Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions – 2020 Masters

Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions for the 2020 Masters

The 2020 Masters Fantasy Preview

There is a feeling that success in golf tournaments held in the Deep South and the neighboring states is repeatable, and that those with close ties to the area really relish a trip home.

That was the logic for us drafting Carlos Ortiz last week, and it worked a charm as he brought the field home in the Houston Open at Memorial Park to bank followers a handsome $6,700 salary winner and sportsbook bettors a handsome 160/1 prize.

Mexican by birth, Ortiz studied in Texas and has set up home there – and with a host course that suits his particular skillset, the clues were there that he was surely going to enjoy a decent week.

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And to win your maiden PGA TOUR title with the likes of Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka breathing down your neck shows that the 29-year-old has poise and composure in abundance. He was chasing the win from the final group too, which is never easy for a maiden. Mark Ortiz down as a player to revisit in future.

He won’t win this week, however, given that he isn’t in the field for The Masters, the long-awaited return of the major in rarefied November air. How will Augusta National play, and who will slip into the Green Jacket come Sunday?

Last Week’s Fantasy Results

Love it when a Sleeper Pick takes the W! Last week’s Alt-Sleeper pick, which many of you rely on weekly, was Houston Open Champ Carlos Ortiz.   

Carlos was our first W of this new season and what a time for it as we head into the big one!

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We also had Brooks as our Top Dog who finished T5 along with McKenzie Hughes who added a T7 to his resume and helped us cash in.

The 2020 Masters 2020 Field

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A field of 94 will line up for the 84th edition of The Masters, and as ever that number includes the great and the good of golf today and from yesteryear.

How will a softened Augusta handle Bryson’s bombs?

Can Rory or Dustin finally get their hands on the Green Jacket?

Will a young gun – Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele and co – cash in on their unquestionable quality?

Will Brooks Koepka add to his major haul?

Can Tiger pull off another staggering win from under-the-radar?

Could one of the old guard – Phil Mickelson or Bernhard Langer perhaps – deliver a win for the ages?

Maybe a debutant – Collin Morikawa, Sungjae Im, Matthew Wolff, Scottie Scheffler et al – strike a line through the idea that you need history at Augusta to prevail?

There’s so many storylines and narratives, but in the end only one can be crowned Masters champion 2020.

This Week’s Course Preview

Despite the unusual time of year for The Masters, the early signs are that everyone involved in the delivery of Augusta National has played a blinder.

From a botanical perspective, if that’s your thing, there may be fewer azaleas and the like but the layout and the famous Magnolia Drive will still have a lush and colorful feel.

As for the course itself, the Sub Air system employed to keep the Bentgrass greens in good order will have been working overtime with the rainfall that there has been, but you can rest assured that the putting surfaces will be as slick and as pure as ever.

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One noticeable difference could be in the fairways. Rory McIlroy, who played the venue on Saturday, said that he noticed the Bermuda grass hadn’t been killed off yet (typically this occurs in the winter frost), and so the fairway grass is thicker and grainer in patches. He also mentioned that it was soft and wet, so drives may just plug on landing – remember, the grass is deliberately grown in the direction of the tee boxes, which minimizes ball run.

The likelihood is that Augusta will play long and feel like a long slog for the players too.

There could be some fun and games around the greens too, with Rory reporting of mud balls and interesting contacts due to the appearance of Bermuda in the short stuff around the putting surfaces.

As you probably know by now, the Augusta National Golf Club was designed and built by Bobby Jones, and his labor of love has since been given a makeover by Rees Jones and Tom Fazio in the intervening period – nothing major, but the lengthening of holes in some places to ensure it remains a major test for the modern player.

The jewel in the crown of Augusta are the rapid greens, and for all the talk of Bryson and co dropping bombs off the tee ultimately you will need to chip and putt well to succeed given the huge undulations and contours that inform these Bentgrass surfaces.

To sign off, here’s a quick hole-by-hole overview of Augusta National:

Hole 1: Tea Olive (Par 4, 445 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 4.12 (rank = 13th)

This is the classic Augusta dogleg, sweeping from left to right, with thick tree coverage protecting both sides of the fairway. Get a good tee shot away and the players are left with a mid-range iron into a green that slopes dramatically from back to front, with a break of some 8ft possible should you land in one of the tougher parts. With natural nerves at play on the first hole of a major, this is a pant-shredding way to start.

