Masters 2026 Betting Guide: Who Wins the Green Jacket This Year?

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The 2026 Masters Tournament runs April 9-12 at Augusta National, and the storylines heading into this one are almost too good. Rory McIlroy defending the Green Jacket he spent 11 years chasing. Scottie Scheffler trying to reclaim what he considers his living room. Bryson DeChambeau looking to prove the LIV reunion tour has teeth. And Tiger Woods — 50 years old, seven back surgeries deep — refusing to say he's out.

Whether you're filling out a bracket, dropping a futures bet, or just want to sound smart at the turn, here's everything you need to know.

The Odds Board (As of Early March)

The Favorites: Two Men and Then Everyone Else

Scottie Scheffler (+300) — The Machine

There's a reason Scheffler's been the betting favorite at Augusta for three straight years. In six Masters appearances, he's never finished outside the Top 20. He won in 2024, finished fourth in 2025, and has been the World No. 1 for what feels like a geological era.

Six PGA Tour wins in 2025 alone. His ball-striking numbers are from another planet. The only question with Scottie is never "can he?" — it's "will anyone else be close enough to matter?"

At +300, you're laying serious juice, but if you're looking for the most likely winner, this is your guy.

Rory McIlroy (+650) — The Defending Champion

What can you say about Rory that hasn't already been said a thousand times? He needed a playoff against a resurgent Justin Rose to finally get the career Grand Slam in 2025, and the weight of a decade came off his shoulders in real time.

Here's the thing about Rory's Augusta history — it's streaky. Three Top-5 finishes since 2020, but also two missed cuts and a T22 mixed in. He's either contending or he's gone by Saturday. There's no in-between.

The question for 2026: does the defending champion come back relaxed and free, or does the "repeat" pressure find new ways to get in his head? We lean toward free. At +650, he's interesting.

The Next Tier: Danger at +1100 and Beyond

Ludvig Åberg (+1400) — The Next Big Thing

Åberg finished T2 in his Masters debut in 2024 and didn't flinch. The guy plays like he doesn't know he's supposed to be nervous. His combination of length off the tee and precision with irons is tailor-made for Augusta, and at 26 years old, he's entering his peak window.

If you're looking for a value play among the top tier, +1400 on a guy who almost won it his first time there is the kind of number that won't last.

Xander Schauffele (+1600) — The Door Knocker

Won the PGA Championship and Open Championship in 2024-25. Still looking for that green jacket. Augusta has been kind to him — multiple top-10s — but he's never quite found the Sunday gear here. At 16-to-1, he's the best pure talent at one of the better prices.

Bryson DeChambeau (+1400) — The Wildcard

Say what you will about Bryson, but he's playing the best golf of his life since the PGA Tour reunification. His length advantage at Augusta is significant — he can reach par 5s that most of the field can't, and the second shot into 13 is a wedge for him when it's a mid-iron for everyone else.

Augusta's setup has historically rewarded length first, accuracy second. That's Bryson's entire identity. At +1400, we think he's slightly undervalued.

Jon Rahm (+1600) — The Comeback King

Back on the PGA Tour and back in the conversation. Rahm won here in 2023 and knows every contour of Augusta National like it's his backyard in Scottsdale. The LIV layoff is a question mark, but talent is talent, and Rahm's is generational.

The Value Tier: Bets Your Buddies Won't Make

Collin Morikawa (+2200) — Two major wins, elite iron play, and a game that travels to any course in the world. Augusta rewards precision and patience — Morikawa has both. At 22-to-1, there's real value here.

Tommy Fleetwood (+1800) — The quietest elite player in the world. He's made five straight cuts at Augusta with a best finish of T14 in 2023. His iron play is among the best on tour, and he's been in brilliant form in early 2026. At +1800, he's being overlooked because he doesn't generate headlines. That's exactly why we like him.

Justin Thomas (+2500) — JT's been fighting his game for two years, but Augusta has a way of finding old magic. He's a former PGA Championship winner with the short game to score here. At 25-to-1, he's a sprinkle bet with a real ceiling.

Hideki Matsuyama (+3000) — The 2021 champion knows Augusta better than most. Still one of the best iron players alive. Quietly consistent, rarely makes back pages until Sunday. At 30-to-1, he's the kind of guy who shows up on the leaderboard and makes everyone say "oh right, Hideki."

Brooks Koepka (+3000) — Five major wins. Five. The man plays his best golf when the stakes are highest, and there's no higher stakes in golf than Magnolia Lane on Sunday. He's been grinding since rejoining the PGA Tour and the form is trending up.

The Sleepers: Long Shots Worth a Look

Will Zalatoris (+4000) — Finished T-2 at the 2022 Masters and has the ball-striking to compete on any course. Injuries have slowed him, but when healthy, he's a top-10 machine at majors.

Tom Kim (+4000-5000) — One of the most talented young players in the world. Augusta rewards creativity and feel — Kim has both in spades. At these odds, he's a fun flier.

Shane Lowry (+1400) — The Irishman has been playing the best golf of his career recently. His short game is elite, his experience in big moments is proven (2019 Open), and he's in the prime of his career at 38.

The Tiger Factor

Let's address the elephant in the room. Tiger Woods is 50 years old. He's had a lumbar disc replacement surgery in late 2025. He hasn't competed since mid-2024. His odds are +15000, which translates to "miracle territory."

And yet.

Tiger confirmed in February that Augusta is "not off the table." He's hitting full shots again but admits his endurance for walking Augusta's brutally hilly terrain is the primary obstacle. If he plays, the atmosphere will be nuclear. If he contends, it'll be the greatest sports story of the decade.

