PGA Golf Picks This Weekend – The Masters April 9-12
The Masters Betting Preview
PGA golf picks this weekend from WagerTalk golf handicapper Andy Lang are available for The Masters teeing off from Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA! Andy discusses his predictions, picks, who can trip you up, the course and more surrounding The Masters starting April 9!
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| The Masters | The Masters Betting Notes |
|---|---|
| When: | April 9-12 |
| Where: | Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA |
| Defending Champ: | Rory McIlroy |
| Current Favorite: | Scottie Scheffler (+510 at DraftKings) |
| TV: | CBS, ESPN, Prime Video, Paramount+ |
The Masters Course: Augusta National Golf Club
The 2026 Masters returns to Augusta National, where pristine conditions and strategic design once again create one of the toughest tests in golf.
This year, the course is expected to play dry, firm, and fast, which is exactly how Augusta is designed to challenge the best players in the world.
With limited moisture in the ground, fairways will run out, but more importantly, the greens will be lightning fast and difficult to hold, especially with their severe slopes and subtle contours.
Approach shots will be the key all week. Players will need to control spin and trajectory to land the ball in the correct sections of the greens, as anything slightly off can roll off into tightly mown run-off areas.
Adding to the difficulty, the second cut (rough) is expected to be thicker than usual, making it harder to control distance and hold greens from just off the fairway.
Augusta is always a course that demands patience and precision, but in firm conditions, it becomes even more punishing.
The par-5s will still offer scoring chances, but only if players are in position off the tee. With fast greens, thick second cut, and dry conditions, expect a classic Masters setup where course management, elite iron play, and short-game touch will determine who slips on the green jacket.
Technically, the course plays as a Par 72 at 7,565 yards, but the ball doesn’t roll as much off of tee shots as the grass is mown against the grain, so distance off the tee is required to compete for the win.
The Masters: Players That Can Trip You Up
Robert MacIntyre is in good form, but the driver could hold him back this week. He ranks just 86th in distance and 47th in accuracy, which leaves him 41st overall off the tee—not ideal for this setup.
We’ve seen it before here: when his driving falls behind, the iron play suffers, and last year that led to a missed cut with -1.95 putting. Despite the recent results, he’s priced as a Top 18 guy, which feels too optimistic. The profile doesn’t scream Top 20.
Matthew Fitzpatrick checks all the boxes on paper—win this year, Top 10 in total strokes gained, and back-to-back runner-up finishes—but this course has never suited him.
He finished 40th last year and 22nd the year before, with just one finish better than 14th here since 2017. Sometimes a course just doesn’t fit a player’s eye, and that appears to be the case. Even in great form, this is a spot to be cautious. He’s a fade based on course fit.
Scottie Scheffler falls into a unique situation this week with what many call the “baby theory.” He just had a child less than two weeks ago, and historically that can disrupt preparation and focus.
His recent form hasn’t been dominant either—no Top 10 finishes in his last three starts. More concerning, his approach play has dipped to +0.10 strokes gained in those events, compared to +0.64 in the three prior. At his price, even a small drop-off makes him tough to justify.
The Masters: DraftKings Darlings
Maverick McNealy ($7,200) is quietly putting together a very solid profile for this week. He finished 32nd here in his debut and comes in with recent finishes of 21st, 32nd, and 13th.
He’s got decent length off the tee and doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses statistically, ranking 19th in the field in total strokes gained this season. In a weak field, that kind of well-rounded consistency gives him a strong floor with sneaky upside.
Harris English ($7,300) is one of the safest plays on the board when it comes to course history. He’s never missed the cut here and has finished 12th and 22nd the last two years.
This season, he’s been extremely consistent—just one missed cut, with every other start finishing inside the Top 28 across seven events. That combination of course comfort and steady form makes him a reliable DFS anchor.
Jake Knapp ($7,400) brings elite form into this week and is underpriced for what he’s been doing. He ranks 3rd in the field in total strokes gained and has posted five Top 8 finishes in his last six tournaments.
He’s also played this event before, so this isn’t a learning curve spot. With that level of form and confidence, Knapp has legitimate top-end upside at this price.
Rest of Lineup: Patrick Reed $9000, Ludvig Aberg $9800, Tommy Fleetwood $9300
One and done: Xander Schauffele
Top Finish Prop: Patrick Reed Top 20 Including Ties +126
Matchup: Max Homa over Brian Harman
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