The Masters Tournament: Expert Picks

Tournament Information

The Masters Tournament
Date: April 8th – 11th
Course: Augusta National Golf Club
Purse: $11.5MM ($2.1MM to winner)
2020 Winner: Dustin Johnson (-20)
OWGR Points: 100

Course

Augusta National Golf Club — Founded in 1933, this private course holds a length of 7,768 yards as a par 72 with a course rating of 78.1 and a slope rating of 137. Amen Corner (11th, 12th and 13th holes), Rae’s Creek, Ike’s Pond, so many fun features to a bucolic and scenic course. As most of you know the greens are lightning quick and yet the rough is not so rough but instead a slightly longer growing fairway. Potentially the most famous American course, it always leads to a wonderful week of golf.

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

My Starting 4

Brooks Koepka (second selection this year) — THE most dominant major player over the last five years got to Augusta early to really prep for the tournament. Koepka has one of the best averages here over the last four years.

Rory McIlroy (fifth selection this year) — McIlroy is one of three players with top ten finishes three of the last four years at the Masters. He is 3rd in strokes gained off the tee and 19th in strokes gained tee to green. Among 12 starts this season, McIlroy has finished 25th or better 8 times.

Jon Rahm (third selection this year) — Rahm is the consistent at Augusta with a 4th place, 9th place, and 7th place finishes here over the last three years. Rahm is tied with McIlroy at 3rd in strokes gained off the tee and 2nd in strokes gained tee to green.

Dustin Johnson (third selection this year) — Having finished 1st and 2nd the last two years here, Johnson is essentially the lock to succeed.

My Bench 2

Justin Thomas (fourth selection this year) — Augusta is not an easy course and Thomas keeps learning and improving here. He was 22nd in 2017, improved to 17th in 2018 then 12th then 4th.

Cameron Smith (third selection this year) — This is your real sleeper, Smith finished 5th here in 2018 and 2nd here last year. 21st in FedEx points, Smith has six finishes inside the top 12 across 13 tournaments he’s participated in this season. He’s currently top 30 in total strokes gained, strokes gained putting, and strokes gained around the green.

Fun Fact: Bobby Jones (club founder) originally intended for Augusta to have 19 holes instead of 18 (the golfers could have a last ditch double or nothing attempt) but it was tossed due to cost.

2020-2021 Stats (1st percent would be the top golfer picked every week)
Starting 4: avg finish 39th (30th percent)
Bench 2: avg finish 48th (37th percent)