Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions – The Masters

Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions for The Masters

2025 The Masters Fantasy Preview

It wasn’t always pretty, but Brian Harman did just about enough to secure his fourth PGA TOUR title at the Texas Open on Sunday.

Embed from Getty Images

Has there ever been a tournament in which the 54-hole leader has made four bogeys and a double bogey in their final round and still won by three strokes?

Harman had broken the back of his win with an opening pair of 66s, but to play his final 36 holes in +3 and still stroll to victory really was a gift for the diminutive left hander in a fierce wind.

But you may recall the 2023 British Open, when he established a lead and hung on as all around him struggled to mount a challenge, and in touch conditions at TPC San Antonio history was to repeat itself.

This week… well, it’s the big one. The Masters is about prestige and heritage, not prize money, as the best of the PGA TOUR and LIV Golf lock horns in the first major of the year.

Augusta National never, ever loses its charm… and we simply can’t wait for the action to get underway on Thursday!

Last Week’s Fantasy Results

Not a bad week for us in Texas with ten of our total picks making the weekend, including McNealy (T3) and Gerard (2) as our two shining stars! 

In all, we had three Top 10 finishes heading into golf first Major of the year!

Embed from Getty Images

The Masters Field

It gets no better than this with the entirety of the OWGR top-50 heading to Georgia for the battle of the green polyester jacket.

Scottie, Rory, Xander, Collin, Ludvig, Hideki… you get the drill, and of course the field is supplemented by heavy hitters like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann, Cam Smith, and Tyrrell Hatton, whose class defies their lowly world rankings due to LIV’s status.

Embed from Getty Images

The nature of qualification means that we get to see the stars of tomorrow – Jose Ballester, Noah Kent etc – rub shoulders with the stars of yesteryear, as former Masters champions like Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer, and Jose Maria Olazabal take to the tee at Augusta National once more.

This Week’s Course Preview

From the drive down Magnolia Lane to the 18 holes that make up the layout, there’s no more iconic slice of golfing real estate than Augusta National.

It continues to defy the ageing process, both in terms of its aesthetics – thanks to the hard work of course officials who ensure that the entire property is in prime condition each April, and in the complexity of the test itself, which has seen winning scores of -10 to -12 in the past four years.

We have a hole-by-hole overview for you down below, but it’s worth noting a few changes to the layout in 2025. Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc here back in the autumn, and while the course is very much back in shape, it should be noted that several trees that fell have not been replaced.

Embed from Getty Images

Quite how that impacts matters, if at all, remains to be seen, although in theory their absence will let more wind through and help the course to play faster, with more sunlight getting onto the fairways and greens. Nick Faldo commented that the missing trees have ‘opened the course up nicely.’

However, Rory McIlroy – who played a practice round at Augusta last week – has revealed his belief that very little had changed. 

The beauty of Augusta National, with its colorful planting and stunning vistas, belies a golf course that is tough to tame unless conditions are completely benign. In each of the last four editions, the winner has been the only player to make it to double digits under par… a reminder of the physical and mental test that this property provides.

It plays to around 7,500 yards for its Par 72, but remember that the grass grows back in the direction of each tee box. That minimizes ball run, so those that hit their ball a long way in the air are perhaps best placed to strike.

But there’s also some severe doglegs, typically from right to left, that inform how that players will address their tee shots. There’s still some thick tree lines too, as well as some mammoth undulations, while the lack of traditional rough – replaced on many holes by pine straw – can lead to some ‘interesting’ lies.

Factor in plenty of bunkers and water hazards that, while only in play on some holes, can wreck the dreams of the would-be champion… as Francesco Molinari found out to his cost on the fifteenth hole at the 2019 edition.

And this is before we’ve even gotten to the greens, which are some of the funkiest in world golf. Varying in shape and size, these putting surfaces tend to feature devilish contours, shelves, and runoffs, while the SubAir system ensures that they run quick in all weathers… 13, or higher, on the stimpmeter has been recorded.

This is the ultimate test of all-round golf; the champion this week will have showcased class in all departments to head off a world-class field. 

