This is our Super Bowl. We’ve assembled the best panel of expert handicappers in the industry, and we’ve been picking golf tournaments since 2018 in this column. So if it’s your first time here, you picked the right article to help you pick the winner of the 2025 Masters.
Our experts have now cashed six outright bets in 2025—pretty impressive considering we give our handicappers only two outright picks in the column. A number of our analysts are up significant units in matchup and top-10 bets. In short, ride with us … and bookmark us for the rest of the year.
The Golf Digest betting panel is comprised of a tour coach reporting anonymously from the grounds of Augusta National, Pat Mayo of Underdog/Mayo Media Network, Brandon Gdula of numberFire/FanDuel, Andy Lack of the Inside Sports Network, your two authors and Keith Stewart, the CEO of Read The Line. Stewart, our newest member of the panel, is our new betting content partner as well.
Scroll down for our complete betting analysis of the 2025 Masters:
Anonymous Swing Coach of the week: Rory McIlroy (+650, DraftKings) — Just like I correctly predicted Rory McIlroy at The Players, I have the same feeling about him at Augusta. He hasn’t finished outside the top 17 this season, and I have no reason to believe Brandel Chamblee to think that he will never win here. I love Rory’s chances this year.
Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: Shane Lowry (45-1, FanDuel) — After struggling at the beginning of his Masters career, Lowry now has top-25 finishes in four of his past five Augusta appearances. The worst of the bunch was a T-43 last year: Lowry was fourth in ball-striking for the week but lost an ungodly 7.8 strokes with his putter—the most of any of his 178 measured starts on the PGA Tour. I’m willing to chalk that up as an outlier and focus more on him being fifth of all players in tee to green per round over the past three Masters and his four top-11 finishes over his past six starts entering this week.
Brandon Gdula, FanDuel/numberFire managing editor: Collin Morikawa (16-1, FanDuel) — Morikawa hasn’t won in a while, but he leads the field in strokes gained/tee to green over his past 50 rounds, per datagolf. The last four winners here ranked top-two for the week in T2G. He’s also entering with three straight top-10s at Augusta. Eventually, the wins have to fall his way with a profile like that.
Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: Xander Schauffele (22-1, BetMGM) — If Xander Schauffele wins the Masters, he will have won three of the last four major championships. Six weeks off in Q1 from a rib injury and most have written him off this week. Since Schauffele burst on to the major scene in 2017, he has 30 starts and 15 top-10 finishes. The guy is great in majors. Now that he has proven to himself that he can win them, that’s all the evidence I need to take that 20+ value to the ticket window.
Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest dep. managing editor: Justin Thomas (25-1, DraftKings) — Even though I probably should, I’ll never stop betting Justin Thomas at Augusta. He has said it’s his favorite golf course, and with his insanely good short game and precision with his irons, he has a ceiling that’s capable of besting Rory and Scottie.
Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: Bryson DeChambeau (20-1, FanDuel) — Last week at Doral obviously didn’t end how he wanted it to end, but there was enough good in there to be optimistic about his chances this week. He finally seemed to crack the Augusta National code a year ago and then went solo second, first in the next two majors. To me, he’s an auto bet in the four big ones until further notice, particularly when he’s 20-1 or higher.
Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: Justin Thomas (25-1, DraftKings) — All the warning signs suggest that Justin Thomas is on the precipice of a major breakthrough, and only a few minor details have prevented him from multiple victories in 2025. Most encouraging is the fact that his putter is finally beginning to improve while his approach play and short game remain in the top five in the world.
Past results: We have another winner! Pat Mayo cashes his first outright of the season with Min Woo Lee at 35-1. Steve Hennessey was also on Min Woo for his second victory this year (Hennessey and Keith Stewart picked Ludvig Aberg at the Genesis). Before that, our anonymous swing coach picked Rory McIlroy at 12-1 to win the Players Championship and Christopher Powers hit on Russell Henley to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at 44-1. The panel now has four wins this year as a group and six individually. Not bad, not bad.
