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Complete Masters Betting Guide
The Masters take place each April, captivating golf fans and padding the sportsbooks with tons of betting value.
This prestigious tournament, held at the legendary Augusta National, is a unique test of skill and nerve for only the most distinguished golfers.
In this Masters betting guide, we’ll help you understand Augusta’s quirks, show you the advanced player statistics to study, and give some helpful tips for betting on the Masters. Overall, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to make informed bets and potentially claim victory alongside your chosen champion.
Masters Betting Picks
Understanding the Masters Tournament
The Masters is the first major championship of the year, played annually on the second full week of April at Augusta National Golf Club, a private course in Augusta, Georgia.
Unlike other majors with open qualifying, the Masters is an invitational tournament. Past winners of the Masters Tournament get lifetime invitations, while recent high finishers at the Masters and other major championships also earn entry.
Victories in major tournaments and significant PGA Tour events during the previous two years can secure a spot. Top-ranked amateurs and international players can also be invited through special categories.
The Masters mostly follows the official rules of golf as defined by the USGA and R&A. Winners receive a notable green jacket (kind of like a WSOP poker bracelet) and a split of a massive purse. In 2024, the prize pool was $20 million, with first-place winner Scottie Scheffler taking home $3.6 million.
Best Masters Bets to Place
Betting on the Masters is simple and easy, and many of the wagers available at sportsbooks are equally as straightforward. Here’s a look at the types of wagers you’ll find for the Masters:
To Win Outright: Pretty straightforward, this wager is a wager on who you think will win the Masters overall.
To Lift Trophy: This wager is typically on a country instead of a person. You can wager on the nationality of the winner of the tournament like a moneyline.
Top Finishers: This lets you wager on a golfer finishing within a specific range, like Top 5, Top 10, or Top 20. The payout varies depending on the difficulty of achieving the position.
Group Betting: This involves picking which player in a specific group will perform best over a designated period (entire tournament or a single round). It can be a fun way to add variety to your wagers.
Round Leader: You wager on which golfer will have the lowest score after a specific round (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th). This injects excitement as you follow leaderboards throughout the day.
Other Wagers / Props, Futures, Tournament Specials: This is a broad category encompassing various wagers beyond the golfer’s final position. Here are some examples:
- Props: These are wagers on specific events during the tournament, like “Will there be a hole-in-one in Round 1?” or “Which player will have the most birdies?”
- Futures: These are bets placed well before the tournament on events like “Will Tiger Woods make the cut?”
- Tournament Specials: Sportsbooks may offer special wagers unique to the Masters, like matchups between specific golfers for the entire tournament or a particular round.
Advanced Statistics for Masters Betting Experts
To make the best possible wagers, you need to understand some of the key statistics that influence how sportsbooks price their lines on Masters competitors. You can also use the following stats to help inform your wagers and get a better understanding of how a player might fare at Augusta National.
Strokes Gained
Strokes Gained (SG) statistics can be a powerful tool for informed Masters betting by providing a deeper understanding of a golfer’s strengths and weaknesses across different areas of the game.
Strokes Gained divides a player’s performance into key areas like Off-the-Tee (OTT), Approach the Green (APP), Around the Green (ARG), and Putting (PUTT). It compares a player’s performance on each hole to the field average, indicating where they gain or lose strokes compared to others. Positive numbers indicate strokes gained, while negative numbers show strokes lost.
Analyze a player’s recent SG stats to see where they excel. For Augusta National, players who consistently gain strokes Off-the-Tee and in Approach will have an advantage due to the course’s emphasis on accuracy and distance control.
While focusing on strengths is important, identify any glaring weaknesses in a player’s SG stats. For example, a player who consistently loses strokes Around the Green might struggle with Augusta National’s demanding chipping areas.
Compare SG stats of golfers in head-to-head matchups. A player with a strong SG advantage in Putting might be a better pick on a day with fast greens.
Driving Distance
While not overly long by modern standards (around 7,500 yards), Augusta National’s strategic layout and narrow fairways make pure power less important. Finding the fairway and setting yourself up for the approach shot is crucial. Bombing it off the tee but ending up in rough negates the distance advantage.
There are a few reachable par 5s at Augusta where distance can lead to eagle or birdie opportunities. Players who can consistently reach these greens in two have an advantage.
See how bombers have fared at Augusta National in the past. Some players excel at finding fairways with their length, while others struggle with accuracy despite their distance. Combine driving distance with Bogey Avoidance and Birdie Conversion Rate for a more well-rounded picture. A player with good distance, accuracy, and strong short game is a potentially good bet.
Birdie Conversion Rate
Augusta National presents birdie chances, especially for skilled players. A high BCR indicates a golfer excels at converting those opportunities into birdies, which translates to lower scores.
BCR can be helpful in matchups between players. A golfer with a strong BCR might be a better pick to outscore someone who avoids bogeys but struggles to convert birdie opportunities.
It’s also worth noting that BCR is heavily influenced by putting skill. A hot putting week can significantly boost BCR, but putting can be streaky. Consider a player’s long-term putting stats for a more reliable picture.
