Ricky Dimon
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The coronavirus hiatus has taken away a lot of sports over the past year, but now it is giving us an unprecedented development in the world of golf: back-to-back major championships will be held at Augusta National. That’s right; last year’s Masters was postponed from April to November, making it the last of three majors in 2020 instead of the first of four. Now it’s back in its normal spot on the calendar to be the first major in 2021.
With the Masters beginning on Thursday, it’s time to take a look at some of the best prop bets for this year’s festivities in Augusta.
Top former champion: Jordan Spieth (+250)
Spieth is finally back in fine form, just in time for his favorite tournament. The 27-year-old American showed signs of improvement with three top-four finishes in February and March. That set the stage for last week’s Valero Texas Open, where he fired an 18-under score to win by two strokes for his first win since 2017. Spieth has placed in the top three at the Masters four times, including a victory in 2015. Dustin Johnson is the biggest threat to Spieth on paper in this category, but the defending champion did not play well in his two most recent starts and therefore Spieth has great value at +250.
Top European: Lee Westwood (+1100)
Westwood is on fire right now, with back-to-back second-place performances last month at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship. The 47-year-old Englishman has been in the top 10 at Augusta National six times throughout his career, including five times in the top eight dating back to 2010. Jon Rahm may be tough to beat, but other than that Westwood is just better than every other European at the moment.
Matt Kuchar to finish in the top 30 (+138)
Not too much unlike Spieth (albeit to a lesser extent), Kuchar has suddenly found his game going into Augusta. The Georgia resident finished third at last month’s Match Play Championship and then placed T12 at the Valero Texas Open. He has finished in the top 10 of the Masters four times, including three times in the top five. Clearly a top 30 spot is not too much to ask.
Viktor Hovland to finish in the top 20 (+110)
Hovland has played the Masters only once, but a low amateur finish (T32 overall) in 2019 is encouraging. The 23-year-old Norwegian has four top-five finishes in his last seven events, including one title and two runner-up showings.
Daniel Berger to finish in the top 10 (+275)
Like Berger, Hovland was one of the best players in the world last season but also missed the Masters because they kept the qualifying rules for an April tournament even though it was postponed until November. Both guys should have chips on their shoulders walking down Magnolia Lane as a result. Berger has four top-10 performances in his last six starts and he was T10 at the Masters in 2016.
Hole in one
Yes (-162)
There has not been a hole in one at the Masters since 2018, so we are due for at least one in 2021. Being “due” is a bad argument, I know, but there are other reasons to like this bet. The pin position on hole 16 will be back to normal for Sunday following last year’s aberration. Moreover, it’s going to be somewhat windy this week and the course will be firm and fast at least for the first couple of days prior to a minor chance of rain as the tournament progresses. Scoring conditions may not be ideal. If the scores are not super low going into the weekend (unlike in 2020), tournament staff will be open to making easier pin positions on Saturday and Sunday—especially on the par threes.
At least two (+188)
Why can’t we get more than one? We got three in 2016, so it’s not like multiple aces are out of the question.
Hole in one on 16 (+110)
Hole 16 is always the best bet, at least when the pin position is back left like it will be on Sunday (it wasn’t there for the final round in 2020, which is part of the reason why last year’s tournament did not produce an ace). At plus money, I like the value.
Pickswise is the home of free expert Golf Picks and Predictions. Our outright PGA expert picks go live every Tuesday, so be sure check out our golf picks, best bets, and analysis for the Masters when those go live. We will also have our 2021 Masters 3-ball picks and our best golf prop bets for each round of the 2021 Masters.
