A tradition unlike any other is The Masters on CBS. And this will be a Masters unlike any other, because it’s taking place in November instead of April. There won’t be any fans (er, make that “patrons”), but there should be plenty of good golf to watch from the couch.
And while you’re on that couch, what better way to add more intrigue to the Augusta National festivities by playing daily fantasy? Here are our best bets for your 2020 Masters lineup.
Xander Schauffele ($9,800)
Schauffele may not bomb the ball like Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, and Rory McIlroy, who are all major champions (although none of have ever donned the green jacket). However, Schauffele is as solid as anyone. At Augusta National, solid is often good enough to get the job done. Sure, the occasional eagle on hole 13 or 15 would be nice. But on Sunday, mistake-free golf is the key. There have been all kinds of legendary implosions at the Masters, such as by Greg Norman in 1996, Rory McIlroy in 2011, and Jordan Spieth in 2016. Just last year, Francesco Molinari didn’t have as big of a lead as the previous three names but his double-bogey on 15 ultimately opened the door for Tiger Woods. And that brings us back to Schauffele, who was tied for second behind Woods. The eighth-ranked American’s last results are second at The Tour Championship, fifth at the U.S. Open, second at the CJ Cup, and 17th at the Zozo Championship.
Collin Morikawa ($9,500)
Morikawa was the breakout star on the PGA Tour in the first few months following the coronavirus hiatus. He lost in a playoff at the Charles Schwab Challenge, won the Workday Charity Open, and then triumphed at the PGA Championship. The fourth-ranked American understandably struggled a bit on the heels of that life-changing result, but he placed T12 at the CJ Cup last month. Morikawa has his game back in shape in time to produce another big performance on one of the biggest stages in golf.
Tony Finau ($8,800)
As this roster is constructed, we have $300 left over. That means Woods ($9,100) would be available in this spot where we have Finau, but we’re not taking the bait. Woods has been woefully out of form since golf returned from the coronavirus layoff, and it looks like not even a return to Augusta National—where he famously triumphed for a fifth time in 2020—can resurrect his game. Finau, on the other hand, is playing stellar golf these days. The 31-year-old American has turned in two straight top-10 performances at majors, he was T11 at the Zozo Championship last month, and he is coming off a T24 result this past week in Houston. Finau finished in the top 10 in each of the last two Masters.
Louis Oosthuizen ($7,900)
Who did Bubba Watson beat in a Masters playoff in 2012? That would be none other than Louis Oosthuizen, who was aided by a double-eagle on the par-5 second in the final round. Although the smooth South African has never come close to replicating that performance, he has made six consecutive cuts at Augusta National. The 2010 Open champion is on a current streak of 10 cuts made, which includes a third-place performance at the U.S. Open.
🚨10 DAYS UNTIL THE MASTERS
We remember Bubba’s legendary shot on Augusta’s 10th hole in the playoff against Louis Oosthuizen. This shot set him up for a two putt par and a victory at the 2012 Masters✅
“Did it hook? … OH WHAT A SHOT!!!” pic.twitter.com/DnhtzCQ4l4
— Bubba Watson Legion (@Bubba_tracker) November 2, 2020
Jason Kokrak ($7,000)
A lot of golf fans were on the Kokrak bandwagon at the U.S. Open. He had posted three top-15 showings in a row, including two in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Unsurprisingly, Kokrak briefly delighted his fantasy owners with early U.S. Open contention before fading a bit down the stretch. Still, he finished a solid T17. There is no reason to jump ship now, as the 35-year-old American won the CJ Cup a few weeks ago. Kokrak has never played The Masters, but nobody has ever played a November Masters so that rookie disadvantage won’t be as big as it has been in previous years in Augusta.
Francesco Molinari ($6,700)
Molinari was pretty much the last golfer to return from the coronavirus hiatus. He did have a minor back problem, but for the most part it appears to have been a personal decision. That makes this a bit of a risky play, but you aren’t going to find anyone else better at this price. Plus, the 2018 Open champion now has two tournaments under his belt. Although he missed the cut at the Shriners Hospital for Children Open, he did not play poorly (rounds of 70 and 68). Molinari then placed T15 in Houston. The 38-year-old has been in the top six in four of his last nine major appearances, which is another reason why he cannot be counted out this week.
Want more picks and predictions for the 2020 Masters? Check out all our expert previews below:
- 2020 Masters winner picks and predictions
- The five best prop bets for The Masters
- Can The Masters defending champion Tiger Woods strike again?
- The top 10 players to focus on at the 2020 Masters
- Augusta National course guide: A hole-by-hole breakdown
- Double your money on Masters favorite Bryson DeChambeau to make the cut
- All the best betting offers to help you win on The Masters
The expert golf handicappers at Pickswise bring you the latest golf betting odds, expert Golf Picks and Predictions, including round-by-round picks for the 2020 Masters Tournament.