So, if you’re watching on from home, here’s what to expect from each hole at Augusta National:

Hole 1: Tea Olive (Par 4, 445 yards)

Stroke Average in 2024: 4.20 

With a big bunker right and tress on both sides of the fairway, the opening hole at Augusta National sets the tone for what’s to come. Don’t miss the green long or left – that can be catastrophic straight out of the gate. This uphill hole typically averages over par every single year.

Hole 2: Pink Dogwood (Par 5, 585 yards)

Stroke Average in 2024: 4.65 

One of the curious things about Augusta National is that, while the course plays tough on the whole, some of its Par 5s are a breeze of a birdie chance. That’s the case at Pink Dogwood, where seven eagles were made in 2024 despite ten yards being added to the hole. The all-important second shot is downhill into a green well protected by sand… navigate that and a two-putt birdie isn’t out of the question.

Hole 3: Flowering Peach (Par 4, 350 yards) 

Stroke Average in 2024: 3.93

Although the yardage would suggest that this is a drivable Par 4 for some, in reality most will hit iron off the tee and leave themselves an easy wedge into what is a thin, pear-shaped green. The pin position is all important here – in 2024, the hole comfortably averaged under par in the first round, but over par in the second.

Hole 4: Flowering Crab Apple (Par 3, 240 yards)

Stroke Average in 2024: 3.26

Par 3s don’t come much tougher than this 240-yard brute, with its stark downhill elevation change and sloping green, which rejects balls hit to the front portion of its surface and leaves an almighty up-and-down. It was here that Phil Mickelson made a six in 2012 and ended his title hopes.

Hole 5: Magnolia (Par 4, 495 yards)

Stroke Average in 2024: 4.30

Although lengthened in 2024, scoring actually came fractionally easier – although it’s still a tough hole to navigate. This picturesque stretch requires a carry of around 320 yards off the tee to avoid the bunkers, while the heavily contoured green demands precision on approach, too.

Hole 6: Juniper (Par 3, 180 yards) 

Stroke Average in 2024: 3.09

One of the most iconic holes at Augusta National, the tee box on the sixth sits high above the green down below, forcing the players to judge their club selection perfectly. The presence of patrons close to the green adds another element of trouble, while a pin positioned on the top shelf of the green offers the players a lancing zone of just three metres square.

Hole 7: Pampas (Par 4, 450 yards) 

Stroke Average in 2024: 4.19

One of the most renovated holes at Augusta in recent years, the seventh has had its green completely reshaped and around 40 yards added. But it’s the tough tee shot into a narrow tunnel of fairway, as well as the heavy bunkering around the green, that ensures this stretch continues to average over par year after year. 

Hole 8: Yellow Jasmine (Par 5, 570 yards) 

Stroke Average in 2024: 4.64

Here’s a brief bit of respite as the players take on what is, historically, the easiest hole on the property. The eighth yielded to four eagles, 121 birdies and just 20 scores of bogey or worse in 2024, despite playing uphill into a thin slither of green. Solid ball striking will at least afford a look at an eagle putt.

Hole 9: Carolina Cherry (Par 4, 460 yards) 

Stroke Average in 2024: 4.03

The ninth hole plays host to some outstanding agronomy, with a downhill approach shot into a green that is perched up on a tier, complete with tightly mown runoffs that feed balls away into waste zones. This is a real boom-or-bust hole, with as many birdies as bogeys in 2024.

Hole 10: Camellia (Par 4, 495 yards)

Stroke Average in 2024: 4.24

The back nine kicks off with a hole that played plenty tough in 2024. Although downhill in nature, the fierce right-to-left dogleg requires accurate shot shaping, rather than brute force, while the center of the fairway is pierced by a 60-yard long bunker. A sloping green does not even guarantee those who hit a good tee shot any reward.

Hole 11: White Dogwood (Par 4, 520 yards)

Stroke Average in 2024: 4.38

This is the beginning of the fabled Amen Corner at Augusta, and it certainly lived up to the billing in 2024. Here’s a hole in which water down the left is very much in play, while the heavily tree-lined fairway requires the players to hit a nervelessly straight drive through the canopy. There were more double bogeys or worse scored here than birdies last year. 

Hole 12: Golden Bell (Par 3, 155 yards)

Stroke Average in 2024: 3.19

In theory, a 155-yard Par 3 is no problem. But Golden Bell is no ordinary Par 3, with a tiny, elevated green well protected by sand and water. Incredibly, scores here have ranged from hole-in-one to 13 over the years, with Jordan Spieth’s seven here in 2016 a timely reminder of how Amen Corner can shatter the dreams of a hopeful champion.

