Gambling
Masters 2020 picks: Our experts' 9 favorite bets heading into the weekend
Jamie Squire
The opening two days of the 2020 Masters haven’t disappointed. The crowded leader board heading into Saturday’s resumption of Round 2 presents some strong betting value—you just need to know where to look. Hopefully, you have a few outright bets still alive. If you do or you don’t, our experts have been glued to the TV, watching every second of the broadcast and the digital coverage at Masters.com.
Our “Be Right” experts give their best bets below, and make sure to listen to their post-round podcast, in which they offer full analysis on all the action from Augusta National.
Listen to our special mid-Masters recap episode of Golf Digest's "Be Right" podcast above, and be sure to subscribe to the "Be Right" podcasts wherever you get your podcasts!
Christopher Powers, Golf Digest assistant editor: Brooks Koepka to win (22-1, DraftKings) — In the weeks leading up to the Masters, the best number you could get on Brooks Koepka—who had plenty of question marks surrounding his health and game—was 20-1. In his past four competitive rounds, he’s gone 65-65 in Houston on the weekend, and 70-69 at Augusta National to reach five under, which puts him only four back of the current lead. And you can now get him at a better number than he was pre-tourney? I’m sold, especially given he’s been “sloppy,” by his own admission. All these tour pros say that after decent rounds, but for Koepka, it’s absolutely true this week. He has been sloppy and yet he’s still in contention. Something in the 65-to-68 range tomorrow will put him right in the thick of it, and his number will go down to single digits. If you believe in Brooksy at the majors, hammer that 22-1 now.
Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest dep. managing editor: Xander Schauffele to win (23-1, each way, Bet365) — This is a good number for Xander, who was 16-1 pre-tournament. Xander has six holes left to play in his second round and is currently 6-under with a long birdie putt at the fourth hole. He’ll have at least one easy-ish birdie opportunity at the par-5 eighth hole, and if he gets one more coming in, he’d be one back of the current lead. Xander didn’t play great on Friday after shooting a 5-under 67 on Thursday, but he gets to reset tonight and come back fresh. I love the each-way option that Bet365 and other books offer, as we’re still waiting for Xander to break through for his major, but he has been a factor so many times, and I expect him to get closer to the lead on Saturday.
Hennessey: Abraham Ancer to finish top 5 (+575, PointsBet) — The 2019 Presidents Cupper went 68-67 and sits in a share of the lead at 9-under. Ancer has been so consistent, hitting 30/36 greens in regulation and 22/28 fairways. That’s what Ancer does, and it’s going to be a recipe for success on the weekend. Sure, Ancer hasn’t been in this spot in a major—but he’s been in big spots on the Presidents Cup and in big tournaments. Being without patrons will help him, too, and though I don’t know if he could break through to win, these top-five odds are nice.
Powers: Justin Rose to win (30-1, each way, at Bet365) — Given his history at Augusta, and the fact he’s only two off the lead, this seems like a wild misprice. In his last eight Masters starts, Rose has four top-10s, and if you take out the missed cut from 2019, his worst finish is a T-25 in that span. He’s been boom or bust during the restart, missing five of 10 cuts but picking up a ninth at the PGA Championship and a T-3 at Colonial. I think we’re getting a “boom” week right now, and if you back it up with the top five each way, you’ll feel a lot better when he inevitably gets into the final group but then shoots 71 on Sunday and ties for third.
Hennessey: Tommy Fleetwood to win (29-1, each way, Bet365) — I talked a lot before the tourney how I was fading Fleetwood. He graded out so poorly in my models with his really bad recent form. But he’s turning it on when it counts at Augusta. The Englishman has been in the mix before in majors, so I like that he has the experience. Being just two back, Fleetwood’s number is just too high not to consider.
Hennessey: Abraham Ancer (+100) over Cameron Smith (round 3 matchup, William Hill) — OK, yes, you know I like Ancer from my bet above. But this is as much of a play against Cam Smith (who I loved and have a piece of pre-tourney at 100-1). But Smith has saved himself thus far by scrambling—he’s only hit 24 greens in regulation through 36 holes. I talked about how consistent Ancer has been. Smith has the Augusta experience, but Ancer’s ball-striking is just as good as Smith’s, so I like the even-odds here.
Powers: Louis Oosthuizen, leader after Round 2 (+450, DraftKings) — Ultimately, I think Jon Rahm will grab the solo lead after 36 holes. But there is a ton of value in betting Oosty here. He’s playing with Rahm, and the two of them are going to clean up birdie putts at the 13th hole in the morning. That will put Rahm at nine under and King Louie at eight under. From there, you just need Oosthuzien to tie him at nine or 10 under and you’ll at least get a piece of the winnings. God willing, Oosthuzien gets to 10 and maybe Rahm butchers the 15th or stumbles out of the gates in the early AM, which we saw from a lot of guys Friday morning. Nothing crazy here, just a little sprinkle to get the early morning juices flowing.
Hennessey: Charles Howell III, top 10 (+1100, PointsBet) — Few players have more experience at Augusta National than the Augusta, Ga., native. CH3 has only two top-20 finishes in his nine Masters appearances, but he looks good thus far this week—sitting at 5-under with three holes to play. Make a birdie at the par-5 eighth hole and then he’s only three back. I think this is a large number for a veteran like CH3 to finish top 10.
Powers: Hole-in-one on the 16th hole in the final round (+180, DraftKings) — Laugh at me all you want, but without top 5, top 10 and top 20 markets on DraftKings because of the wonky schedule, I went fishing for a prop. This one may sound silly, but you could argue it’s an absolute lock with the traditional Sunday pin position. Don’t believe me? There has been an ace on 16 in the final round in six of the last 10 Masters. I realize it’s an absurd bet, but it will also give you countless adrenaline rushes on Sunday when they cut to 16 and Verne Lundqvist goes “watch this folks…” This bet will be worth it just to die and come back to life no less than 10 times on Sunday afternoon.
Listen to our special mid-Masters recap episode of Golf Digest's "Be Right" podcast above, and be sure to subscribe to the "Be Right" podcasts wherever you get your podcasts!
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• Ranking every golfer in the Masters field
• Our 13 best bets to win the 2020 Masters
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