Picking winners for a golf tournament is incredibly difficult and requires -- we hate to say it -- tons of luck to get it right.
One wayward drive, one plugged bunker shot, or one shanked approach is all it takes to turn your magical big money payout into a stone-cold zero. Fortunately, we can play the prop market on FanDuel Sportsbook for The Masters and find a few other ways to wager on this week's tournament without that all-or-nothing downside.
Whereas outright bets only pay out if the golfer wins the event, specials and props can keep bettors interested all the way through the end of the tournament. So let's focus on some of those opportunities: finishing position, matchup betting, and our favorite of the new Tourney Specials offered by FanDuel.
Finishing Position
Brooks Koepka (+320 for a Top 5 Finish) - We know Koepka is a different player when it comes to major championships, and after missing the cut at Augusta last year, he placed second, fourth, and sixth at the year's final three majors. It was his first time missing the weekend at The Masters, with prior finishes of 7th, 2nd, 11th, 21st, and 33rd. No one will be surprised to see Koepka's name near the top of the leaderboard on Sunday.
Jon Rahm (+110 for a Top 10 Finish) - Rahm has been a top-10 machine since rising to the game's elite, with 15 such finishes in 2020-21 (the most on the PGA Tour), 8 in 2019-20 (third-most), and 12 in 2018-19 (second-most). He has finished ninth or better in each of the last four Masters.
Jordan Spieth (+175 for a Top 10 Finish) - In his history at Masters held in April, Spieth's career finishes (starting in 2014) are 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 11th, 3rd, 21st, and 3rd. He's not as consistent as Rahm, but at Augusta, he is just about as good as it gets.
Marc Leishman (+190 for a Top 20 Finish) - Leishman has more course history than most in this field, including many of the favorites. He's found the top 20 four times in his career, including a T5 in 2021.
Combined Parlay Odds: +6933
Tournament Match Betting
Hideki Matsuyama (+108) over Joaquin Niemann (-142) - Defending champions have not fared well the past few years, and you have to go back to Spieth's runner-up showing in 2016 to find the last time a defending champ finished inside the top 35 the year following his win. Hideki's extra duties compiling what looks like a terrific Champions Dinner menu aside, there's no reason to think he won't be fit and prepared for a solid effort this week. His Augusta record is rock solid, with just one finish outside the top 20 since 2014, and his recent form includes wins at the end of last year and the start of the new one. Niemann missed the cut in his debut here as an amateur and was T40 last year.
Leishman (+138) over Daniel Berger (-176) - Berger is the better player at this stage of their careers, but his Masters record leaves much to be desired as such a heavy favorite. He missed the cut last year and has regressed in each installment as a pro, finishing 10th in 2016, 27th in 2017, and 32nd in 2018. If Leishman cashes the top-20 bet, we can be confident to win here, as well.
Tourney Specials
Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, and Spieth all top 10 finish (+2400) - Each of these golfers have multiple top 10s in the last four years at Augusta, and each also already has a top 10 this season. At a course where we prize experience and consistently see the elite at the top of the board, this bet looks like the best value among the specials.