Hole 13: Azalea (Par 5, 545 yards)

Embed from Getty Images

Stroke Average in 2024: 4.75

Famed – and named – for its sumptuous azaleas, the thirteenth is a simple enough Par 5 if the players can navigate the right-to-left dogleg. But watch out for Rae’s Creek, in one of its first real appearances on the property, guarding the front of a sloping green.

Hole 14: Chinese Fir (Par 4, 440 yards)

Stroke Average in 2024: 4.17

Although boasting one of the easier tee shots on the premises, the players will have to hit the most precise of short irons or wedges into one of its toughest green complexes. It slopes dramatically from left to right, with three putts not that uncommon. Pin positioning will once again dictate how hard scoring is.

Hole 15: Firethorn (Par 5, 550 yards) 

Stroke Average in 2024: 5.00

Fifteen is a Par 5 but not a gimme birdie by any means. We’ve seen albatrosses and eagles plenty here over the years, but Sergio Garcia’s 13 also reminds us of the danger that lurks – principally from the pond that protects a contoured green lined with some of the deepest bunkers on the premises.

Hole 16: Redbud (Par 3, 170 yards) 

Stroke Average in 2024: 3.15

There was a definite attempt to make Redbud harder in 2024, with a number of players making notable chip-ins here over the years – who can forget Tiger’s in 2005? The green complex was completely destroyed by the effects of Hurricane Helene, so we have no clue as to how it will play this year.

Hole 17: Nandina (Par 4, 440 yards)

Stroke Average in 2024: 4.28

Boasting one of the most heart-quickening drives at Augusta, finding the short grass really is at a premium here. Some trees have been removed, but for anyone within reach of the green jacket, this is still a notable test to overcome.

Hole 18: Holly (Par 4, 465 yards)

Stroke Average in 2024: 4.36

The final hole at Augusta is also one of its toughest; a fitting finale if ever there was one. This is a hole that plays so uphill that if you stand by the green, you can see much of the rest of the course. There’s no good to come from spraying your drive, while the two-tiered green offers the possibility of three putts galore… the last thing you want when trying to close out a win at The Masters.

Weather Forecast for Augusta, GA

Rain  and high winds caused havoc to Monday’s practice session, but the good news is that there appears unlikely to be any hangover of that come Thursday’s opening tee.

That’s because the rest of the week is set fair, with sunny spells and what might be described as medium-strength winds – helping the SubAir system get the course back into immaculate condition.

Thursday is likely to be the best day of the week, with the mercury hitting 73 degrees before it dips to 62 degrees on Friday. But, even so, the threat of rain after Monday looks set to be minimal, as per the early forecast.

As for the wind, double-figures of MPH look likely throughout the tournament, although the breeze could slow down by Sunday… which should help to set up a grandstand finish.

AUGUSTA WEATHER

Last Year’s Results from The Masters

In a challenging renewal of The Masters in which just eight players finished under par, it was Scottie Scheffler who slipped into the famous green jacket for a second time.

Embed from Getty Images

He asserted his authority as early as the first round, firing a 66 that was only bettered on the Thursday by Bryson DeChambeau’s 75.

Stiffer conditions on Friday, which saw some spectators told to stay away due to the high winds and fears of tree collapse, allowed Bryson and Scheffler to maintain their position at the top of the leaderboard despite shooting 73 and 72 respectively.

DeChambeau shot 75 on Saturday, all but ending his hopes of a maiden Masters victory, while Collin Morikawa’s 69 was enough to see him close to within one shot of the 54-hole leader Scheffler.

But the world number one, despite early wobbles, was not to be denied. Scheffler made three birdies in a row around the turn, before making four birdies and one bogey on the back nine in all to see out a comfortable four-shot victory from Ludvig Aberg.

Where to Play Fantasy Golf for this Week’s The Masters

Our cup runneth over this week, with the leading DFS sites all bumping up their most popular weekly contests with a boosted prize pool. And so we should do our upmost to land a life-changing sum of money courtesy of the two games listed below…

• PGA $4m Fantasy Golf Millionaire: You probably know the drill by now, but for newbies there’s a milly-maker (i.e. you become a millionaire by winning) contest available for The Masters for a buy in of just $10 per entry. This is surely more fun than playing the lottery?

