2020 Masters to Be Held Without Spectators; See Latest Odds for Augusta National in November

• The Masters Tournament originally scheduled in April has been moved to November 12th-15th
• Due to COVID-19 concerns and safety, Augusta National announced Wednesday it’ll be played without fans (or “patrons” as they’re known as at the Masters)
• Who’s the betting favorite and who might emerge victorious?

On Wednesday, Augusta National announced what had increasingly become realistic due to COVID-19 – that the 2020 edition of the Masters in November will be played without patrons on the hallowed grounds.

This week’s Wyndham Championship marks the tenth week since the PGA Tour started staging events after their hiatus and each one has been held without fans – and will remain doing so until at least the end of the calendar year.

With there being no patrons providing the deafening roars on the second nine on Sunday, which players have competed well without the gallery support thus far and therefore might be good picks to place a futures wager on for November?

2020 Masters Odds

Odds taken August 12th

McIlroy a Surprisingly Heavy Favorite

Had Rory McIlroy been playing as well as he was before the COVID-19 pandemic halted play for three months, then he suitably would’ve made sense as the overwhelming +700 favorite – after all, the Ulsterman had seven straight top five finishes prior to the hiatus, including a victory at the WGC-HSBC Champions.

However, at +700 odds, I’d be avoiding him like the plague. The Masters is the lone major he needs to complete the career grand slam – which is enough pressure in itself – let alone the fact that he hasn’t won a grand slam event since 2014.

Perhaps I am wrong but when I listened to Rory McIlroy’s interview post USPGA. “Perhaps I am not as good as I used to be” was surely tongue in cheek? 🤷‍♂️

— Stephen Watson (@winkerwatson1) August 11, 2020

In the six tournaments he’s played since returning, his results are as follows: T-32, T-41, T-11, T-32, T-47, T-33. While he has time to right the ship by November, there’s no way I’m backing him at the moment at those criminally low +700 odds.

Last Five Masters Champions

Xander Schauffele Sporting Good Value

Last year, Xander Schauffele came oh-so-close to breaking through at Augusta National, before settling for a second place tie.

That’s a part of five top 10 results in the last seven majors championships, including one at last week’s PGA Championship. He’s been knocking on the door at majors often, and it feels inevitable that it’ll knock down sooner rather than later.

Xander Schauffele is 25 years old. He was 3 years old when Tiger won his first Masters. There's a whole generation that doesn't even grasp how big a deal that was.

— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) April 14, 2019

The pressure never seems to ratchet up too high for the X-Man, simply because he quietly minds his own business and doesn’t have extreme scrutiny one way or another.

Since the restart, he’s gone T-3, T-64, T-20, T-14, T-13, T-6, T-10 so he’s been very consistent and solid. At +1800 odds, you’re getting him at a better price point than eight other golfers ahead of him.

He’s sixth in strokes gained: tee-to-green, seventh off the tee, sixth in greens in regulation and scoring average, and tenth in birdie average. Add it all up, and perhaps Schauffele captures a Green Jacket in November.

Pick: Xander Schauffele (+1800)