Tour coach: Russell Henley (50-1, FanDuel) — Seems like oddsmakers don’t give Henley enough credit. These are great odds for a player who has been consistent in the majors and has proven that Augusta suits his game. His short game is so improved, making this the perfect place for a breakthrough for a kid who lives in the same town as Larry Mize, who also shocked the world at Augusta National…
Mayo: Sepp Straka (80-1, DraftKings) — A lone missed cut to go with a win and two other top 10s in 2025 gives the 15th-ranked player in the world every check point needed for his lead-in form. Straka has even gained at least four strokes on approach in six of his eight past starts. And he keeps figuring out Augusta in each of his starts. He was T-16 in his third Masters start a year ago, and Straka is just one of 11 players who have gained an average of 0.75 SG/off the tee per round. Other names on list include Scottie, Rahm, Rory and Bryson. Elite company.
Gdula: Russell Henley (50-1, FanDuel) — Henley is an accurate driver and one of the best iron players in the field in recent rounds. Overall, he ranks 17th in SG/tee to green over the past 50 rounds, per datagolf. He’s also an underrated major player. His last three finishes are T-23 at the PGA, T-7 at the U.S. Open and fifth at The Open.
Stewart: Robert MacIntyre (60-1, DraftKings) — Great lefty ball-strikers have a distinct advantage at the Masters. While other pundits pick players who have never won on the PGA Tour, I’m taking a guy who has closed the deal twice in the last 10 months. Augusta National Golf Club is a perfect fit for Robert MacIntyre. The super Scotsman is gaining strokes in all four major categories coming in. With four top 11 results in his last five starts including a ninth at the Players, Bobby could be the next Mac Daddy at the Masters.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Russell Henley (50-1, FanDuel) — I’m with our anonymous tour swing coach and Brandon Gdula: Henley is ready for his major breakthrough. He’s proven his game is at the level of the elites in these majors, it’s just a matter of closing the deal. I do have reservations about him having to make the clutch putts on Sunday, but Augusta has proved that non-elite putters can have success at Augusta. So I think it’s worth a gamble at these odds.
Powers, Golf Digest: Russell Henley (50-1, FanDuel) — Pre Bay Hill, I would have laughed at anyone selecting Russell Henley to win the Masters. But after that confidence-boosting win, why not Russ? It’s not like he hasn’t been good in the majors, either. He actually has three top seven-finishes in the last eight majors only, including a T-4 here two years ago.
Lack: Robert MacIntyre (60-1, DraftKings) — Robert MacIntyre checks all the boxes I am looking for in a surprise Masters champion. The multiple-time Scottish Open champion is one of the longest players in the field, possesses strong course history, strong recent major form and has shown his meddle before in cooler, difficult conditions and on long, hard golf courses. Coming off a top-10 finish at the Players where he gained 5.9 strokes on approach, I expect MacIntyre to continue his strong play in 2025.
Swing coach: Viktor Hovland (33-1, BetMGM) — I’m still not ready to trust that Hovland is ready to contend in a major after his most recent changes, despite the win in Tampa. Augusta just requires too many creative shots around the greens, so I’m not sure Hovland is best suited for this major.
Mayo: Bryson DeChambeau (14-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — Unless it pours rain all four days and the greens are spongy instead of concrete, Bryson’s debilitating short game will have him bleeding strokes at will. Don’t forget, after opening as first round leader in wet conditions a year ago, Bryson failed to crack par in any other round. In fact, Bryson has broke par in only one of his past 10 rounds at Augusta.
Gdula: Ludvig Aberg (18-1, FanDuel) — Aberg flashed with a solo second last year at Augusta by leading the field in putting. The current tee-to-green game just isn’t on par with the other favorites, though, and for that reason, I’d rather look elsewhere.
Stewart: Bryson DeChambeau (14-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — There’s no doubt Bryson DeChambeau is an elite competitor. Twice a U.S. Open winner, DeChambeau is a proven major commodity. Earning a green jacket takes extraordinary short-game skill and imagination. Augusta National’s green complexes present unique situations around the putting surfaces. Bryson is inventive, but I wonder about the setup of chipping with single length irons. ANGC also requires a flexible mind-set. Another concern I have: Can the “single scientist” adjust a rigid game to the creative confines of Magnolia Lane?
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Bryson DeChambeau (14-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — These odds are a little out of control. As someone who bet him at these odds last week at LIV Miami, I watched his short game fail on Sunday … and those are way less difficult chips and pitches than he’ll face this week. It’d certainly be one of the most popular Masters wins of our lifetime, but I have to pass at these odds. (Spoken as someone who has a 30-1 ticket placed in July.)
