The Masters expert picks, best bets for Augusta National Golf Club
The Masters best bets for this week
Brooks Koepka to finish Top 10
Because Koepka missed the cut last year, it might overshadow the fact that the major-sniper has been terrific at The Masters over his career. He finished T7 in 2020, T2 in 2019, T11 in 2017 and had never finished worse than T33 prior to last year.
What can’t be ignored, however, is that he was clearly not healthy in 2021 and, as I’ve been beating the drum for over the past few weeks and months, that’s changed. He looks good and has been displaying some impressive form as of late.
Matt Fitzpatrick to finish Top 20
Few golfers in the world have been better than Matt Fitzpatrick this season. He’s been displaying some of the most consistent ball-striking of his career and on the PGA Tour so far and the finishes have backed that up, even if he’s yet to win. Fitzpatrick was also one of Iain MacMillan’s outright picks to win this week at BetSided. Here’s what he had to say about the Englishman.
"Despite still not winning on North American soil, Matt Fitzpatrick has been playing fantastic golf this season. Outside of the missed cut at The Players, which we can discount due to the insane weather and delays, he’s finished 12th or better in five-straight stroke play events. He also ranks near the top in just about every single measurable statistic. He has no glaring weaknesses, and he already has a T7 at this event in 2016."
The value has only gotten better as Fitzpatrick’s odds have gone up from +5000 to +5500 since Sunday for him to win. But getting plus odds for a guy in this level of form to finish Top 20 feels like free money.
Tiger Woods to Make the Cut
All indications are that Tiger Woods is going to make his comeback to competitive golf, fittingly, at The Masters. While it might be exciting to pick him to win, that seems incredibly unlikely. You could even make the argument that him teeing it up on Thursday is a win in itself. However, I do think that getting around even odds for him to make the cut according to the consensus numbers is a bet I love.
With the second-most wins at Augusta National in history and a slew of other Top 5 finishes, Woods’ record at this tournament needs no introduction. But he’s also only missed the cut once (1996) in his career, even with the health issues he’s dealt with previously. The reports of how his swing looks and his intimate knowledge of how to play this course lead me to think he’ll see the weekend, even if the grueling walk and tournament cause him to fade on Saturday and Sunday.
Wild Card Bet of the Week: Bernhard Langer to finish Top 20
We’re getting wild here. WynnBet has the 64-year-old Bernhard Langer’s odds to win at an eye-popping +100000. That’s not happening, but the two-time winner here has been impressive when he tees it up every year given his age. He’s still made the cut in four of the last six years and has two Top 30 finishes in that span.
Given where his odds are set to win, he legitimately might be in the +1000 range to finish in the Top 20. Course knowledge is perhaps more important at Augusta National than anywhere else, so seeing the veteran at that number is worth at least a small, small sprinkle this week as a longshot.