Masters Odds 2026 Tips for Golf-Betting Novices and Best Picks in the Field

Even casual fans are likely to be drawn to the 90th edition of The Masters later this week. The annual event in Augusta, Georgia, is the first major of the PGA schedule and will feature some of the sport's biggest stars.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy will look to defend his title against elite golfers like Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, and Bryson DeChambeau. With such a loaded field, it can be tricky to know just how to bet The Masters. However, hedging a couple of long-odds plays against a "safety" bet or two is often a successful strategy.

Here, you'll find a few betting tips for the 2026 Masters, based on the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.

The Masters 2026

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Dates: April 9-12

Location: Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, GA

Prize Purse: $20 million ($3.6 million to winner)

TV Schedule (all times ET)

Thursday, April 9: 1-3 p.m. on Prime Video, 3-7:30 p.m. on ESPN

Friday, April 10: 1-3 p.m. on Prime Video, 3-7:30 p.m. on ESPN

Saturday, April 11: 12-2 p.m. on Paramount+, 2-7 p.m. on CBS

Sunday, April 12: 12-2 p.m. on Paramount+, 2-7 p.m. on CBS

Full Live Stream: Masters.com, Masters App

Top Early Favorites to Win

Scottie Scheffler 11-2

Bryson DeChambeau 10-1

Jon Rahm 10-1

Rory McIlroy 13-1

Xander Schauffele 15-1

Ludvig Åberg 18-1

Consider McIlroy and Schauffele as 'Safety' Bets

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Xander Schauffele

To be clear, there's no such thing as a truly "safe" wager. Every bet can lose, and fans must be careful to weigh risk versus reward.

For example, Scheffler remains the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world and is the early favorite to win The Masters. Picking him as a hedge against longer shots might seem like a sound strategy. However, Scheffler's 11-2 odds aren't all too enticing, given his recent performances.

Scheffler did win The American Express back in January, but he's finished outside the top 10 in his last three events and in the 20s at The Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship. His +110 odds (bet $100 to win $110) to finish in the top five aren't particularly attractive either.

McIlroy also has struggled lately, largely due to a back injury. However, he's a more attractive option at +220 for a top-five finish. The 36-year-old has six top-10 finishes in his last 10 outings at The Masters.

Schauffele has finished in the top 10 at the last three Masters tournaments, and he's an intriguing pick at 15-1 to win. His +230 odds for a top-five finish and +105 odds for a top-10 finish make him an extremely attractive option for a safety bet.

Consider Tommy Fleetwood and Cameron Young as Longer-Odds Picks

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Cameron Young

The purpose of a safety wager is to potentially offset the losses of riskier bets. Of course, those longer-odds bets are where real payouts are won.

Tommy Fleetwood and Cameron Young are two golfers to consider at longer odds—at +22-1 and 27-1 to win, respectively.

Fleetwood has made the cut in his last nine appearances at The Masters and secured a top-five finish in 2024. He tied for eighth at the Players Championship and tied for 10th at the Valero Texas Open. SportsLine's model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, is high on Morikawa, according to CBS Sports' Ross Kelly:

"Fleetwood certainly has the game to compete at Augusta National, making the Englishman a longshot worth targeting for the first major of the year."

Consider betting Fleetwood to win and for a top-10 finish at +150.

Young, meanwhile, is coming off a win at the Players and three straight top-10 finishes. He missed the cut at Augusta last year, but recorded top-10 finishes in 2023 and 2024. He's also in top form.

"The hottest player who's beaming with confidence. After THE PLAYERS Championship, I'm a firm believer in his ability to deliver in big moments," PGA Tour senior content manager Chris Breece wrote.

Young is also enticing at +140 for a top-10 finish and +330 for a top-five finish.

Consider Jacob Bridgeman as a Sleeper Pick

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Jacob Bridgeman

Fans chasing a massive payout should consider Jacob Bridgeman. The 26-year-old is a true sleeper at +8000 to win, +1000 for a top-five finish, and +370 for a top-five finish.

There are good reasons why Bridgeman is a dark horse, of course. He has only appeared in two majors and missed the cut in both. He's also never played at The Masters, and history is against him.

Fuzzy Zoeller was the last golfer to win at August in his Masters debut, and that occurred in 1979. The feat hasn't been matched since and has only happened three times—Horton Smith (1934) and Gene Sarazen (1935) were the other two debut winners.

However, Bridgeman has played extremely well this season and heads into Masters week with a ton of momentum. He has four top-10 finishes this season, hasn't finished outside of the top-20, and currently leads the FedEx Cup point standings, just ahead of Young and Matt Fitzpatrick.