Masters 2021: Daily Fantasy Picks and Tips for Friday

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

A lot of top golfers had a tough time Thursday during the opening round of the 2021 Masters Tournament.

Not Justin Rose.

Rose opened the first major tournament of the year by shooting a 65, and he's atop the leaderboard at seven under par heading into the second round. Not only is the 40-year-old in the lead, but he's also at least four strokes ahead of every other golfer in the field of 88.

But there are still three rounds to go at Augusta National Golf Club, and a lot can change between now and Sunday evening, when the green jacket will be presented. Brian Harman and Hideki Matsuyama are tied for second at three under par, and nine others are within two strokes of that pair.

Will Rose keep it up Friday? Or should daily fantasy players look to some other golfers for their second-round lineups?

Here's some DFS advice heading into the second day of the 2021 Masters, with all prices courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

This year, Jordan Spieth has been playing some of his best golf in quite some time. That continued during the opening round of the Masters, even if he ended up tied for eighth with four others at one under par.

Had it not been for a triple bogey on the ninth hole, Spieth would have been much closer to Rose near the top of the leaderboard. Spieth's second shot on that hole hit a tree, and after he got on the green, he missed a pair of putts to end up with a seven.

Spieth was impressive for most of the round, though, as he carded three birdies and also an eagle on the par-five 15th hole. Coming off a win at the recent Valero Texas Open, the 27-year-old continues to play well, and he could remain in contention for his second career Masters title (and first since 2015).

But first, Spieth ($10,900) will have some ground to make up Friday. Expect him to do just that, avoiding another triple-bogey disaster and putting together a strong round. DFS players would be wise to capitalize on what should be a strong performance.

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Harman may not have played as well as Justin Rose on Thursday (nobody did), but he fared much better than many of the golfers in this year's opening round. The 34-year-old had four birdies and a bogey to end up with 69, putting him three under par and tied for second with Matsuyama.

Not only did Harman play well, but he also finished strong, notching three of his birdies during the final six holes. His 69 matched his best career score in a single round at Augusta National—he posted that score in the final round of the 2018 Masters, which was his most recent appearance at the tournament before this year.

Perhaps that shows that Harman has figured out something after shooting a 72 or higher in each of his first five career rounds at the Masters.

"I just kind of came in here and I know the course pretty well," Harman said, per Thomas Stinson of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I've played here bunches of times. I love it around here. It's just a matter of having my game ready."

Harman ($9,100) is clearly ready. And with him coming at an affordable DFS price for the second round, he should provide strong value. There's a solid chance he will follow up Thursday's impressive performance with another good showing Friday.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Matt Wallace had an inconsistent showing during Thursday's opening round. There were highs, like when he birdied both the 16th and 17th holes, but there were also lows, as he finished the day with five bogeys. Still, the 30-year-old isn't too far down the leaderboard despite being two over par.

Entering Friday, Wallace is one of 22 golfers tied for 30th. It's a group that includes quite a few standouts (including reigning Masters champion Dustin Johnson), and there are several who should bounce back and start working their way up the leaderboard in the second round.

It wouldn't be surprising if Wallace ($8,000) is among those who fare better, making him an intriguing sleeper pick to consider. He's been playing well of late, including a third-place finish at the Valero Texas Open, and Thursday's opening round was a decent way to begin his time at the Masters.

Wallace finished last year's Masters at one over par, but he appears poised to keep improving at Augusta National. So take a chance and include him in your DFS lineup Friday.

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