Bogey Avoidance
At Augusta National, avoiding bogeys is crucial. The course’s unforgiving nature can lead to big numbers quickly. Players who consistently avoid bogeys will have a significant advantage in staying close to the lead.
While birdies are great, minimizing mistakes is often more important at Augusta. Focusing on Bogey Avoidance statistics can highlight players known for their consistent ball-striking and course management, both vital for success. A player with a higher Bogey Avoidance percentage might be a safer bet than someone who relies heavily on birdies but also makes more bogeys.
The Masters is just one tournament a year. Relying solely on Bogey Avoidance from the previous Masters might not paint the whole picture. Look at stats from other major championships as well.
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Course Details for Augusta National
The Masters is always played at Augusta National golf course in Georgia, unlike the US Open or PGA Championship, which rotates courses every year. Because the Masters is in the same place, players can practice and familiarize themselves with the challenges of the course.
As a bettor, you should also know what kinds of challenges Augusta National holds, as they can help you make more informed wagers. Here are some of the features of Augusta National to keep in mind:
- Undulating Greens: Augusta National is famous for its severely sloped and undulating greens. Reading these greens accurately is crucial for good putting and avoiding costly three-putts. Players who excel at distance control and lag putting will have an advantage.
- Tight Fairways: While not overly long by modern standards, Augusta National boasts narrow fairways lined by towering pines and intimidating bunkers. Accuracy off the tee and with approach shots is paramount to avoid trouble and give yourself birdie looks.
- Amen Corner: Holes 11, 12, and 13 are collectively known as Amen Corner, arguably the most iconic and challenging stretch in golf. Water hazards, tricky winds, and severe green slopes all combine to make pars a victory here.
Augusta National Golf Course General Information
Every year, the tee boxes and holes change slightly, so the overall distance is subject to change. But, here’s a look at how the course was played in the 2024 Masters:
| Hole # | Name | Par | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tea Olive | 4 | 445 Yards |
| 2 | Pink Dogwood | 5 | 585 Yards |
| 3 | Flowering Peach | 4 | 350 Yards |
| 4 | Flowering Crab Apple | 3 | 240 Yards |
| 5 | Magnolia | 4 | 495 Yards |
| 6 | Juniper | 3 | 180 Yards |
| 7 | Pampas | 4 | 450 Yards |
| 8 | Yellow Jasmine | 5 | 570 Yards |
| 9 | Carolina Cherry | 4 | 460 Yards |
| 10 | Camellia | 4 | 495 Yards |
| 11 | White Dogwood | 4 | 520 Yards |
| 12 | Golden Bell | 3 | 155 Yards |
| 13 | Azalea | 5 | 545 Yards |
| 14 | Chinese Fir | 4 | 440 Yards |
| 15 | Firethorn | 5 | 550 Yards |
| 16 | Redbud | 3 | 170 Yards |
| 17 | Nandina | 4 | 440 Yards |
| 18 | Holly | 4 | 465 Yards |
Masters Betting Tips
Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the essential player statistics and the course layout, you can start making bettor bets. However, don’t forget to use these few tips to elevate your game even further.
Look for Skilled Putters
While good driving and approach play are important for setting up birdie opportunities, a golfer’s putting performance significantly impacts their score. Sinking more birdie putts and minimizing three-putts can be the difference between winning and losing at Augusta National.
Because many holes have 400+ yards, at Augusta, it’s important to hone in on the putting skills of the players you’re betting on. Plus, the weekend tournament features a rowdy crowd, so pressure is often high for players who have to make an important put. Being able to perform under pressure is a key skill for success at the Masters.
Wind & Rain Are Common, Use Them To Your Advantage
Leading up to the Masters and throughout the tournament, closely follow weather forecasts for Augusta National. Pay attention to predicted wind direction, speed, and precipitation.
Strong winds can significantly affect shot selection and club choice at Augusta National. Gusty conditions can make it difficult to control distance and trajectory, favoring golfers who excel in windy conditions. Because Augusta’s fairways are narrow, it’s a good idea to back players who have a conservative drive distance and more control when the winds are high. Bombers might make small miscalculations that turn into big mistakes when their ball is taken by the wind.
Subscribe to a Handicapping Service
Using a handicapper can significantly increase your chances of success when betting on the Masters. These sports bettors make their livelihood off informed, well-executed wagers, and by sharing them, you can also benefit.
Even if you’re not interested in taking their word as gospel, you can still see the trends that they are betting along. If they’re betting on certain metrics with a high rate of return and implied probability, but have cast their net fairly small, how might they expand it to include more players? Thinking critically about a handicapper’s picks can help you elevate your own betting game.
Shoot Under Par With Our Masters Betting Picks
As you’re thinking about betting on the Masters, remember to consider both player statistics and course details. Unlike many other sports, location heavily dictates how successful the players can be. Read up on each golfer’s playstyle and performance record to get a better picture of how they might do at the Masters.
If you want to take your Masters betting game to the next level, we suggest signing up for expert picks. Scores and Stats offers golf picks all year long and ramps up during the Masters. Our handicappers have years of experience betting on the Masters, so you can benefit from their knowledge! Don’t miss out on a winning wager, sign up today.