For what it's worth: if Tiger somehow won, he'd shatter Jack Nicklaus's record as the oldest Masters champion (Jack was 46 in 1986). At this point, Tiger is being priced more as a ceremonial legend than a contender. But we've learned not to count him out entirely. A small sprinkle at +15000 is the kind of fun bet you'd tell your grandkids about if it hit.

The Course: Why Augusta National Is Different

For the casual bettor, understanding Augusta National is the cheat code. It plays 7,545 yards at par 72 and rewards length off the tee, elite approach play, and — above all — the ability to putt on greens that move like they're alive.

Par 5s are scorable. Holes 2, 8, 13, and 15 are where birdies (and eagles) happen. Long hitters who can reach in two have a massive advantage. This is why Scheffler, DeChambeau, and Åberg are dangerous — they turn par 5s into layups.

The back nine on Sunday is chaos. Amen Corner (11, 12, 13) has destroyed more green jacket dreams than any three holes in golf. The 12th hole alone — 155 yards over Rae's Creek with swirling winds and a green the size of a postage stamp — has produced more Masters drama than most entire courses produce in a century.

Putting is everything. Augusta's greens are the fastest, most contoured surfaces in professional golf. You can hit 18 greens and shoot 80 if you can't read the slopes. This is why guys with elite short games (Lowry, Morikawa, Scheffler) have an edge over pure bombers.

Experience matters. First-timers rarely win. The course reveals itself over years of practice rounds and competitive reps. Åberg's T-2 in his debut was genuinely historic — most rookies are just happy to make the cut.

Our Picks

To win: Ludvig Åberg (+1400) — The talent, the length, the composure. He nearly won it as a rookie. Year two is when good players become dangerous at Augusta.

Best value: Tommy Fleetwood (+1800) — Five straight cuts at Augusta, elite iron play, and being overlooked because he doesn't make headlines. That's free equity.

Best longshot: Hideki Matsuyama (+3000) — Former champion, knows the course, still playing elite golf. At 30-to-1, you're getting a champion at mid-pack odds.

The safe play: Scottie Scheffler Top 3 — He's finished Top 4 in three of his last four Masters starts. If you want the highest-probability wager in the field, a Top 3 bet on the World No. 1 at his best venue is as close to a lock as golf gets — which is to say, it's still golf, so nothing is a lock.

Stay away from: Anyone at +500 or shorter on a one-week outright bet. Even Scheffler at +300 has a roughly 20% implied probability. In a field of 90 golfers, those are tough numbers to justify unless you're betting to hedge later.

Prop Bets Worth Considering

Beyond the outright winner, most sportsbooks offer Masters-specific props:

• Will there be a hole-in-one at the 12th? Usually around +300. It happens more than you'd think.
• Top-5 finish bets are where the real value lives. Åberg top-5 at +300-ish is a strong play.
• First-round leader bets offer huge odds and are genuinely unpredictable. Fun money only.
• European vs. American winner — with Rory, Rahm, Åberg, Lowry, and Fleetwood in the mix, the internationals have a real shot.
• Tiger to make the cut (if he plays) — He's made the cut in 23 of 25 Masters starts. Even diminished, he knows Augusta better than anyone alive.

Your Bracket Pool Strategy

If you're doing a Masters pool with your golf crew (and you should be), use our Masters Pool Generator to build custom printable pool sheets — Pick 'Em, Calcutta, or Squares format with your group size and buy-in. And our Bet Calculator can help you figure out payouts.

Here's how to fill out your bracket:

1. Don't pick all favorites. Differentiate. If everyone takes Scheffler and Rory, you need a Morikawa or Åberg to separate yourself.
2. Weight your picks toward ball-strikers. Augusta rewards iron play more than driving distance (though both help).
3. Don't overthink the cut line. Pick guys who'll make the weekend — a missed cut tanks your bracket.
4. One true sleeper per bracket. Someone at +5000 or longer. It probably won't hit, but if it does, you win the pool.

What to Watch For

1. Rory's Thursday tee time: First rounds set the tone for defending champions. If he opens 68 or better, the buzz will be deafening.
2. Tiger's decision: Expected by late March or early April. The entire golf world is holding its breath.
3. The LIV guys: This is the second Masters since reunification. Rahm, DeChambeau, and the rest of the returning players have had time to adjust. Expect them to be sharper than last year.
4. The Par 3 Contest (April 8): The unofficial kickoff. Family vibes, kids caddying, and the one time all week where the pressure is off.

The Bottom Line

The 2026 Masters might be the most anticipated in a decade. A defending champion finally free of his demons. A dominant World No. 1 looking to reclaim his throne. A potential Tiger farewell. And a field stacked with major champions and hungry young guns.

If you're betting, Åberg and Fleetwood offer the best value. If you're watching, clear your schedule from Thursday to Sunday. And if you're playing golf that weekend instead of watching — respect, but maybe check the leaderboard between holes.

We'll be updating this as tee times are released and the field finalizes. Follow us for more Masters content as April approaches.

For a broader guide to watching the tournament — the holes, the traditions, and what you can steal for your own game — read our Masters 2026 weekend golfer guide. And if you want to know exactly when and where to watch, we've got a complete Masters 2026 viewing guide. The course management lessons from Augusta apply to your home course too — check out our Augusta National course strategy lessons.

April can't come fast enough.

Bogeylicious is an independent golf content platform. We don't take money from sportsbooks. Bet responsibly, and may your Sunday putts fall like Rory's did last April.

Want more? Check out our Masters sleeper picks and dark horses, Masters traditions every golf fan should know, and our free printable Masters pool sheet.