• GOLF $600k Drive the Green: If you’re working to a tighter budget, you don’t need to miss out on the fun. This $5 game still carries a handsome $100k top prize, with plenty of other big payouts for those that finish within the top 20% of the standings.

This Week’s Fantasy Notes for The Masters

One of the reasons that Augusta National is so beloved is because, even after all these years, it’s still a firm but fair test of every element of a golf game.

Scheffler ranked first for SG: Ball Striking and second for SG: Around-the-Green 12 months ago, while making gains of +0.46 on the field putting. It was the complete performance, and one rewarded with golf’s ultimate prize.

Replicating that will be difficult, but the point stands: to win at Augusta, you need to be strong in all departments – players with a glaring weakness or two in their games will typically be found out.

Course form has always been welcome too, with those who have historically played well at Augusta generally improving upon their debut in the years ahead. 

Other correlating courses of note are Kapalua, home of the Tournament of Champions, which typically sees a strong field assemble at a wind-affected layout that features some stark elevation changes, just like Augusta. Torrey Pines (Farmers Insurance Open) and Riviera (Genesis Invitational) also offer similar tree-lined, doglegging tests of long range ball-striking. 

You have to be strong physically and mentally to win The Masters too… the former is easy to measure, but the latter is rather less tangible.

[membership level=”0″]

Our Top 5 (and Top 2 Sleeper) Fantasy Picks and Odds to Win The Masters   

You must be a Premium Member to view our exclusive fantasy golf picks.

Already a member?  Sign in Here.

[/membership]

[membership level=”1,2,3″]

Top 5 Picks/Odds to Win The Masters  

Top Tier Pick # 1

Collin Morikawa (Odds: 16/1, FPPG: 91.3, Salary: $10,500)

Few golf fans would begrudge Rory McIlroy the career grand slam of majors, which he could achieve this week by winning The Masters.

But that in itself is a tough mental toil on the Irishman, as is the fact that he hasn’t won a major since 2014. His struggles in closing out the U.S. Open last year – missing two putts from inside three-feet on the Sunday, despite a season-long success rate of 98% in that range – is perhaps the best evidence of the difficulties that McIlroy will face.

As for Scottie Scheffler, his game is clearly there or thereabouts, but closer technical analysis of some of his most recent performances suggests something of a deficiency in his chipping – that’s a skillset that will be put under the microscope this week.

Xander Schauffele doesn’t quite look ready to win after his long injury layoff, Bryson DeChambeau has a surprisingly mediocre record at Augusta, and there’s no way of knowing where Jon Rahm’s game is at right now.

In short, it feels like there’s a vacancy for the green jacket.

Collin Morikawa doesn’t win enough to justify his incredible talent, but two of his four PGA TOUR sanctioned victories have come in majors. He leads the TOUR in 2025 for Ball Striking, ahead of both Scottie and Rory, and he is as reliable as they come around the greens.

Putting? That has been something of an achilles heel of late, but with three consecutive top-10s at Augusta, there’s no doubt that Morikawa loves the cut of these Bentgrass greens.

Key Stats:

• SG: Tee-to-Green – 1st
• Proximity to Hole – 1st
• Birdie Average – 1st

Top Tier Pick #2

Shane Lowry (Odds: 33/1, FPPG: 73.7, Salary: $8,800) 

The key to a successful Masters roster draft is a sense of balance, so rather than stacking our lineup with two pricey heavyweights, we’re instead going to pick three guys in the $8,000s range instead.

The first is Shane Lowry, whose tee-to-green excellence and form shown during the Florida Swing secure him a place on the team.

Solid off the tee and elite on approach, the Irishman’s four-event form in the Sunshine State read 8-20-7-11.

Has he won enough to justify his talent? Like Morikawa, you could probably argue not, but at the same time Lowry is a major champion with a top-three finish to his name at Augusta. In windy and fast conditions, he’s a good man to have on side.