Hole 2: Pink Dogwood (Par 5, 575 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 4.68 (15th)

There aren’t many ‘gimmie’ birdie opportunities at Augusta, but this is one of them and the pressure is on to take advantage of the first longer hole on the course. This is the classic second shot hole, a roughly 250-yard approach into a green that slides quickly from left to right.

Hole 3: Flowering Peach (Par 4, 350 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 3.90 (8th)

The easiest of the Par 4s, the key defense of the shortest ‘standard’ hole on the course is the small L-shaped green, which is protected by bunkers and shaved run-off areas that will shove errant approaches miles away from the pin.

Hole 4: Flowering Crab Apple (Par 3, 240 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 3.21 (4th)

A hole where Augusta really bares its teeth, the players are greeted with a 220-yard carry over bunkers protecting the front and flanks of the green, and depending on pin placement shorter hitters might even have to take a rescue club into it. Devilish.

Hole 5: Magnolia (Par 4, 455 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 4.35 (2nd)

An uphill, doglegging Par 4 with two deep bunkers sat practically on the fairway, the fifth is all about getting a good drive away. The tiered green is another nuisance to overcome, and just 23 birdies were made here in 2019; as opposed to 69 bogeys.

Hole 6: Juniper (Par 3, 180 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 3.00 (7th)

You might think that a 180-yard Par 3 is food-and-drink to these players, but that’s before you seen the green complex which features three separate tiers. If the pin is placed back right than they will also have to overcome the dramatic slope which feeds to the front left.

Hole 7: Pampas (Par 4, 450 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 4.13 (8th)

The tough stretch continues with what is the narrowest fairway on the golf course, with a sight-line of thick Georgian pines providing the classic ‘tunnel’ look and feel. Even with a good drive, this is a contoured green protected almost 360° by five bunkers.

Hole 8: Yellow Jasmine (Par 5, 570 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 4.63 (17th)

Get a good tee shot away and you might be in business on the eighth, although the elevated green does not mean that GIR is a given. Shorter hitters may lay up, while the longer bombers can be caught out by the bunker on the right-hand side of the fairway.

Hole 9: Carolina Cherry (Par 4, 460 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 4.05 (10th)

The front nine concludes with a hole where a long and accurate tee shot is essential; anything other than a good hit down the right side can lead to approaches being blocked out by the trees. Two big bunkers protect the front of the green, as does a run-off area which will reject any balls that land upon it.

Hole 10: Camellia (Par 4, 495 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 4.25 (3rd)

The scene of Bubba’s famous hooked approach on his way to the 2012 triumph, thick trees line the fairways and the green slopes conclusively from right to left. Big drives have the advantage of being bounded down the fairway if they catch the slope.

Hole 11: White Dogwood (Par 4, 505 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 4.25 (5th)

And so Amen Corner begins with arguably the toughest hole on the course. It’s a hole where players almost give up on birdie by laying up to a safe section of fairway directly to the right of the green, rather than attacking the small surface which is protected by a large pond. As if that wasn’t problematic enough, this is one of the tightest landing areas off the tee on the course.

Hole 12: Golden Bell (Par 3, 155 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 3.05 (1st)

This may be the shortest hole on the course, but the players aren’t let off lightly by a tiny green that is protected by bunkers front and back and Rae’s Creek running ominously along the front as well. A notorious cross wind only adds to the drama.

Hole 13: Azalea (Par 5, 510 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 4.47 (18th)

Amen Corner is swiftly followed by the easiest hole on the course. The green is protected by a thin water hazard and a series of bunkers, but if the players can get a good tee shot away they will be confident of setting up an eagle putt; birdie, of which there were 128 here in 2018, is far more likely.

Hole 14: Chinese Fir (Par 4, 440 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 4.08 (12th)

This is perhaps the easiest tee shot on the course with no sand to worry about, but the approach is a different matter altogether, with a heavily-tiered green the key defense based upon pin placement.

