SBD’s Experts Offer Their Pick to Win the 2020 Masters

• The 2020 Masters finally takes place from Nov. 12th-15th in its first Fall edition of the modern era
• Bryson DeChambeau is a heavy +800 favorite as he looks to overpower Augusta National against a loaded field
• SBD has assembled their staff to give out our favorite picks for the weekend down Magnolia Lane

After being postponed amidst the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in April, the 2020 Masters is finally ready to take center stage this weekend.

While we trade in blooming Azaleas for beautiful shades of Fall orange around Augusta National, we still get to see the world’s best try to tame the famed golf club – albeit without the trademark patrons filling the course.

Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson are unsurprisingly the favorites, but continue scrolling to see our expert selections for outright winner, as well as our favorite bets during Masters week.

SBD’s Expert 2020 Masters Picks

All odds taken from DraftKings on Nov. 11th

Matt McEwan

Brooks Koepka probably should have won the 2019 Masters. But he missed a few big opportunities and ended up finishing tied for second, one stroke back of Tiger Woods. Prior to 2019, Koepka had T11, T21, and T33 finishes at Augusta.

We all know Koepka to be a player who shows up for big tournaments. He already has four wins at majors – 2017 and 2018 US Opens, and 2018 and 2019 PGA Championships. But he’s even been playing some pretty good golf leading up to this week. He shot 5-under at The CJ Cup, where he finished 28th, and then 8-under last week at the Vivint Houston Open, where he finished fifth.

At 17-1, I think Koepka provides the best value on the board.

The second bet I’m making is a little more bold. I know I just mentioned that Tiger won this tournament in 2019. However, he hasn’t finished better than 37th in a tournament since the Farmers Insurance Open back in January.

In the seven tournaments he’s played since, he’s only finished under par in three, and he even missed the cut at the US Open in September.

The chances of Tiger missing the cut at The Masters are much better than the 33.3% implied from the +200 odds.

Sascha Paruk

Rahm has played Augusta three times. After finishing T27th in his first trip in 2017, he followed up with a fourth and a ninth-place finish in 2018 and 2019.

The only player I might take in an H2H is DJ, and Rahm has a considerably better payout (+1050 vs +900).

His second in two days, Jon Rahm skips his way to a hole-in-one at No. 16 – on his birthday, no less. #themasters pic.twitter.com/rtefAN5XtH

— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 10, 2020

Oosthuizen, the World #19, finished in third-place at Winged Foot, has made ten straight cuts, and has a second at Augusta under his belt (albeit in 2012).

There are five other South Africans in the field, but only one (Erik Van Rooyen) is in the Top 100 of the OWGR, and he’s never played Augusta before. Don’t be tempted by Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, at +550.

The 36-year-old has missed the cut in seven of his last 11 events and also at the 2018 and 2019 Masters.

Ryan Sura

Augusta will certainly have a different look and feel this year being played in the Fall. With the weather being a little colder, the ball won’t travel as far and will make the course longer. That being said, with a little bit of rain in the forecast the fairways and greens will be much softer. This will allow the players to attack pins and post some low scores.

In terms of pros favorite courses, Augusta has to be number one for Bubba Watson. The 42-year-old won the Masters in 2012 and 2014 and finished fifth in 2018 and 12th in 2019. Watson is coming into this tournament in great form with two Top 10 finishes in his last two starts. A Top 20 finish for Bubba is listed at +110, which is a great price considering how well he’s been hitting the ball lately.

The shot of @bubbawatson's life.

The Masters. 2012.pic.twitter.com/EDQcCJg6Um

— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) November 9, 2020

One player who consistently shows up to big tournaments is Xander Schauffele. He has yet to capture a major title, but finished second at the Masters last year, second at the 2018 Open Championship, and holds three top-five finishes in four U.S. Open appearances.

Greens In Regulation (GIR) has been an important stat for past winners at Augusta, which is why Schauffele is a great pick. Against the field this week, Xander ranks ninth in GIR and fourth in Putting Average over the last eight tournaments. Schauffele has outstanding value at +1600.

Ryan Metivier

Johnson, the No. 1 player in the world, has been knocking on the door for his first Masters win for years. He finished T-2 last year and was T-10, T-4 and T-6 in each of his previous three trips to Augusta. Since 2015 he ranks fourth in strokes gained in the event.

After testing positive for COVID-19, Johnson returned strong with a second-place showing in Houston last week. Previously, he finished sixth at the US Open and had two second and two first-place showings in August and September. There’s little to suggest he won’t be among the leaders fighting for the green jacket come Sunday.

Dustin Johnson shares his favorite part of #themasters pic.twitter.com/Jh3p0ZDXqx

— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 10, 2020

Finau has been in decent form of late finishing 24th, 11th, 8th, 17th and 5th in his past five events, after missing the cut at The Northern Trust. Prior to that, he finished top eight or better in three of four events.

He has finished in the top ten in seven of his past ten majors and has a strong, albeit short record at Augusta, finishing T-5 in 2019 and T-10 in 2018. Betting him for a top 10 finish offers a nice +250 payout, but a safer top 20 bet at -110 odds will do as well.

Mitch Robson

Rory’s seemingly never-ending pursuit of the career grand slam will surely be a theme this week, as the 31-year-old new father returns to Augusta National.

While the Masters win has yet to come, he’s no slouch in the event, having finished T-8, 4th, T-10, T-7, T-5 and T-21 in his last six outings. Flying in under-the-radar as Bryson’s big bomber talk has taken center stage in the media, I like McIlroy’s value at +1300 to finally shut the door and record a Masters win.

He has spoken throughout this pandemic affected season that the events without fans have made it harder for him to hit his top gear, but with the stress of the new baby off his shoulders he’s trending in the right direction for a strong week.

Also of note is that all four of Rory’s major wins have come in weather-affected tournaments, and with the rain and Fall winds potentially affecting Augusta’s layout, the cards are in McIlroy’s favor for that trend to continue.

A fall Masters and a newborn daughter may provide just the perspective Rory McIlroy needs to win. #themasters pic.twitter.com/KYny7Jt3jj

— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 11, 2020

Meanwhile, I’m fading Phil Mickelson wherever I can this week. Although not having him around for the weekend will be a disappointment as someone who loves Phil content, the dirty little secret is that he just can’t compete with the fields on Tour anymore.

Besides a run to second place at the FedEx St. Jude, Mickelson has only finished in the top 20 once since June, and is near the bottom of Tour pros in all strokes gained categories.

Getting plus-money on Mickelson to miss the cut is a no brainer, bet it with confidence.