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2020 Masters Tournament Matchup Odds and Picks

Ryan Sura

by Ryan Sura in Golf

Updated Mar 4, 2021 · 2:11 PM PST

Amen Corner
The long anticipated 2020 Masters gets underway on Thursday, Nov. 12th. Photo from Wiki Commons.
  • The PGA Tour heads to Augusta National, at a different time of year than usual, for the 84th edition of the Masters from November 12-15
  • Tony Finau, Cameron Smith, and Abraham Ancer present some worthy picks in their 72-Hole Tournament matchups
  • Read below for matchup odds and analysis, along with our best bets for the week in Georgia

That time of the year has finally come when golfers will be able to experience the stroll down Magnolia Lane. Set at a different time of the year than usual, the PGA Tour finally heads to Augusta, Georgia to play the 84th edition of the Masters from November 12-15.

In the current Masters odds, Bryson DeChambeau is the favorite to win at +800. His long drives and unorthodox strategy on the golf course led him to his first major victory in 2020, capturing the U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

With a little bit of rain in the forecast and colder weather than usual, I expect long hitters to have quite the advantage over the rest of the field. However, keeping it in the fairway at Augusta National is imperative.

Let’s take a look at which players we think will have a good week and win their 72-hole matchups.

Finau vs Matsuyama Tournament Matchup Odds

Golfer Moneyline
Tony Finau -110
Hideki Matsuyama -110

All odds taken from DraftKings on Nov. 11th

It’s hard to look at a recent major and not find Tony Finau near the top of the leaderboard. Not too many golfers have a track record like Finau’s at majors over the past couple of years.

Finau’s Major Results Last Two Years

Major (Year) Results
Masters (2018) T10
U.S. Open (2018) 5
Masters (2019) T5
Open Championship (2019) 3
PGA Championship (2020) T4
U.S. Open (2020) T8

Tony Finau comes into the 2020 Masters playing some great golf. Including his Top 10 finish at the 2020 U.S. Open, Finau also finished tied-11th at the ZOZO Championship. Not to mention, he finished tied-24th at last week’s Houston Open, despite a final round of 71.

Surprisingly enough, Finau also has the best scoring average at Augusta National in this field. The 31-year-old hits the ball a mile and straight averaging 315.4 yards per drive this season. Against this field over the last eight weeks, Finau ranks 13th in GIR, 13th in Putting Average, and seventh in Strokes Gained: Total.

Hideki Matsuyama is Finau’s matchup this week in Georgia. Matsuyama had a strong showing at the Houston Open, finishing tied-second with Dustin Johnson at 11-under par for the week. However, Matsuyama struggled at Augusta last year finishing, 32nd.

He did have success at the Masters in 2015 and 2016, but his accuracy off the tee is worrisome. Roll with Finau over Matsuyama, and watch him post another Top 10 finish at a major.

Pick: Tony Finau (-110)

Smith vs Kisner Tournament Matchup Odds

Golfer Moneyline
Cameron Smith -137
Kevin Kisner +110

The New Australian in Town

Among the Aussie golfers, you hear the names of Jason Day, Adam Scott, and Marc Leishman as the top contenders on the PGA Tour. But, what about Cameron Smith? Well, Smith is 45th in OGWR and has played some inspired golf this past year.

Although Smith finished 51st at last year’s Masters, most people forget he finished tied-fifth with Rory McIlroy in 2018 at Augusta. Smith is not in his peak form when the Masters is usually played in April. The 27-year-old usually catches heat in the Fall.

Smith won back-to-back Australian PGA Championships in the Fall of 2017 and 2018. He also has an outstanding track record at the CJ Cup since 2017, having not finished outside the Top 10 a single time in four appearances.

That includes a fourth-place finish this year with a total score of 9-under par.Smith has relied on his strong putting throughout his career. If Smith can keep it relatively straight this week, he could be in for another Top 10 finish at Augusta.

Kevin Kisner is Smith’s matchup this week on DraftKings. Kisner does not have a single Top 20 at the Masters in four starts and has played just two tournaments since the 2020 U.S. Open. Take the young Aussie with Kisner missing the cut.

Pick: Cameron Smith (-137)

Ancer vs Poulter Tournament Matchup Odds

Golfer Moneyline
Abraham Ancer -110
Ian Poulter -110

Ancer Set for Strong Masters Debut

Although taking a Masters rookie against a player who’s played Augusta National for over 15 years seems funky, both players come into this week trending in different directions.

Poulter was forced to withdraw from the Houston Open last week due to back spasms, and with wet and colder-than-usual conditions in Georgia they could always pop up again.

While the 44-year-old’s last result on the PGA Tour is 12th place at the CJ Cup a month ago, he’s struggled at major championships as of late, missing four of the last six cuts since 2019.

Ancer, meanwhile, has been one of the hottest players since the Tour resumed play after the COVID-19 suspension.

After finishing solo-2nd at the RBC Heritage in June, he’s made 13 of 14 cuts and been in the Top 20 in six of those events – including the Tour Championship.

Ancer also holds a distinct advantage over Poulty off the tee, as he ranks 33rd in SG: Tee-to-Green  on Tour, while the Englishman is a distant 154th. With the expected wet weather placing a premium in setting up your second shot, roll with Ancer to out-perform Poulter over the weekend.

Pick: Abraham Ancer (-110)

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