Hole 15: Firethorn (Par 5, 530 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 4.54 (16th)

Take on the green in two or lay up? That’s the main question here, with longer hitters able to find the dancefloor in two if they are accurate off the tee and avoid the pond prowling at the front of the green. Shorter hitters will lay up but a red number is on the cards here nonetheless.

Hole 16: Redbud (Par 3, 170 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 2.91 (14th)

The green slopes dramatically from right to left here, with upper and lower shelves affecting the level of difficulty based on pin position. If the flag is on the lower shelf at the back of the green, the players are faced with a tough approach.

Hole 17: Nandina (Par 4, 440 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 4.05 (10th)

Sadly, the famous Eisenhower tree did not survive a storm and had to be removed, which makes driving a whole lot easier. A left-to-right tee shot gives a good angle to attack a small green that is often said to be one of the quickest on the course.

Hole 18: Holly (Par 4, 465 yards) – Stroke Average in 2019: 4.22 (6th)

With the Green Jacket in your midst, the leader will have to hit a nerve-less drive to a fairway flanked by sand left and trees right. The tiered green is protected by two deep bunkers, and with the pressure on all sorts of danger can be found on eighteen.

Weather Forecast for Augusta, GA

Hold on to your hats – there’s some pretty freaky weather heading to Augusta this week.

It all kicks off on Tuesday, when wind and rain sweeps into the area to deliver ‘scattered showers’, as described by the early forecast.

Wednesday has thunderstorms scheduled, and there is an 80% chance of precipitation according to the predictions.

And then we get into the meat of the week. Thursday could see more scattered thunderstorms, with rain likely but the wind mercifully low at 5 mph. Temperatures of around 78° are expected.

Friday’s forecast sees the rain threat reduced to ‘showers’, with wind speeds of 7 mph and temperatures of 78° once again.

The mercury takes a dip on Saturday, and while the chance of rain is slated at 30% the top temperature will be 69°. The wind could peak at 9 mph.

And then finally along comes Sunday, with a similarly miserable forecast. A 40% chance of rain will be met by temperatures of 75° and winds of up to 8 mph.

AUGUSTA WEATHER

Last Year’s Results for the 2020 Masters

It may have taken place more than 18 months ago, but Tiger’s win in the 2019 edition of The Masters will still be fresh in the minds of many.

The Big Cat edged closer and closer to the lead throughout the week, and by the time Sunday came along there were whispers – he couldn’t, could he?

If he was to end an 11-year wait for a major, he would have to overhaul the 54-hole leader Francesco Molinari, who at this point was the reigning British Open champion too.

But the Italian fluffed his lines somewhat on Sunday, and with a number of challengers dunking their approaches to the Par 3 twelfth into the drink, suddenly the door was ajar for Tiger.

And, in customary fashion, he took full advantage, making three birdies between 13-16 to turn the tide in his favor. Accepting a safe bogey at the last, Tiger’s score of -13 would not be usurped by a chasing pack featuring Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka in T2.

The victory sparked emotional scenes rarely witnessed on a golf course. Tiger, after injury hell and personal problems, was well and truly redeemed.

Tiger Woods Final Putt and Celebration at the 2019 Masters Tournament

Tiger Woods wins the 2019 Masters Tournament

Where to Play Fantasy Golf for the 2020 Masters this Week

Let’s face it: we’ve all been majorly looking forward to this event in amongst a pretty docile schedule of late, and so now is the time to go big or go home for DFS gamers.

• PGA $4m Fantasy Millionaire: The biggie returns for The Masters, and while the $1 million top prize is back in place it’s also pleasing to note that the prize fund lower down the pecking order is more agreeable too. Finish in the top-90 and you’ll bank at least $1k, and pretty much the entire top 25% of teams will land a payout.
• PGA $500k Drive the Green: If you’re operating on a tighter budget then there is still plenty to be said for the Drive the Green contest – where else could you win a jackpot of $100k from $5, and all while enjoying some top sporting action too. Again, finish inside the top 20% and you’re guaranteed a payout of some kind.

This Week’s Fantasy Notes for the 2020 Masters

So what will it take to win a November edition of The Masters?

With all of the rain and the softened ground, we’re expecting Augusta National to play mighty long this week and that in itself will discount many in the field.

