Masters DFS picks 2026: The case for fading Scottie Scheffler
Editor's Note: This article is published in partnership with Betsperts Golf, a Golf Digest content partner.
Augusta National
The best players in the world convene in the same place for the first time in over 260 days for the 90th Masters. Featuring generous fairways, demanding approach shots, and severely sloped lightning-fast green complexes, Augusta National is a course that will test every club in the bag and each player’s fortitude. Remarked five-time top-10 finisher Xander Schauffele, “You are asked to hit shots this week that you don’t hit anywhere else.”
Golfers with strong tee-to-green form, who have a proven track record at Augusta National and other majors will hold a clear edge this week. Augusta National has the most predictive course history, and it’s not particularly close. Length off the tee, precision with mid to long iron approaches, imaginative short-game play and the ability to capitalize on par-5 scoring opportunities are all critical components for success. All of the key trends for this week are outlined in greater detail here, along with a breakdown of which players check the most boxes.
The field sits at 91 golfers for this year’s event and is among the strongest ever assembled. Every single player ranked in the current top 50 in the world will be in attendance this week. It appears to be more of a wide-open tournament this year as the consensus top two players in the field—Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy—each have question marks about the state of their game.
$9,000+ range
Play: Jon Rahm, $10,000
Augusta National
The 2023 Masters champion has been on fire on the LIV Golf circuit. He picked up his third victory in Hong Kong last month and has added three runner-up finishes along with a fifth place showing this season. He also bounced back from a disappointing 2024 major campaign with a T-14 at The Masters Tournament and top-10 finishes at both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. Rahm’s track record at Augusta is elite. He has recorded five top-10 finishes in eight career starts and has posted 13 rounds in the 60s since 2018, the most of any player in that span.
Play: Xander Schauffele, $9,600
Julio Aguilar
The two-time major champion looks to be fully recovered from the rib injury that derailed much of his 2025 season, posting a T-7 at the Genesis Invitational, a solo third at the Players Championship and a T-4 at the Valspar Championship. With each of the past 14 winners at Augusta National gaining at least 18 strokes tee to green over their previous four starts, Schauffele is one of just 10 players in the field who meets that benchmark, gaining 1.51 strokes per round over that stretch. He has also been remarkably consistent at Augusta, recording five top-10 finishes in his past seven appearances at the Masters.
Read The Line's Joe Idone and John Haslbauer break down Rory McIlroy's chances at the 2026 Masters:
Fade: Scottie Scheffler, $14,000
Fading Scheffler is never comfortable, but his recent form, atypical pre-Masters preparation, and elevated salary combine to make a well-substantiated case for it. After going an entire calendar year without finishing worse than T-8, his last three starts have resulted in a T-22, T-24 and T-12, accompanied by some of his weakest approach numbers in years. From a DFS perspective, his price point is so restrictive that it forces roster construction into the low $7K and $6K range, a tier that lacks both consistency and true upside.
$8,000+ range
Play: Matt Fitzpatrick, $8,700
Augusta National
Fitzpatrick might be the biggest misprice on the slate. The 2022 U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick enters the week in peak form, coming off a victory at the Valspar and a runner-up finish at the Players in his previous start. His ball-striking this season ranks among the elite in the field, and according to the Rabbit Hole at Betsperts Golf, he is one of the top performers when it comes to chipping from difficult short-grass lies, a critical skill at Augusta National. Fitzpatrick has also been a model of consistency at The Masters, making the cut in all 10 of his career appearances, including three finishes inside the top 15.
Fade: Tyrrell Hatton, $8,100
Though he has posted consecutive respectable finishes at Augusta National, Tyrrell Hatton has been very outspoken about his frustration with how the course plays. In five starts this season with LIV Golf, he has three finishes of 38th or worse and has struggled significantly with his short game. Given the smaller fields and weaker overall competition level, that recent form is concerning and does not inspire much confidence in his chances this week at the Masters.
$7,000+ range
Play: Min Woo Lee, $7,700
David Cannon
Lee is in the midst of the best stretch of his career, a run that began with a T-2 at Pebble Beach and has continued with three more top-12 finishes in his last four starts. He ranks second on tour this season in strokes gained off the tee, pairs that with elite short-game skill and has shown significant improvement with his iron play. He also leads the the Masters field in par 5 birdie or better rate at 67 percent. That is a key indicator of success at Augusta National, where 14 of the last 16 winners ranked inside the top 40 in par-5 scoring in the year leading into their victory.
$6,000+ range
Play: Rasmus Hojgaard, $6,900
Maddie Meyer
Hojgaard fits many of the key traits we are targeting this week in the $6K range. He ranks sixth in driving distance, sits ninth in approach play from 200-plus yards, is an aggressive par-5 scorer and has the ability to spike with the putter on demanding greens. He also showed well in his debut at The Masters last year, finishing T-32, and enters this week having made the cut in six straight major championship appearances.
Ron Klos (@PGASplits101 on X) is a PGA Tour data analyst for Betsperts Golf.