Powers, Golf Digest: Justin Thomas (25-1, DraftKings) — I just don’t see the infatuation with him this year. Some good finishes, yes, but hasn’t exactly put four good rounds together which is a necessity to win this week. Also, a big indicator of who wins here is very recent strong performances in major championships. Since winning the PGA in 2022, JT has one top 10 and five missed cuts in 10 major starts.
Lack: Ludvig Aberg (18-1, FanDuel) — While Ludvig Aberg’s debut at the Masters last year was certainly encouraging, I’m expecting some regression this year out of the young superstar. Aberg has lost strokes on approach in two of out of his past three starts, and his short game continues to be a major red flag.
Swing coach: Patrick Reed (-152) over Sahith Theegala (Bet365) — Reed is just absolutely in his happy place at Augusta, plus he won overseas recently and played nicely last week on LIV on a difficult course (Doral). It’s a matchup of fantastic short games, but Reed has the overwhelming track record and recent form here.
Mayo: Cameron Smith (+100) over Viktor Hovland (CoolBet) — Look, maybe Viktor is fixed coming off his win at Valspar. Then I’ll lose. But he even somewhat resembles the guy from every other week in 2025 he’s going to get beat by guy with four top 10s at the Masters over the past five years.
Gdula: Xander Schauffele (-115) over Hideki Matsuyama (FanDuel) — Xander’s working his way back from injury but led the Valspar in strokes gained/approach and has gained distance on the field in all of his starts since returning. His short game just hasn’t clicked yet. On the other hand, Hideki’s irons are cold, and the putter is trailing off.
Stewart: Will Zalatoris (-110) over Min Woo Lee (Bet365) — Min Woo Lee just won a PGA Tour event in Houston. Lee’s playing well, but ANGC is a much tougher approach test and that gives me serious doubts over four days for the tour’s young star. Will Zalatoris is all too familiar with early career expectations. A runner-up in his first Masters appearance, Zalatoris followed up that debutant performance with two more top 10s. Zalatoris has only competed here three times! I’m taking the proven Masters competitor on one of golf’s most predictive playgrounds.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Keegan Bradley (-120) over Tom Kim (Bet365) — The RickRunGood.com head-to-head calculator gives Keegan a 68.83 percent likelihood to win this matchup, which is a pretty big edge on these odds. Keegan’s ball-striking has been so good in 2025, and I like his course history edge here over Keegan, who you can nearly pencil in for a top 20 or top 30 finish.
Powers, Golf Digest: Phil Mickelson (+100) over Brian Harman (DraftKings) — Lefty on Lefty crime. I’m bullish on Phil Mickelson, whose record here speaks for itself, not to mention the fact he has shown serious life on LIV in 2025. As for Harman, he’s missed four of six Masters cuts in his career.
Lack: Robert MacIntyre (-130) over Sepp Straka (BetOnline) — Given the reports significant rainfall in Augusta and cooler temperatures, I expect the golf course this year to play extremely long, and players with a high carry distance to possesses a significant advantage. While Straka is an excellent approach player, MacIntyre’s distance advantage is too great here for me to ignore.
Matchup Results from the Valero Texas Open: Powers: 1 for 1 (Fleetwood (+115) over Aberg); Hennessey: 1 for 1 (Cauley (-110) over Poston); Swing coach: 1 for 1 (Hall (-111) over Fitzpatrick; Stewart: 1 for 1 (Poston (+100) over Burns); Lack: 0 for 1; Gdula: 0 for 1; Mayo: 0 for 1
Matchup Results from this season (Wins-Losses-Pushes): Powers: 10-4-0 (up 6.12 units); Hennessey: 9-4-1 (up 4.39 units); Swing coach: 7-2-2 (up 4.19 units); Lack: 6-7-1 (down 1.79 units); Gdula: 5-8-1 (down 3.69 units); Stewart: 6-8-0 (down 2.02 units); Mayo: 4-10-0 (down 5.99 units)
Swing coach: Corey Conners (+400, FanDuel) — The Canadian is a ball-striking machine who’s in solid form, which is always a reason to like his chances at Augusta National. He always seems to play well here since he has such control of his distances—paramount to scoring at Augusta. Even if he’s out of the mix early, he has the game to back door a top 10 and cash this.
