2023 Masters Tournament Prediction, Betting Preview, Odds & Picks: 2 Outright Winner Bets

Sunday at the Valero Texas Open was yet another reminder as to how hard it is to win on the PGA Tour. Patrick Rodgers entered Sunday, atop the leaderboard but his five bogeys on Sunday, the same amount he carded in the 54 previous holes, allowed Kent State’s own Corey Conners to surge ahead and take home the hardware.

It was Conner’s first win of the season and second of his career, with the first coming nearly four years ago to the date at the 2019 Valero Texas Open. 

This week is the week we have been waiting for all season, the first major. Make sure your work is done and the phone is charged because catching every moment of the week is a full time job in and of itself — free coverage starts early and ends late.

A friendly “Hello, friends” from Jim Nantz is right around the corner as well as the tradition, unlike any other, it’s finally Masters week. 

2023 Masters Tournament

• April 6-9, 2023
• Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA
• Purse: $15,000,000
• FedExCup Points: 600
• Defending Champ: Scottie Scheffler

The Masters, the first and most popular major of the season, has been played since 1934 and is the only major put on by a private club, Augusta National, and not a Tour.

Many traditions have come from the 86 editions preceding this week but nothing tops the bookends — the tee shots to open the round from the honorary starters and the closest golf gets to fashion week when dawning the green jackets. The tournament is a 72 hole, stroke play, with a cut after 36 holes down to the top 50 players and ties.

Weather this week is looking ominous at best. Storms are forecasted to begin Thursday afternoon and continue through Sunday in some form or fashion. With the storms come potential for high winds and potential delays. Temperatures are forecasted to range from low 50s to upper 80s.

What Course Is the Masters Held At?

The Masters has been played at Augusta National Golf Club since its inception in 1934. The course was designed by Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones on a former plant nursery — which is why each hole is named after a tree or shrub to honor the course’s beginnings.

There are strategically placed bunkers and water hazards around the course but hardly the most intimidating part of the course. Instead, elevation changes, undulating greens and positional play will be key factors this week.

Augusta measures in at 7,545 par 72, which makes the 87th edition of the Masters the longest the tournament has ever played. Augusta is set up as a second shot course, hitting the right spot off the tees to give a playable angle into the approach shots will be imperative to going low this week.

Knowing their way around the course is also critical to winning here; only three players have won in their debut tournament and the last was 1979.

How To Watch the Masters

The Masters can be streamed for free on the Masters app and www.masters.com beginning 9:15 a.m. Thursday and Friday and 10:15 a.m Saturday and Sunday. 

Thursday: 3:00-7:30 p.m. ESPN

Friday: 3:00-7:30 p.m. ESPN 

Saturday: 3:00-7:00 p.m. CBS

Sunday: 2:00-7:00 p.m. CBS

How To Listen To the Masters

Thursday: 2:00-7:00 p.m. Sirius XM

Friday: 2:00-7:00 p.m. Sirius XM

Saturday: 2:00-7:00 p.m. Sirius XM

Sunday: 2:00-7:00 p.m. Sirius XM

Payouts for the 2023 Masters

The total purse of the 2023 Masters is $15,000,000. The winner of the year’s first major also receives 600 FedEx Cup points and a minimum of 100 Official World Golf Ranking points — additional Official World Golf Ranking points can be added based on the tournament’s strength of field.

The perks do not end there, with the champion receiving a five-season exemption on the PGA tour, five year exemption to all of the majors, a lifetime exemption to the Masters, and entry to the 2024 Sentry Tournament of Champions.

How many Golfers are in the 2023 Masters?

The Masters field, at 88 golfers, is the smallest of any major and is still one of the most competitive fields we have had all season. One reason could be thanks to the 18 LIV golfers, including six former Masters champs, who joined the field.

This is the first time this season the LIV and PGA golfers will be teeing it up in the same field. 49 of the top 50 Official World Golf Ranking players are teeing it up this week.

Who has the Best Odds of Winning the 2023 Masters?

Current favorites to win the 2023 Masters are the top 3 in the Official World Golf Rankings with reigning champ Scottie Scheffler (+700) and Rory McIlroy (+700) leading the way, and Jon Rahm (+900) rounding out the top 3.

Masters Past Winners

2022 Scottie Scheffler (-10)

2021 Hideki Matsuyama (-10)

2020 Dustin Johnson (-20)

2019 Tiger Woods (-13)

2018 Patrick Reed (-15)

PGA Best Bets Today – Thursday, April 6, 2023

2023 Masters Pick: Rory McIlroy Tournament Winner | +700 at BetMGM

Thursday, April 6, 2023

This is the week Rory McIlroy completes his career grand slam. Rory has been one of the more audible supporters and face of the PGA in its current tiff with LIV golf and despite the friendly dispositions so far this week, Rory will use the LIV golfers in the field as extra motivation to dawn the green jacket come Sunday.

He has been playing as well as anyone as of late and in his last eight starts at the Masters, he has been top 10 in all but one and finished second last year. The time is right for Rory.

2023 Masters Pick: Scottie Scheffler Tournament Winner | +700 at BetMGM

Two picks for tournament winners and I went with the two best odds, any other brain busters?

I know this is rarely how it ever plays out but Scottie seems to be playing better than when he was heading into last year’s Masters, at the time he had won three of five and would go on to win the Masters to make it four of six.

His confidence, current form and knowledge around the course will take him far this week.

2023 Masters Pick: Tony Finau Top 5 Finish | +400 at BetMGM

Tony is arguably one of the best golfers on tour to not yet win a major. I am not sure it is going to happen this week but I do expect him to be in contention. He is playing well as of late. In the last 10 tournaments he has played he has placed in the top 25 of all but one.

2023 Masters Pick: Jason Day Top 10 Finish | +200 at BetMGM

Jason Day has quietly been playing back to previous form which saw him competing in and winning majors. In the 11 tournaments he made the cut in, he has finished in the top 10 of six of them.

He is currently fifth in Strokes Gained: Total and in the top 15 of Strokes Gained: Putting and Driving.