Key Stats:

• SG: Tee-to-Green – 4th
• Proximity to Hole – 5th
• Scoring Average (adjusted) – 11th

Mid-Tier Pick #1

Patrick Cantlay (Odds: 35/1, FPPG: 87.3, Salary: $8,700)

It feels as though Patrick Cantlay has been rounding up to a big performance for a while now.

His ball-striking has been impeccable, while his short game has fired more often than it hasn’t. But Cantlay hasn’t been able to put it all together at the same time, so while he hasn’t missed a cut since June, he’s also only cracked the top-five twice in that timeframe.

But his approach play in particular has been outstanding, and a guy with nine major top-20 finishes to his name since 2019 alone has to be respected.

Cantlay, generally, plays well at Augusta too. He’s missed two cuts, but otherwise has a best of T9 and three other finishes of T22 or better. The way he’s striking the ball right now, you wouldn’t count against another strong showing this week.

Key Stats:

• Greens in Regulation – 7th
• Birdie Average – 11th
• SG: Tee-to-Green – 18th

Mid-Tier Pick #2

Russell Henley (Odds: 45/1, FPPG: 89.3, Salary: $8,400)

Russell Henley is proof that you don’t have to be overly long to thrive at Augusta National.

His scoring average in eight trips is a more than respectable 72.33, and since missing the cut on debut here, Henley has played the weekend in each of his subsequent seven visits – finishes of T4 and T11 in particular showing what he’s capable of at the track.

A talented type who has also been accused of not winning enough, you wonder what taking down the Signature Event that was the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March will do for his confidence. 

If he kicks on, Henley could be a dangerous underdog this week.

Key Stats:

• Birdie Average – 4th
• SG: Tee-to-Green – 16th 
• SG: Putting – 19th

Low-Tier Pick

Davis Thompson (Odds: 125/1, FPPG: 68.4, Salary: $7,000)

Debutants don’t always have the best of times at Augusta National, but Davis Thompson has the raw ingredients to thrive at the layout if he can focus on the job in hand.

He has the length that is often helpful here, as well as class when approaching from 175 yards and further – as evidenced by a decent turn at Torrey Pines before.

Thompson has excellent creativity and guile around the greens too, so if he can concentrate – and not get sidetracked by the buzz of playing in The Masters for the first time – he has the weapons to exceed expectations this week.

Key Stats:

• Greens in Regulation – 17th
• Birdie Average – 27th
• SG: Tee-to-Green – 34th

Sleeper Pick for The Masters

Taylor Pendrith (Odds: 125/1, FPPG: 75.2, Salary: $6,700)

The analysis of Davis Thompson outlined above could be replicated pretty much word for word for Taylor Pendrith, too.

The Canadian will also be making his Augusta debut this week, but at 33 it’s not as if he’s some green-gilled youngster – he should be able to handle the occasion.

If he can, Pendrith has the skillset that can get the job done at The Masters – namely, world class ball striking, with particular class on approach in the long 200 yards or further bucket.

Aside from a pair of missed cuts, you have to go back to June to find the last time that Pendrith didn’t gain strokes on the field with his ball striking, and while his chipping stroke is somewhat suspect, that’s factored into the salary of a player who, if he performs like he did at the Houston Open (T5), will surely go well once again.

Key Stats:

• Greens in Regulation – 5th
• SG: Tee-to-Green – 21st
• Birdie Average – 30th

Alternative Sleeper Pick for The Masters

Charl Schwartzel (Odds: 250/1, FPPG: 70.8, Salary: $6,200)

A bargain bucket pick comes complete with risk – that’s implicit in their salary, but with a steady old hand like Charl Schwartzel, you sense that the gamble is somewhat mitigated.

The South African is a regular at Augusta – a perk of winning the 2011 renewal, and his scoring average at the venue of 72.70 in 15 visits is excellent.

Now plying his trade with LIV, it’s not always easy to gauge how players like Schwartzel are performing, but a round of 66 at the notoriously-difficult Doral course on Sunday suggests his swing is in fine fettle.

Key Stats:

• N/A

This Week’s Sample Fantasy Lineup

Note: Sample lineups provided as examples only.  Be sure to mix-and-match to best fit individual contests.

[/membership]

Fantasy Golf Predictions – This Season 

Remember to visit our private Facebook group to discuss this week’s picks for The Masters with other Premium Members.

Cover Photo via Instagram