We have arrived at the unofficial start of golf season with the first major championship of the year – The Masters.

The weather forecast looks rough as rain and cooler temperatures are in-store for Augusta National this weekend. But that won’t dampen the spirit of one of the biggest golf events of the year.

It’s also one of the four events on the calendar that both PGA Tour and LIV Golf members will be able to compete against each other. Adding an extra layer of intrigue as both sides want one of their own to claim victory.

This will be one of the few times we see Tiger Woods this year. The 15-time major champion said his game is in a better spot than it was last year – his first tournament after the car accident – where he finished T-47.

Here are our favorite players from a few different tiers according to the betting odds:

Favorites

Scottie Scheffler +650 – Hard not to go chalk here for a few reasons. Scheffler won the event last year and he’s been playing really well this season. In his last two stroke play events he finished T4 and first. He also lost in the semi-finals of the match play event a couple weeks ago.

Last person to win back-to-back was Tiger in 2001 and 2002. Before him was Nick Faldo in 1989 and 1990. It’s extremely hard to do. But Scheffler has the skill and now experience to make it happen.

Jordan Spieth +1800 – Feels like a lifetime ago when Spieth dominated Augusta National in 2015. He hasn’t fared to well in the past couple of Masters including a missed cut last year.

But his overall record here is still great. The win and four other top threes. He’s also finished fifth or better in two of his last three starts.  Not many scenes better than a surging Spieth at Augusta.

Mid-Tier

Viktor Hovland +4000 – He’s got to win a major at some point right? Right?! Mr. Steady, 10 events played this season, 10 cuts made, eight top-25s. He’s made the cut in all three appearances he’s made at the Masters.

People are starting to wonder if Hovland has the chops to win a major championship. Always seems like a bridesmaid, never the bride. I’m not buying it. Angel Cabrera won a Masters once. Hovland can do it too.

Shane Lowry +5500 – He doesn’t have a stunning track record but Lowry did finish T3 last year. The former Open Championship winner has been playing consistently well this season.

He’s made six-of-seven cuts and has four top-25s including a T5 at the Honda Classic.

Longer Shots

Adam Scott +10000 – The 2013 Masters champion has made every cut this season but has failed to crack the top 20 in any event. He has a marvelous track record on site though.

He’s made 12 consecutive cuts at the Masters with a few top 10s sprinkled in there. Experience matters at Augusta National. Not only course knowledge, but being able to handle the nerves of playing at such a historic venue help.

Sahith Theegala +12000 – Up to No. 30 in the world rankings, Theegala has played a lot of golf so far this season. And most of it has been very good. 14 events played, five top 10s and a runner up. He’s only missed the cut once.

The main reason to avoid betting on Theegala is history. Only two players have won the Masters in their first appearance. One was in the 1930s, and most recently Fuzzy Zoeller did it in 1979. Theegala will give it his first go at Augusta this weekend. A win from him would be one for the ages.

What to do with Tiger Woods?

Woods is +8000 odds to win his sixth green jacket. Which is about middle of the pack. After his historic win in 2019, I would never count the big cat out. Would I personally place a bet on him? No. He doesn’t play enough for me to feel comfortable doing that.

Practicing at home where you’re comfortable and can take breaks when you need to is one thing. Being inside the ropes competing with the best on a course that isn’t located in your backyard is another.

Tiger knows Augusta National like it is his own backyard. But at some point skill and consistency come into play. And I believe he’s lost some of the former and will lack the latter. I believe he will make the cut. But winning the whole thing will be too much of a reach for him.

He’s a great play for DFS lineups though. He hasn’t missed a cut at the Masters since 1996. He’s also not too highly priced. He’s a high floor, low ceiling play.

DFS Lineup (FanDuel):

Danny Willet – $8100

Sergio Garcia – $8200

Viktor Hovland – $9800

Max Homa – $10,400

Jordan Spieth – $11,600

Rory McIlroy – $11,900

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Photo Credit: © Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Network

For more from the author Jeramy Stover, check him out on Twitter here: @jstover96

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