But remember, the greens will run as slick as ever, and so absolute precision on approach – or a reliable chipping game – will also be crucial.

As ever, success at Augusta will be ranked by making hay on the easier holes, specifically the quartet of Par 5s, while staying out of trouble on those where water and the most complex greens await.

We want to be looking at the younger guys too. Tiger’s victory was something of an anomaly, and really it’s players under 40 that can handle the physical test of Augusta as well as the psychological aspect of landing arguably the most famous prize in the sport.

Typically, you would expect a classier operator to come to the fore, but there is an opportunity here for longer hitters with a quality short game to thrive – conditions will be so much different this week as to what they normally are on this slice of Georgian beauty.

You wonder how this edition of The Masters will feel to the players. With no patrons on site, will it lack some of its usual luster? Will the players feel fewer nerves to normal? That could certainly open the door for a debutant, who historically haven’t always done well in this event, or indeed those who have struggled with nerves in the past.

All in all, it’s going to take an excellent show of all-round golf to claim the Green Jacket and the title of 84th Masters champion.

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Our Top 5 (and Top 2 Sleeper) Fantasy Picks and Odds to Win the 2020 Masters

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Top 5 Picks/Odds to Win The 2020 Masters

Top Tier Pick #1:

Dustin Johnson (Odds: 10/1, FPPG: 83.7, GPFP: 107.99 Salary: $10,000)

While you could say the same for Bryson and a couple of others, a soft Augusta plays perfectly into the hands of Dustin Johnson.

He is a fantastic driver of a golf ball, a reliable scrambler and fast greens hold no fear for him  hence why he’s served up four top-10s at Augusta National in his last quartet of visits.

The physical aspect of winning The Masters should provide no problem for DJ, who showed that his recovery from COVID-19 has been effective in his T2 effort at the Houston Open last week.

Indeed, that was a performance that was typically Dustin, with all aspects of his game firing albeit not all at the same time. That said, he was in fantastic touch on and around the greens on Sunday, and if he takes that to Georgia he will be in excellent stead.

The mental scars of coming so close here last year when fancied may be an issue, but DJ doesn’t strike up as the kind of guy who gets bogged down by the psychological aspects of the game.

Johnson undoubtedly has as strong a chance as anyone this week, and oddly his $10,000 salary is something of a bargain as a result.

Key Stats:

• Scoring Average – 2nd
• Driving Distance – 3rd
• SG: Approach – 6th

Top Tier Pick #2:

Tony Finau (Odds: 33/1, FPPG: 73.4, GPFP: 93.19 Salary: $8,800)

As a player with something of a reputation for not being a closer, it may come as a surprise to you that we’ve drafted Tony Finau this week.

But conditions at Augusta are set up perfectly, and at this point a golf course designed to separate the best from the rest gives Finau an edge over any other run-of-the-mill PGA TOUR event.

Yes, it’s crazy, but Finau right now is as likely to win a major as he is the Sanderson Farms Championship, for example.

A proven performer on fast Bentgrass greens, Finau’s all-round game is strong enough to get him in contention, and the hope is that the lack of a crowd will play into his hands should he find himself at the summit of the leaderboard at the business end.

A run of 5-10 at Augusta highlights his suitability for this course, and in playing in the final group last year Finau confirmed to us and himself that he is ready to take his seat at the top table of golf.

Key Stats:

• Scoring Average – 4th
• Driving Distance – 18th
• SG: Approach – 23rd

Mid-Tier Pick #1: 

Jason Day (Odds: 40/1, FPPG: 57.5, GPFP: 67.25 Salary: $8,400)

The inventiveness of Jason Day’s short game was clear for all to see at Memorial Park last week, and he – like any Australian – will be saying the quicker the better as far as the greens at Augusta are concerned.

Day has a fine record at Augusta with five consecutive top-30 finishes, including T8 and a T10, and in any given year this is a layout that suits his eye. But, you suspect, that will especially be so this year given the presence of a high Bermuda content on the fairways and around the greens – this is the surface he is most at home on.

Long off the tee, Day has compiled five top-10s on the PGA TOUR since the COVID resumption, and that consistent form takes him to Georgia in excellent spirits.

