The Masters Free Picks, Predictions and DFS Lineup April 10-13

The Masters Betting Preview

WagerTalk golf handicapper Andy Lang offers his thoughts on The Masters teeing off from Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA. Andy discusses his DraftKings Darlings, golfers to who can trip you up and the course and more surrounding The Masters starting April 10th!

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The Masters	The Masters Betting Notes
When:	April 10-13
Where:	Augusta National Golf Club – Augusta, GA
Defending Champ:	Scottie Scheffler
Current Favorite:	Scottie Scheffler (+400 at DraftKings)
TV:	CBS, ESPN

The Masters Course: Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta National is unlike any other course in professional golf. Known for its immaculate  presentation, dramatic elevation changes, and storied history, the course places a premium on strategy, patience, and experience.

While no Masters rookie has won since 1979, debutants continue to make noise, as shown by strong recent runs from players like Ludvig Åberg, Will Zalatoris, and Sungjae Im.

The layout plays as a Par 72 at 7,555 yards, but with fairways  mowed into the grain and clever routing, it effectively feels closer to 7,900 yards—making Augusta a true test of power and precision. 

Several holes have been lengthened or reshaped in recent years, including added distance and  complexity to the 11th, 13th, and 15th holes, along with redesigned green complexes on holes 2, 4, 6, and 16.

Despite some tree loss from Hurricane Helene in 2024, the course still demands  near-perfect ball placement and punishes misfires with tightly mown run-offs and undulating Bentgrass greens that can run over 14 on the Stimpmeter.

The weather looks promising  overall, with dry, sunny conditions and manageable winds, except for Friday’s 40% chance of rain.

To win at Augusta, players must capitalize on the par-5s, avoid mistakes on the tougher holes, and display elite touch around the greens—where the tournament is often won or lost.

The Masters Marquee Holes

16th Hole – 170 yards Par 3 (Redbud) 

It’s tough to pick a favorite, but this hole can be extremely difficult one day based on the pin  position, and then when they put the pin at the bottom of the hill, there’s plenty of chances for a hole in one so the diversity of how hard this hole can be from day to day makes it amazing. 

When the pin is up on the top tier, the bunkers come into play, and those bunker shots are so difficult because if the ball goes long, it rolls to the bottom tier guaranteeing a bogey or worse. 

Water on the left will gobble up shots that are pulled so you can see massive scores or even a  hole in one throughout the tournament.  

18th Hole – Par 4 465 yards (Holly)

It’s my favorite 18th hole ever, and it’s the only one I give a perfect score. I just love it. It starts with a tee shot where you have to have it straight the second it leaves the club as the gap between the trees right in front of the green is very tight, but that’s just the start. The hole is up hill so  even though it’s a 465 yard hole, it plays longer.

Drives that drift to the right find trees and pine  straw, and there’s no angle to the green so the second shot is just a punch out. Shots that drift to  the left can find similar trouble so getting it on the green in 2 requires a perfect tee shot.

The green is big with several tiers, and bunkers short/left and right will see plenty of action this week  as will the run off area where the spectators are on the left.

Getting it up and down is difficult depending on the pin placement, and to show how hard this hole is, the easiest it’s ever been played in a tournament was 2001 where the average score was still barely over par.

With the tournament on the line, this hole is a perfect challenge for the eventual winner, and this hole can be the source of plenty of drama.

The Masters: Players That Can Trip You Up

Jon Rahm 

This might be my annual tradition, fading Rahm in The Masters. He won 2 years ago, then split  for LIV and last year he finished 45th, and I just don’t see these guys as battle tested for this course.

The LIV courses are pretty easy, and the course they just played in Miami was difficult,  and there was a bit of rain in the first round and guys like Rahm and Niemann melted. Rahm  shot a 73 in the first round, and that’s a theme with him this year is slow starts.

Singapore was  the only tournament where his first round score was either the worst or tied for his worst score of the week and that’s going to put him in real trouble if he gets off to a bad start.

He’s priced as a  Top 6 golfer this week, and I would be absolutely stunned if he finished Top 6. His numbers of total strokes gained look good because he’s on LIV tour, but even then he’s 13th in this field in total strokes gained. He’s a fade if the books think he’s a Top 6 golfer this week. 

Ludvig Aberg 

He’ll be a popular pick this week because of his 2nd place finish last year, but he’s missed the cut 2 weeks in a row, and the last 2 events he’s minus strokes gained putting, and he’s an  astounding -0.67 around the green which is a recipe for disaster at Augusta.

Off the tee, he’s  great, but even his approach the last 2 weeks is -0.29 so I’m finding it hard to believe he can just flip a switch and get back to last years form. He’s a stay away, and maybe even a fade in head to head matchups. 

Joaquin Niemann 

Similar theme to Rahm here, LIV is trying to tell me that Niemann is in consideration for the #1  player in the world, but he’s a quitter.

Last week he birdied the first hole of the tournament, then  put 3 balls in the water on the next 2 holes and he just gave up so when the course was tough, and conditions weren’t perfect, he was a mess.

He’s a front runner and doesn’t deal with adversity well, and it resulted in a laughable 33rd place finish last week.

Cut to this week where  he’s priced as a Top 10 golfer, but his best finish ever here is 16th so that’s quite a leap to put  him in the Top 10. No chance I’m betting on him this week. 

Brooks Koepka 

Koepka himself said his 2nd place finish 2 years ago was from a big help with the tee times  where he avoided the bad weather early, but last year he was 45th, and the 2 previous years he  had missed the cut both years.

He’s finished Top 10 twice on LIV this year, and 3 times he  hasn’t finished inside the Top 15. This isn’t the Koepka from years ago.

I don’t see the  determination, I don’t see the killer instinct, and I don’t think he’s at the physical level he was years ago. He’s priced as a Top 13 golfer this year, and I’m staying away.

The Masters: DraftKings Darlings

Denny McCarthy $6500 

McCarthy hasn’t missed a cut this year, and he’s finished 18th, 14th and 18th the last 3  tournaments he’s played in so I love his form.

Last year was his first time playing in The Masters and he made the cut and finished 45th so this year he won’t have the nerves, and I have high hopes for him. He’s 18th in the field in total strokes gained, and like always his putting is  lights out, and that will get you pretty far here. 

Lucas Glover $6600 

This one checks all the boxes for a Darling this week. He’s finished Top 10 in his last 2  tournaments, he has another 3rd place earlier this year, and he’s finished 20th and 30th the last 2 times he’s played The Masters.

He’s 24th in this field in total strokes gained, and his only  downside is that he doesn’t drive the ball a mile, but every other category he’s solid in. I expect  him to make the cut. 

Adam Scott $7200 

I get a former winner who’s made the cut 15 years in a row at The Masters for this price? Sign  me up. He’s not going to be in contention to win, but he knows this course as good as anybody, and that’s a huge advantage.

He knows how to minimize mistakes, and take advantage when you  have the chance. At this price, he’s a no brainer to put in lineups.

Final Lineup: Sepp Straka $7600, Xander Schauffele $9700, Scottie Scheffler $12700

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