After the NCAA Tournament and before the NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs, it’s the perfect moment to make a little time in your betting schedules for some golf.
The Masters is upon us, and because it’s the only major played on the same course every year, there is a trove of historical data to pick through and consider when forming predictions for the week.
The two far-and-away favorites are the top two golfers in the world rankings, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. But we’re not here to pick chalk; we’re here to find value. Here are not three but four picks we’re confident in as Augusta National gets those pimento cheese sandwiches ready for us.
Irishman Shane Lowry is in great form this season, with a runner-up finish at Pebble Beach and three top-11 finishes in his past four outings. He ranks fourth on tour in strokes gained: tee to green, behind only Collin Morikawa, McIlroy and Scheffler.
Major championship-tested, Lowry’s best finish at Augusta was a tie for third in 2022. I also considered Ludvig Åberg here, but the Swede’s recent putting woes gave me pause — and Lowry offers better value anyway. He’s on the same line as Tommy Fleetwood and Corey Conners at +5000 to lead after 18.
Shane Lowry, Leader after first round, +5000 (FanDuel)