Key Stats:

• Approaches from 100-125 yards – 30th
• SG: Off-the-Tee – 45th
• Scoring Average – 47th

Mid-Tier Pick #2: 

Louis Oosthuizen (Odds: 55/1, FPPG: 71.7, GPFP: 68.84 Salary: $7,900)

The South African is a perennially strong performer at Augusta, finishing T2 here in 2012 and in his last six visits his lowest finish is T41.

A long hitter with an excellent short game, Oosthuizen has all the tools to succeed in The Masters and you would say a softer version would aid him even further – allowing for the fact that the greens will be as slick as ever.

While not a prolific winner in the States, his solo third effort at the U.S. Open proves that Oosthuizen can get into the mix even among the world’s elite.

Key Stats:

• Scoring Average – 17th
• SG: Putting – 31st
• Driving Distance – 60th

Low-Tier Pick: 

Cameron Champ (Odds: 100/1, FPPG: 64.8, GPFP: 56.39 Salary: $7,100)

Here’s a guy whose obvious talents have been overshadowed lately by Bryson DeChambeau stealing his thunders as the longest driver around.

But don’t discount Cameron Champ, because there’s much more to his game than sheer power. He delivered an excellent show of ball-striking at the CJ Cup, and he followed that with a more assured effort with the putter when finishing T8 at the ZOZO Championship, where he closed out 65-67.

Normally we’re not too keen on drafting Augusta debutants, but these are different times and with no patrons on site we’d like to think that the newcomers to the layout will have more of a chance this time around.

If his putting improves to its baseline level, Champ could be a fine under-the-radar play this week.

Key Stats:

• Driving Distance – 4th
• Birdie Average – 58th
• SG: Approach – 63rd

Sleeper Pick for The 2020 Masters

Jason Kokrak (Odds: 90/1, FPPG: 58.4, GPFP: 70.02 Salary: $7,000)

A long overdue win at the ZOZO Championship was finally confirmation for Jason Kokrak, and his followers, that he has the talent to thrive at the highest level of golf.

It would take an extraordinary set of circumstances for him to win this week, it should be said, but freak occurrences do occur – see Danny Willett’s win here in 2016 – and if nothing else Augusta should suit Kokrak’s game (he is making his debut).

A known preferer of slick greens, Kokrak has plenty of strong performances on Bentgrass to his name, and he is long enough off the tee to thrive should the fairways get even softer due to the rain.

With a slew of top-25s in majors, Kokrak can do it in the big events and he will be hoping for more of the same this week.

Key Stats:

• SG: Putting – 3rd
• Scoring Average – 8th
• SG: Off-the-Tee – 27th

Alternative Sleeper Pick for The 2020 Masters

Sebastian Munoz (Odds: 160/1, FPPG: 65.2, GPFP: 52.19 Salary: $6,700)

He continues to impress with his consistency, and Sebastian Munoz will be relishing his first assault on Augusta.

The Colombian impressed on his way to the TOUR Championship last season, and since then he has banked top-30s at the Sanderson Farms and Shriners, T14 at the ZOZO Championship and solo ninth at the CJ Cup.

Of course, it’s a big step up in grade here, but the feeling is that Munoz can hang in this company. He was T8 in a quality BMW Championship renewal not all that long ago, and last season he ranked 34th on Tour for Stroke Gained: Tee-to-Green – proof positive that he can play outstanding golf.

Key Stats:

• Birdie Average – 46th
• SG: Around-the-Green – 70th
• SG: Approach – 70th

This Week’s Sample DraftKings Lineup

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

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Fantasy Golf Predictions This Season (2020-2021)

[skill_bar heading=”Total Top 3s” percent=”6.34%” bar_text=4 out of 63 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Top 10s” percent=”15.87%” bar_text=”10 out of 63 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Top 25s” percent=”30.15%” bar_text=”19 out of 63 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Winners Picked” percent=”11.11%” bar_text=”1 out of 9 events” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Runners-Up Picked” percent=”12.50%” bar_text=”1 out of 9 events” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Made Cuts (Includes Sleepers)” percent=”82.14%” bar_text=”52 out of 63 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″]

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