Out of the Rough: Masters Tournament (2026)

To most, the beginning of April marks the unofficial beginning of Spring.

Warmer weather, longer days and greener grass. These are all things we associate with the beginning of April.

However, for those like myself, the beginning of April brings something much more important; The Masters.

‘A Tradition Unlike Any Other.’ The Masters is finally here.

For months, we’ve endured the tantalizing Masters’ commercials. The sound of birds chirping, the imaging of pristine golf architecture and the date, ‘April 9th, 2025.’ After months of seeing that on our television screens, the time has finally arrived.

This year marks the 90th playing of The Masters at Augusta National.

Is there much else to say about this week? Let’s just get into things!

The Field

With each Masters Tournament, the endless list of storylines emerge. 

Last year we saw Rory McIlroy become the sixth golfer in history to win the career grand slam, finally battling his demons and putting on the Green Jacket to cement himself as one of the greatest golfers to ever live.

Now, a new list of storylines emerges. Can Scottie Scheffler become the ninth golfer in history to win three Masters? Scheffler, the winner in 2022 and 2024, would join Phil Mickelson, Sir Nick Faldo, Gary Player, Sam Snead and Jimmy Demaret as three-time Green Jacket winners.

A victory would have him trail just Arnold Palmer (4,) Tiger Woods (5) and Jack Nicklaus (6) as the winningest golfers at Augusta.

With a victory this week, Xander Schauffele would quickly find himself just one tournament (the U.S. Open) away from completing the Career Grand Slam. Schauffele won the PGA Championship and The Open Championship in 2024.

In the same sense, a victory this week for Collin Morikawa would also propel him one step closer to the Career Grand Slam as he’s won the PGA Championship (2020) and The Open Championship (2021.)

Jon Rahm, the 2023 champion, returns this week looking to claim his second Green Jacket and in doing so, would become the first LIV Golfer to do so. He would join the likes of Koepka (2023 PGA Championship) and DeChambeau (2024 U.S. Open) as members of LIV Golf to win a Major.

Koepka, a five time Major champion (2018, 2019 & 2023 PGA Championship and 2017 & 2018 U.S. Open,) would also take one more step towards golf immortality with a victory this week.

Then we have the likes of Ludvig Aberg who seeks his first major title. In two appearances so far, Aberg placed seventh a year ago and second in 2024 at Augusta National.

Additionally, Chris Gotterup, a two time winner on the season so far, will make his debut at Augusta National. A victory this week would make him the first debutant to win the Masters since Fozzy Zoeller did it in 1979.

Additionally, a slew of golfers will look to use the 2026 Masters as their first Major victory. That list includes Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Tommy Fleetwood, Will Zalatoris, Sahith Theegala, Cameron Young, Joaquin Niemann and Tyrrell Hatton.

The list of storylines goes on and on.

Also, new to the Masters Tournament this season is the invitation of several national open winners.

That list includes Gotterup (Scottish Open,) Marco Penge (Spanish Open,) Naoyuki Kataoka (Japan Open,) Tom McKibbin (Hong Kong Open,) Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (Australian Open) and Casey Jarvis (South African Open.) 

One of the most notable absentees for this year’s 90th playing of The Masters is five-time-champion Tiger Woods who has entered a rehab facility following a recent motor-vehicle-accident.

Another notable absentee is Mickelson, a three time winner of the Masters Tournament who cited a personal health matter in his statement.

In year’s past, there would be multiple spots reserved for full time DP World Tour members. With the new agreement between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour, there is just one full-time DP World Tour golfer playing this week - Jarvis.

Here is a full breakdown of where each of the 91-member field are associated with:

• PGA Tour: 68

• LIV: 11

• Amateurs: 6

• Senior past champions: 5

• National open winners: 1

The full list of former Masters’ Champions teeing it up this week includes McIlroy (2025,) Scheffler (2024 & 2022,) Rahm (2023,) Hideki Matsuyama (2021,) Johnson (2020,) Reed (2018,) Garcia (2017,) Danny Willett (2016,) Spieth (2015,) Watson (2014 & 2012,) Adam Scott (2013,) Schwartzel (2011,) Angel Cabrera (2009,) Zach Johnson (2007,) Mike Weir (2003,) Vijay Singh (2000,) Jose Maria Olazabal (1999 & 1994) and Fred Couples (1992.)

The Course

Augusta National Golf Club is the definition of pristine golf courses. As previously mentioned, it is the most pristine and manicured golf property on the planet. There simply is nothing like Augusta National.

