| TV:<\/td> | CBS, ESPN<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n The Masters Course: Augusta National Golf Club<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\nAugusta National is unlike any other course in professional golf. Known for its immaculate presentation, dramatic elevation changes, and storied history, the course places a premium on strategy, patience, and experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n While no Masters rookie has won since 1979, debutants continue to make noise, as shown by strong recent runs from players like Ludvig \u00c5berg, Will Zalatoris, and Sungjae Im. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n The layout plays as a Par 72 at 7,555 yards<\/strong>, but with fairways mowed into the grain and clever routing, it effectively feels closer to 7,900 yards<\/strong>\u2014making Augusta a true test of power and precision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nSeveral holes have been lengthened or reshaped in recent years, including added distance and complexity to the 11th, 13th, and 15th holes, along with redesigned green complexes on holes 2, 4, 6, and 16. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Despite some tree loss from Hurricane Helene in 2024<\/strong>, the course still demands near-perfect ball placement and punishes misfires with tightly mown run-offs and undulating Bentgrass greens <\/strong>that can run over 14 on the Stimpmeter<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nThe weather looks promising overall, with dry, sunny conditions and manageable winds, except for Friday\u2019s 40% chance of rain<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nTo win at Augusta, players must capitalize on the par-5s<\/strong>, avoid mistakes on the tougher holes, and display elite touch around the greens\u2014where the tournament is often won or lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Masters Marquee Holes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n16th Hole - 170 yards Par 3 (Redbud) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s tough to pick a favorite, but this hole can be extremely difficult one day based on the pin position, and then when they put the pin at the bottom of the hill, there\u2019s plenty of chances for a hole in one so the diversity of how hard this hole can be from day to day makes it amazing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n When the pin is up on the top tier, the bunkers come into play, and those bunker shots are so difficult because if the ball goes long, it rolls to the bottom tier guaranteeing a bogey or worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Water on the left will gobble up shots that are pulled so you can see massive scores or even a hole in one throughout the tournament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 18th Hole - Par 4 465 yards (Holly) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s my favorite 18th hole ever, and it\u2019s the only one I give a perfect score. I just love it. It starts with a tee shot where you have to have it straight the second it leaves the club as the gap between the trees right in front of the green is very tight, but that\u2019s just the start. The hole is up hill so even though it\u2019s a 465 yard hole, it plays longer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Drives that drift to the right find trees and pine straw, and there\u2019s no angle to the green so the second shot is just a punch out. Shots that drift to the left can find similar trouble so getting it on the green in 2 requires a perfect tee shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n The green is big with several tiers, and bunkers short\/left and right will see plenty of action this week as will the run off area where the spectators are on the left. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Getting it up and down is difficult depending on the pin placement, and to show how hard this hole is, the easiest it\u2019s ever been played in a tournament was 2001 where the average score was still barely over par. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n With the tournament on the line, this hole is a perfect challenge for the eventual winner, and this hole can be the source of plenty of drama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n The Masters: Players That Can Trip You Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\nJon Rahm<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nThis might be my annual tradition, fading Rahm in The Masters. He won 2 years ago, then split for LIV and last year he finished 45th, and I just don\u2019t see these guys as battle tested for this course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n The LIV courses are pretty easy, and the course they just played in Miami was difficult, and there was a bit of rain in the first round and guys like Rahm and Niemann melted. Rahm shot a 73 in the first round, and that\u2019s a theme with him this year is slow starts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Singapore was the only tournament where his first round score was either the worst or tied for his worst score of the week and that\u2019s going to put him in real trouble if he gets off to a bad start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n He\u2019s priced as a Top 6 golfer this week, and I would be absolutely stunned if he finished Top 6. His numbers of total strokes gained look good because he\u2019s on LIV tour, but even then he\u2019s 13th in this field in total strokes gained. He\u2019s a fade if the books think he\u2019s a Top 6 golfer this week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Ludvig Aberg<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nHe\u2019ll be a popular pick this week because of his 2nd place finish last year, but he\u2019s missed the cut 2 weeks in a row, and the last 2 events he\u2019s minus strokes gained putting, and he\u2019s an astounding -0.67 around the green which is a recipe for disaster at Augusta. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Off the tee, he\u2019s great, but even his approach the last 2 weeks is -0.29 so I\u2019m finding it hard to believe he can just flip a switch and get back to last years form. He\u2019s a stay away, and maybe even a fade in head to head matchups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Joaquin Niemann <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nSimilar theme to Rahm here, LIV is trying to tell me that Niemann is in consideration for the #1 player in the world, but he\u2019s a quitter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Last week he birdied the first hole of the tournament, then put 3 balls in the water on the next 2 holes and he just gave up so when the course was tough, and conditions weren\u2019t perfect, he was a mess. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n He\u2019s a front runner and doesn\u2019t deal with adversity well, and it resulted in a laughable 33rd place finish last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Cut to this week where he\u2019s priced as a Top 10 golfer, but his best finish ever here is 16th so that\u2019s quite a leap to put him in the Top 10. No chance I\u2019m betting on him this week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Brooks Koepka<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nKoepka himself said his 2nd place finish 2 years ago was from a big help with the tee times where he avoided the bad weather early, but last year he was 45th, and the 2 previous years he had missed the cut both years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n He\u2019s finished Top 10 twice on LIV this year, and 3 times he hasn\u2019t finished inside the Top 15. This isn\u2019t the Koepka from years ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t see the determination, I don\u2019t see the killer instinct, and I don\u2019t think he\u2019s at the physical level he was years ago. He\u2019s priced as a Top 13 golfer this year, and I\u2019m staying away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n The Masters: DraftKings Darlings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\nDenny McCarthy $6500<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nMcCarthy hasn\u2019t missed a cut this year, and he\u2019s finished 18th, 14th and 18th the last 3 tournaments he\u2019s played in so I love his form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Last year was his first time playing in The Masters and he made the cut and finished 45th so this year he won\u2019t have the nerves, and I have high hopes for him. He\u2019s 18th in the field in total strokes gained, and like always his putting is lights out, and that will get you pretty far here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Lucas Glover $6600 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nThis one checks all the boxes for a Darling this week. He\u2019s finished Top 10 in his last 2 tournaments, he has another 3rd place earlier this year, and he\u2019s finished 20th and 30th the last 2 times he\u2019s played The Masters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n He\u2019s 24th in this field in total strokes gained, and his only downside is that he doesn\u2019t drive the ball a mile, but every other category he\u2019s solid in. I expect him to make the cut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Adam Scott $7200 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nI get a former winner who\u2019s made the cut 15 years in a row at The Masters for this price? Sign me up. He\u2019s not going to be in contention to win, but he knows this course as good as anybody, and that\u2019s a huge advantage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n He knows how to minimize mistakes, and take advantage when you have the chance. At this price, he\u2019s a no brainer to put in lineups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Final Lineup:<\/strong> Sepp Straka $7600, Xander Schauffele $9700, Scottie Scheffler $12700<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n |
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