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For years, I've said it, and I'll say it again: picking a winner at The Masters isn't the time to go for a dark horse.
Look at the list of various winners in recent years (ignore Danny Willett, though): Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler (twice!), Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed ... these are all big names who were around the tops of their games when they grabbed a green jacket.
So as we dive into the 10 golfers to target when it comes to bets and picks, you'll see a lot of chalk here, with a smattering of intrigue. That's exactly right and I don't feel ashamed (although maybe you'll see us throw out a dark horse list before everyone tees off on Thursday).
So here you go! One of these names will win the Masters this week. Count on it:
Zzzzzz. But how can you count out the best golfer in the world who's won here twice? You can't.
A pick where you choose to ignore last year and focus on history. The winner of a recent green jacket was BAD last year, but he's played well on the LIV Golf tour. I wouldn't be shocked if he won again.
He's been playing ridiculously good golf in 2025, he's finished top-five twice at Augusta and T10 in 2023. The stats are all there. The experience is all there. I think he's going to shine.
You knew he was going to be a megastar when we watched him at the 2023 Ryder Cup, and he's lived up to the hype since then. Oh, and he was second -- SECOND! -- at his first Masters last year.
What do you want me to say? You want me to leave him off this list when he's been right there so many times in contention and is just missing one green jacket for the career slam? Nope. He's too good not to be a contender. Let's see him rebound from an MC and T22 the last two years.
It's kind of the same as his game: I woke up wanting to include him and then took him off. And now he's here, because when he's on -- see the runner-up at the Valspar -- he's that good. But he's MC'd twice in the last two years. I still think he can win, but I'm cautious.
OK, let's all put the "par-67" comments behind us. Dude proved he can play at Augusta with a T6 last year and can perform at majors (runner-up at the PGA, a U.S. Open win in 2024). No way I'm overlooking him.
Uh, it's Brooks Koepka. It's a major. That's it.
Let's be bold. We know his history and how he's never won a PGA Tour event. But his game is made for Augusta and he's played well this year.
I'll take a hot hand, that patented short game, plus experience. He was really good at the PGA and the British Open last year, so pressure isn't a big deal.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Masters picks to win at Augusta in 2025: Scheffler, Rory, Rahm
Continue reading...
Look at the list of various winners in recent years (ignore Danny Willett, though): Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler (twice!), Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed ... these are all big names who were around the tops of their games when they grabbed a green jacket.
So as we dive into the 10 golfers to target when it comes to bets and picks, you'll see a lot of chalk here, with a smattering of intrigue. That's exactly right and I don't feel ashamed (although maybe you'll see us throw out a dark horse list before everyone tees off on Thursday).
So here you go! One of these names will win the Masters this week. Count on it:
Scottie Scheffler
Zzzzzz. But how can you count out the best golfer in the world who's won here twice? You can't.
Jon Rahm
A pick where you choose to ignore last year and focus on history. The winner of a recent green jacket was BAD last year, but he's played well on the LIV Golf tour. I wouldn't be shocked if he won again.
Collin Morikawa
He's been playing ridiculously good golf in 2025, he's finished top-five twice at Augusta and T10 in 2023. The stats are all there. The experience is all there. I think he's going to shine.
Ludvig Aberg
You knew he was going to be a megastar when we watched him at the 2023 Ryder Cup, and he's lived up to the hype since then. Oh, and he was second -- SECOND! -- at his first Masters last year.
Rory McIlroy
What do you want me to say? You want me to leave him off this list when he's been right there so many times in contention and is just missing one green jacket for the career slam? Nope. He's too good not to be a contender. Let's see him rebound from an MC and T22 the last two years.
Justin Thomas
It's kind of the same as his game: I woke up wanting to include him and then took him off. And now he's here, because when he's on -- see the runner-up at the Valspar -- he's that good. But he's MC'd twice in the last two years. I still think he can win, but I'm cautious.
Bryson DeChambeau
OK, let's all put the "par-67" comments behind us. Dude proved he can play at Augusta with a T6 last year and can perform at majors (runner-up at the PGA, a U.S. Open win in 2024). No way I'm overlooking him.
Brooks Koepka
Uh, it's Brooks Koepka. It's a major. That's it.
Tommy Fleetwood
Let's be bold. We know his history and how he's never won a PGA Tour event. But his game is made for Augusta and he's played well this year.
Shane Lowry
I'll take a hot hand, that patented short game, plus experience. He was really good at the PGA and the British Open last year, so pressure isn't a big deal.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Masters picks to win at Augusta in 2025: Scheffler, Rory, Rahm
Continue reading...