Mayo: Robert MacIntyre (+400, FanDuel) — It’s no secret lefties enjoy Augusta (Riviera, too), and Bob has been no different. He’s only twice teed it up at Augusta and managed a top-25 finish in both appearances (T-15 in his one start at RIV as well). He now returns to the Masters three years since his last start a significantly more polished player. Currently sitting No. 17 in the world rankings, the Scot picked up his first two PGA Tour wins over the past year, played in a Ryder Cup, and enters the year’s first major with three top-11 finishes in his past four starts including a T-11/T-9 run through Bay Hill and The Players against the best fields of the year.
Gdula: Corey Conners (+400, FanDuel) — Conners has three top-10s finishes at Augusta in his career—all in the last five years. His game right now is on point, and he’s finished top 25 in five straight events while playing well in all four strokes gained categories.
Stewart: Cam Smith (+450, FanDuel) — In eight Masters appearances, Cam Smith has five top-10 finishes—four in the last five! One year ago, Smith’s status and form was uncertain as he withdrew from LIV Miami. Cam completed his 2025 Masters in sixth place. Mastering the green complexes at Augusta National is a primary key to contending, and nobody does it better in the field than Smith.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Sepp Straka (+500, FanDuel) — The disrespect for Straka continues to amaze. He’s been the fifth-best player by weighted strokes-gained total in this elite field in 2025, and yet you can catch him at 5-to-1 odds to be a factor at Augusta, where he finished T-16 and is now playing at an even more elite level.
Powers, Golf Digest: Sepp Straka (+500, FanDuel) — Clearly not alone in the Straka love this week. That’s because both the recent and the long-term form are very strong from the Georgia Bulldog. Will be on him outright as well.
Lack: Collin Morikawa (+150, DraftKings) — Collin Morikawa was my pick to finish top 10 at the Players, and I see no reason to change my strategy at the Masters. Morikawa’s floor is nearly as high as that of Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy, yet he continues to be able to catch him at plus money in the top-10 market. Look for the two-time major winner to capture his fourth top-10 finish in a row at Augusta National.
Top-10 results from the Valero Texas Open: Mayo: 1 for 1 (Bud Cauley +500); Everybody else: 0 for 1
Top-10 results from this season: Swing coach: 4 for 11 (up 13.8 units); Gdula: 6 for 14 (up 12 units); Mayo: 3 for 14 (up 8.33 units); Lack: 5 for 14 (up 7 units); Stewart: 4 for 14 (down 1.15 units); Hennessey: 1 for 14 (down 9.4 units); Powers: 0 for 14 (down 14 units)
Pat Mayo is an award-winning video host and producer of long and short-form content, and the host of The Pat Mayo Experience daily talk show. Mayo helped create the golf stats and research website Fantasy National along with the Race for the Mayo Cup One and Done contest. Mayo won the 2022 Fantasy Sports Writing Association Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year and is a finalist for three FSWA Awards in 2023 (Best Podcast, Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year, Golf Writer of the Year). His 27 FSWA nominations lead all writers this decade and are second-most all-time. Follow him on Twitter: @ThePME.
Brandon Gdula, managing editor and analyst for numberFire, a FanDuel daily-fantasy analysis company, recently won the 2018 FSWA Golf Writer of the Year. Gdula also co-hosts the DFS Heat Check podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @gdula13.
Keith Stewart is a five-time award-winning PGA professional, a betting contributor for Golf Digest and founder of Read The Line, the premier on-site live golf betting insights service covering the LPGA and PGA TOUR. Subscribe to Read The Line’s weekly newsletter here and raise your golf betting acumen. Keith’s winning content can also be found on Sports Grid, Bleacher Report and The Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @readtheline_.
Andy Lack is a PGA Tour writer and podcaster from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles. Andy is the founder and CEO of Inside Sports Network, a website devoted to the predictive quality of advanced analytics and golf course architecture. He came to Golf Digest’s betting panel after previously writing for Run Pure Sports, RickRunGood.com, the Score and GolfWRX. In his free time, Andy can likely be found on a golf course. Follow him on Twitter: @adplacksports