Augusta National was designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones in 1933 with re-designs in 2008. 

It plays as a traditional par-72 and lists its yardage at 7,555 yards.

Although the yardage on paper is listed at 7,555 yards, the course plays more to the tune of 7,900 yards. Pure yardage is way more important than creating the right angle into the flag.

Water is in play on five of the holes as well. Water is in play more so on the back nine with the three key holes, also known as Amen Corner, featuring water.

The greens are a Bentgrass that play both firm and past. The average square footage of the greens is 6,486 feet. These greens are crazy fast and undulating.

The greens are also very large and contoured in a way to be some of the toughest on all of the Tour. This is where course history comes into play as these greens have been known to bamboozle the inexperienced and poor putters alike. 

I know I’m going on-and-on about these greens but boy are they challenging. They rate up to 14-plus on the Stimpmeter if Mother Nature allows. These sub-air fuelled greens are unlike anything that the world’s best golfers face across the rest of the season.

Birdie chances are reduced to the smallest of target areas. Many of these areas are only accessible by using the natural contours of the greens. The difficulty of these greens doesn’t stop there as they also offer Augusta’s infamous run-off areas which surround all green complexes. This makes around-the-green stats and scrambling that much more important.

The lack of rough around green complexes also creates indecision when greens are missed. Scrambling percentages take a hit due to this. When given too many options, golfers and caddies alike become confused. Again, this is where course experience comes into play. A patient outlook too is very important in this instance.

Augusta National is known for the topography of its fairways that forces uneven fairway lies.

To go along with the long list of defenses that this course features, swirling winds will cause fits to golfers all tournament long.

Augusta National annually yields the lowest penalty for missing fairways among major Tour venues. On seven of the 14 holes (par-fours and par-fives) there is a difference of less than 10-percent in birdie-or-better percentages depending on whether a player hits the fairways or not. 

Distance off-the-tee will be important this week but not necessarily hitting the fairway.

Any hopeful winner of the Green Jacket must be aggressive on the four par-fives this week. 

The par-five 15th and par-three 16th must be taken advantage of this week as well as they offer scoring opportunities. These holes help offer an exciting finish as ground can be made up if leaders take an errant shot off-the-tee.

Golfers too will look to minimize bogeys across the rest of the holes. To minimize bogeys, golfers will have to seek greens-in-regulation, scramble and have a solid short-plus-distance-lag-putting.

Although the course hosts this event year-in-and-year-out, it does a bit of tinkering almost every year to change some aspect of the course. 

Augusta National did some major tinkering prior to the 2023 playing to one of its most iconic holes. The change was implemented to combat the insane distance of today’s Tour pros.

The par-five 13th, also known as Azalea, now plays significantly longer. Thirty-five yards were added to this hole. For the long bombers off the tee, the hole had become a driver and a seven, eight or nine iron, removing what was once a true risk-reward of going for a par-five in two.

Thirty-five yards may not sound like much, but it is. Prior to the 2023 event, McIlroy played a few practice rounds at Augusta and while he said the drive was easier than past years, the second shot was not. He was using an eight iron in recent years but in his practice rounds, was using a five-iron.

To make room for the additional 35-yards, trees were removed and a new tee box was installed. The 13th now plays at 545-yards. In Tour comparison, 545 yards is not a long par-five but the hole features a hard dogleg left and with Rae’s Creek guarding the green, the additional 35-yards will make the decision to go for the green in two more difficult.

In 2021 we saw more changes to the course that we saw in the 2021 edition of this event.

The par-five 15th, also known as Firethorn, was extended by 20 yards and led to more forced layups. The fairways too were re-contoured with usage of short grass replacing the first cut. 

The replacement of the first cut to short grass was implemented on holes nine and ten, also par-fours. 

The par-four 11th, also known as White Dogwood, was lengthened by 15 yards last year.

White Dogwood also received a new tee box, lengthening the par-four to 520 yards. The fairways were re-contoured and widened by up to 15-yards as trees to the right of the hole were removed. 

The first cut was removed on the right hand side as well and replaced by more fairway short grass. This caused errant drives to roll out into more disadvantageous positions due to the amazing topography of Augusta National.

New green surfaces were added to holes three, 13 and 17 in 2022 as well.

In 2024 we saw the lengthening of the second hole by ten yards. The added yardage won’t offer a significant difference but it was implemented to add a bit more bite to what is the easiest hole on the golf course.

