sundays. As a debutant in 2024, Aberg took a share of the lead on Sunday heading to the 8th hole, before Scheffler boatraced him on the way in. Everything is clicking right now for the Swede, but he’ll need to hold his nerves if he’s in contention. Ranks first in 3-putt avoidance (fast).
6. Jon Rahm (+850, +164, -130)
Model rank: 8th
Rahm’s LIV results this year are 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 5th and 2nd. Since winning the 2023 Masters, though, he’s been nowhere near major contention. I do think that trend will end soon, but there is something to watch with Rahm forcing the issue when he gets major starts. Ranks 4th in bogey avoidance (difficult).
5. Tommy Fleetwood (+2500, +395, +176)
Model rank: 5th
The Englishman has had a solid start to 2026, even if it’s been unspectacular. It’s the exact type of form I like to see from someone getting ready to contend for his first major championship. The ball striking continues to be world-class, but Fleetwood’s putter will need to heat up to put on the green jacket Sunday. Ranks 2nd in SG: ARG.
4. Rory McIlroy (+1025, +196, -108)
Model rank: 1st
The defending champion isn’t coming in with the form he would have hoped for. Part of me wanted to put Rory even lower, as I do think there is an angle here where he completely enjoys the week’s festivities and isn’t in the best spot to actually win it again. He also had the back issues that forced a WD at Bay Hill, and he followed that up with mediocre play at Sawgrass. But still, this is Rory McIlroy, and he’s one of the best few players on the planet. Ranks 8th in GIR%.
3. Bryson DeChambeau (+1100, +205, -104)
Model rank: 2nd
DeChambeau is coming in off back-to-back wins on LIV. I do value that, but it’d be nice if LIV players weren’t forced with two weeks off coming in and had played some more local golf before the first year’s major. That’s a different complaint, though, and I do believe that type of thing doesn’t bother DeChambeau. He was right in the mix in the last two Masters and should have another good chance. Ranks 1st in driving distance.
2. Scottie Scheffler (+410, -115, -245)
Model rank: 4th
I can’t believe he isn’t first. The truth is that Scheffler’s irons have been off enough to have some concerns heading into the year’s first major. But his time off after having a second child last week could potentially help him have a little reset as he goes for his third green jacket. I have no reason to believe Scheffler won’t be in the mix again, but the ball striking needs to get much closer to his standard to win. Ranks first in bogey avoidance (difficult).
1. Matt Fitzpatrick (+2600, +415, +186)
Model rank: 3rd
This one will surprise some people. But Fitzpatrick is simply playing the best golf in the world right now, and that has been the trend for the last four winners of the Masters. Going back to his win in Dubai to end the year, the Englishman has been in incredible form. All facets of the game are clicking now that his putter has warmed up, and Fitzpatrick has had decent enough results at Augusta to think he could take it to the next level and win his second major. Ranks 5th in GIR%.
Who is your pick to win? Let us know below in the comments.
Top Photo Caption: The 12th hole during Monday’s practice round. (GETTY IMAGES/Logan Whitton)
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