2017 Masters Picks
Short Odds
Dustin Johnson, 6/1
Dustin Johnson - C'mon. You didn't think someone else could be first, did you? Top Debutant – Thomas Pieters (+700); The popular pick is Jon Rahm, which I admit is a solid choice, but I’m all in on Pieters. He bombs it off the tee and has the ability to.
All of my picks are based on two statistical factors: Driving distance and greens in regulation percentage. Those are the two stats that correlate most with success at the Masters, and Dustin Johnson is quite good in both categories. While other top contenders (the Jordan Spieths and Jason Days of the world) may be better with their putters, that doesn’t seem to be too big of a factor for the Masters. If you are going to put money down on one big name, make it Johnson. — Steven Ruiz
Rickie Fowler, 18/1
Rickie Fowler has everything you’d look for in a short-odds candidate. He’s playing well — T-4, 1, T-16, 12, T-3 in his last five starts — but not so well that expectations have gone into overdrive. He’s a good driver of the golf ball whose game fits the course well, and despite a missed cut last year, he’s played well here in the past. T-5 and T-12 in 2014 and 2015. Really like Rickie this week. — Luke Kerr-Dineen
Hideki Matsuyama, 18/1
I like to bet on a favorite with a good resume and he’s got it: A fifth-place finish at Augusta in 2015, followed up by a T7 in 2016. And while he’s had a rough past three PGA appearances, a certain esteemed colleague pointed out that you can’t come in too hot to the Masters. Plus, 18/1 is a surprising amount of value for the No. 4 player in the world. — Charles Curtis
Medium Odds
Bubba Watson, 45/1
This is a pretty obvious pick, I’ll admit. Watson has won the thing twice, which makes his 45-to-1 odds difficult to pass up. Oh, and he also has a game that should serve him well at Augusta National. He blasts it off the tee and his greens in regulation percentage is pretty good. With those odds and Watson’s history at this tournament, it would be a wise move to throw some money down on Bubba. —
Steven Ruiz
Justin Rose, 25/1
Usually I look for a bit more meat in the medium odds section, but Justin Rose is too good a pick to pass up. He’s a former major winner (and Olympic gold medalist) who is among the best on tour from tee-to-green, he’s got six top-25s in his last six Masters starts including a T-2 in 2015, and as Golf Channel’s Justin Ray notes, no one has made more Masters birdies or eagles than Rose over the last five years. — Luke Kerr-Dineen
Matt Kuchar, 80/1
Okay, this might just be an emotional bet for me — I’ve always rooted for Kuchar throughout his career and been heartbroken to see him get thisclose to a major win. Beyond that, he’s finished in the top 10 at Augusta three times. Because of that, I’m willing to overlook an inconsistant 2017 in the hopes that he turns back the clock this week. — Charles Curtis
Long Odds
Hudson Swafford, 200/1
I’m making up for my first two picks by going with a legit long shot here. We’re talking 200-to-1. Swafford, like Johnson and Watson, drives it well and consistently gets the ball on the green in regulation. He’s also been hot to start the season with three top-10 finishes to his name already. This is his first appearance at the Masters, which is a little disconcerting, but if you’re looking for a longshot, this is your man. And while you’re at it, put some money on Swafford finishing as the top debutant at 16-to-1. — Steven Ruiz
Bill Haas, 100/1
There’s actually a few guys with fat odds I quite like. U.S. Open runner-up Shane Lowry at 150/1 and Charley Hoffman, who finished T-9 two years ago at 125/1, are the two notables. But as much as I like those, I can’t look past Bill Haas in this spot. He appears back to his best this season and remember, it was only two years ago that he lead the Masters after the first round en-route to a T-12 finish. — Luke Kerr-Dineen
William McGirt, 250/1
There are longshots and then there’s McGirt, who won his first PGA tournament in 2016. However, he’s solid in green in regulation and finished T10 at the 2016 PGA championship, so perhaps the pressure of a major isn’t a factor. Despite the lack of Masters experience, throwing a few bucks at those odds wouldn’t be the worst bet. — Charles Curtis
Prop Odds
Top Senior: Freddie Couples, 11/4
2017 Masters Predictions
This is my pick for two reasons: (1) Couples still has some juice left in his driver and (2) who doesn’t want to root for Freddie Couples? He always seems to perform well at Augusta, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s lurking around the Top-20 come Sunday. — Steven Ruiz
2017 Masters Scoreboard
Top Amateur: Stewart Hagestad, 14/1
2017 Masters Picks Odds
My friend made it to the Masters — of course I’m going to tip him! Look, of course any Amateur at the Masters will face an uphill battle, and Mid-Ams don’t have a great track-record here. That said, you only need to look at the manner in which he won the Mid-Am to know not to count him out. — Luke Kerr-Dineen
Top Debutant: Thomas Pieters, 7/1
The young Belgian putts pretty well and has a couple of top-5 finishes under his belt this year. I’m probably biased after he looked like a seasoned vet for Team Europe at the 2016 Ryder Cup, but the former college golfer has a seriously bright future that might be jump-started this week. — Charles Curtis