For last year’s playing, the course lost some trees at the hands of Hurricane Helene. Due to the loss of these trees, there will be fewer shadows cast during the later rounds on Hole 16’s green. The 16th green too was redone but left essentially unchanged.

There are not many changes to the venue for this year’s installment. The only change is that the 17th hole’s tee box was moved up 12 yards, making the par-four play 450 yards.

The Weather

As of the time of writing this there is just a five-percent chance of precipitation on Thursday and a ten-percent chance for both Friday and Saturday. Sunday also calls for just a five-percent chance of precipitation. Winds are calling for 12 miles-per-hour on Thursday, ten miles-per-hour on Friday, eight miles-per-hour on Saturday and six miles-per-hour on Sunday. Temperatures will begin the week at 74-degrees on Thursday before climbing to 78-degrees on Friday, 82-degrees on Saturday and 84-degrees on Sunday. In all, it looks like we’re in store for a great week of weather. 

Key Stats

• Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (SG: TTG)

• Strokes Gained: Approach (SG: APP)

• Par Five Average Scoring

• Scrambling

• Strokes Gained: Putting (SG: PUTT)

• Bogey Avoidance

• Par Four Birdie or Better Percentage

• Strokes Gained: Around the Green

• Average Driving Distance

• Greens in Regulation Percentage (GIR%)

• Three-Putt Avoidance

• Proximity to the Hole from 200-plus Yards

Betting Card

(* indicates a future bet placed prior)

Matt Fitzpatrick (+2600)

It seems that every single tournament I gravitate towards Matt Fitzpatrick. I do like how he rebounded from losing THE PLAYERS Championship with a victory at the Valspar Championship. The course history here at Augusta National, which is massive, is good for Fitzpatrick as well. He placed 40th last year, 22nd in 2024, tenth in 2023, 14th in 2022, 34th in 2021, 46th in 2020 and 21st in 2019. Of course, prior to his victory at the Valspar, he placed second at THE PLAYERS Championship. He also placed 41st at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, 24th at The Genesis Invitational, 14th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, ninth at the WM Phoenix Open and 63rd at The American Express on the season. He is currently third on Tour in SG: TTG, fourth in GIR%, seventh in SG: APP, tenth in birdie-or-better percentage, 12th in par-five average scoring, 17th in bogey avoidance, 25th in SG: ATG, 31st in scrambling, 34th in proximity to the hole from 200-plus yards, 70th in average driving distance, 96th in SG: PUTT and 137th in three-putt avoidance. 

Collin Morikawa* (+3500)

This was a future placed around the time Collin Morikawa won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Now, typically I’m not one to place futures, but I always like Morikawa at Augusta and when he was trending in the right direction, I felt obligated to place the bet, knowing darn well I’d bet him when this week rolled around. He withdrew from THE PLAYERS Championship after his first hole and also withdrew from last week’s Valero Texas Open before playing so the last time we saw him play was the Arnold Palmer Invitational where he placed fifth. He also placed seventh at The Genesis Invitational and of course won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Morikawa does have a great course history at Augusta National, which I think is obvious with the way he plays the game. He placed 14th a season ago, third in 2024, tenth in 2023, fifth in 2022, 18th in 2021 and 44th in 2021. Morikawa is currently first on Tour in SG: APP, second in GIR%, fourth in both SG: TTG and par-five average scoring, 14th in par-four birdie-or-better percentage, 30th in bogey avoidance, 56th in average driving distance, 65th in proximity to the hole from 200-plus yards, 74th in SG: ATG, 82nd in three-putt avoidance, 100th in SG: PUTT and 102nd in scrambling. This isn’t a future that hurt me, but we still are unsure how the back-spasm that has kept him out of competition since THE PLAYERS Championship will affect him this week. Time will only tell. 

Min Woo Lee (+5400)

This is a name I had circled for this event for some time. Now, he is going to be a super popular bet, there’s no way around that, but that is also for good reason. He is currently second on Tour in par-five average scoring, ninth in par-four birdie-or-better percentage, tenth in SG: TTG, 13th in average driving distance, 27th in SG: PUTT, 28th in SG: ATG, 34th in bogey avoidance, 47th in scrambling, 52nd in SG: APP, 59th in GIR%, 86th in proximity to the hole from 200-plus yards and 101st in three-putt avoidance. He does have a semi-decent course history here at Augusta National as well. He placed 49th last year, 22nd in 2024, missed the cut in 2023 and placed 14th in 2022. Now, coming into The Masters, Lee may be in the best form he’s ever been in. He last placed third at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, 32nd at THE PLAYERS Championship, sixth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, 12th at The Genesis Invitational, second at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, 28th at the WM Phoenix Open and 38th at The American Express. 

