After finding Jon Rahm to win The Masters last year, we are looking to go back-to-back finding Augusta Green Jacket winners and despite an incredible profile, we are dodging short-priced favourite Scottie Scheffler.
Best Bet
When finding a Masters winner, at least with the top selection, there are a few must haves. You want a Top 30 player in the world with an elite iron game who has played here at least four times and has a Top 20. Preferably they have some length off the tee, are tremendous around the greens and have form at Riviera. Chilean Joaquin Niemann ticks nearly every box. The 25yo ranks 7th in the Data Golf rankings. He has played nine times since November last year with three wins (including the Australian Open) and four more Top 5s. He ranks Top 10 in Driving Distance and the key approach stats on LIV. He won at Riviera in 2022. This will be his fifth Masters and he has improved at each visit. He is being undervalued because of the Tour he is on. Tremendous bet.
Mid-Tier Bet
Astonishingly, this is Wyndham Clark’s Augusta debut. That is a big knock on him. No debutant has won here since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979. Everything else about his game lines up and at the price he is well worth a bet. Clark ranks Top 13 in seven of the 11 key stats including 6th in Par 5 Performance, 7th in Par 4 Birdie or Better and 11th in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green, the three most important categories. He is an elite player – 11th in the Data Golf rankings – with a major under his belt and in current form that has seen him win at Pebble Beach and finish runner-up at The Arnold Palmer and The Players, he is a huge show.
Value Bet
Big Tony has an outstanding Masters record and with a game that suits beautifully, he should be in the mix again. Finau has played Augusta six times for three Top 10s and no finishes outside of the Top 40. He is in nice form with seven Top 20s in his last 14 starts. Ranks Top 10 in Par 5 Performance and Strokes Gained: Approach. Best play is a Top 10 but can win.
Longshot Bet
Reed won here in 2018 and has been very good since with three Top 10s in the last four Masters Tournaments. He finished T-4 last year including a final round 68. His elite form around the greens and on them is his path to success and it has served him well more often than not at Augusta.
