It’s Masters week, meaning someone will have an extra green jacket come Sunday. Let’s try and predict who that will be.
The latest: Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are the clear-cut favourites to win, but I’m turning elsewhere for value. Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas are my favourite plays. I’m also keen on Brooks Koepka, Sepp Straka and Will Zalatoris.
Check out my Masters predictions for the major championship beginning on April 10.
Masters predictions
Best bet: Rahm to win (+1,400)
Not long ago, Rahm was the consensus No. 1 player in the world — and then Scheffler came along.
But Rahm was still regarded as one of the game’s best after Scheffler took the throne, and I don’t think the Spaniard is that far off despite lurking in the shadows over on LIV.
He’s finished inside the top 10 in every start this year and just gained a ton of shots on approach (+0.68) and off the tee (+1.55) while finishing T9 at the difficult Trump National Doral.
I’ll happily strike Rahm’s T45 finish last year at the Masters from the record.
He had just switched tours and was the topic of heavy criticism while defending his title. He had made seven starts at Augusta before that, never finishing outside of the top 30 with five top 10s and a win.
Rahm also finished T7 at last year’s Open Championship, so it’s not like the entire major season was filled with bad vibes.
Key stat: Rahm’s +2.50 average strokes gained at Augusta is the fourth-best of anyone in this event with more than one start, per DataGolf.
Best bets to win Masters
Thomas to win (+2,200): This is the best golf we’ve seen Thomas play in a long time, and I want to strike while the iron is hot.
The two-time major champ is gaining strokes across the board, hasn’t missed a cut all season, and is coming off a runner-up finish at the Valspar Championship.
In the last three months, he ranks ninth in strokes gained: approach and around-the-green. But perhaps more importantly, he’s rolling the rock well (23rd in strokes gained: putting).
Thomas flashed his elite ceiling by tying the course record at TPC Sawgrass last month with a 10-under 62. He’s contended at Augusta before, and I expect him to be a force this weekend.
Brooks Kopeka to win (+3,500): I don’t want to be standing there with my pants down when Koepka wins another major championship.
It’s hard to predict how the five-time winner will play leading into the majors. But he did have a runner-up finish on LIV in March, and his Masters record speaks for itself (two runners-up, T7).
Koepka has been the greatest major golfer of this generation, and he’s far from over the hill at 34 years old. I’ll take a wing at palatable odds.
Masters predictions: Semi-long shots
Straka to win (+5,000): Straka has been a top-five iron player in the world this year, which is the bedrock of his impressive run:
- 10 starts
- Seven top 20s
- Three top 10s
- One win (American Express)
Straka is Austrian, but he attended the University of Georgia after his family moved to the state when he was 14. The Bulldog will contend when the putter gets hot. And he’s coming off a career-best T16 finish at Augusta last year — I love these odds.
Zalatoris to win (+5,000): I bet on Zalatoris to win this event back in March and I’ll stick with it, despite a mediocre run of form.
The 28-year-old has gained strokes tee-to-green in eight straight starts, finishing inside the top 30 six times.
He hasn’t really threatened to win but was one shot off the lead at the Players Championship before a disastrous run of holes. Still, Zalatoris has a habit of turning up at majors, with seven top-10 finishes in 14 starts.
He has finished second, T6 and T9 in his three Masters starts.
Masters predictions made at 2:44 p.m. on 04/07/2025.
Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.