Akshay Bhatia (+6500)

In year’s past, the putter has always been the issue for Bhatia, who is a natural and an elite ball striker. Now, he’s currently ninth on Tour in SG: PUTT which gives me the confidence to bet him here at Augusta National. He is also currently third on Tour in par-four birdie-or-better percentage, eighth in SG: APP, 19th in both par-five average scoring and SG: TTG, 26th in bogey avoidance, 32nd in scrambling, 33rd in GIR%, 49th in SG: ATG, 50th in proximity to the hole from 200-plus yards, 80th in three-putt avoidance and 101st in average driving distance. Bhatia last teed it up at the Hero Indian Open on the DP World Tour as the Hero ambassador. He missed the cut there but that’s no big deal to me. Prior to that on the PGA Tour he placed 13th at THE PLAYERS Championship, won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, placed 16th at The Genesis Invitational, sixth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and third at the WM Phoenix Open. He also placed 42nd here a season ago and 35th in 2024. Also, I personally believe there’s a strong correlation between the Arnold Palmer Invitational (Bay Hill) and The Masters (Augsuta National,) in which Bhatia won this season. 

Harris English (+11000)

Now, onto the first of two long shots this week. I was rather shocked by this number when doing my research and just had to take it. English has a great course history here at Augusta National, placing 12th a season ago, 22nd in 2024, 43rd in 2023 and 21st in 2021. English last played the Texas Children’s Houston Open where he placed 21st. Prior to that he missed the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship but also placed 24th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, 22nd at The Genesis Invitational, 24th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, 28th at the WM Phoenix Open, 22nd at the Farmers Insurance Open and 27th at The American Express. English is currently 11th on Tour in par-four birdie-or-better percentage, 15th in SG: PUTT, 23rd in scrambling, 35th in bogey avoidance, 43rd in three-putt avoidance, 62nd in proximity to the hole from 200-plus yards, 74th in GIR%, 78th in SG: TTG, 81st in average driving distance, 92nd in par-five average scoring, 109th in SG:  ATG and 110th in SG: APP. He plays a patient and consistent game of golf, which is ideal for Augusta National. 

Nicolai Hogjaard* (+12500)

There was a zero-percent chance I wasn’t going to bet Hojgaard at The Masters this year so I figured taking a future on him was fitting. He last played the Texas Children’s Houston Open where he was the runner-up to Gary Woodland. Prior to that he placed 55th at the Valspar Championship, 27th at THE PLAYERS Championship, sixth at the Cognizant Classic, third at the WM Phoenix Open and 22nd at the Farmers Insurance Open. Hojgaard missed the cut here a season ago but placed 16th in 2024. He is currently ninth on Tour in average driving distance, 13th in both SG: APP and scrambling, 16th in SG: TTG, 18th in bogey avoidance, 19th in proximity to the hole from 200-plus yards, 23rd in SG: PUTT, 24th in three-putt avoidance, 30th in par-five average scoring, 31st in par-four birdie-or-better percentage, 60th in SG: ATG and 64th in GIR%. Per my stats-based model, he is third overall. 

2025 Betting Card

• Ludvig Aberg (+2000) - 7th

• Jon Rahm (+2000) - T14th

• Hideki Matsuyama (+3000) - T21st

• Robert MacIntyre (+6000) - MC

• Will Zalatoris (+6500) - MC

• Nicolai Hojgaard (+20000) - MC

2024 Betting Card

• Brooks Koepka (+1700) - T45th

• Xander Schauffele (+1800) - 8th

• Will Zalatoris (+4400) - T9th

• Sahith Theegala (+6000) - T45th

• Brian Harman (+6600) - MC

• Patrick Reed (+8000) - T12th

• Tom Kim (+12000) - T30th

• Phil Micklenson (+13500) - T43rd

2023 Betting Card

• Jon Rahm (+950) - 1st

• Patricky Cantlay (+1900) - T14th

• Tony Finau (+2400) - T26th

• Xander Schauffele (+2500) - T10th

• Max Homa (+3200) - T43rd

• Sungjae Im (+3700) - T16th

• Tom Kim (+10000) - T16th

• Tom Hoge (+15000) - MC