Our selections for the opening round at Augusta include three former champions, all from the United States.
The opening round of the 89th Masters starts at Augusta National on Thursday and all 95 players in the field will be hoping to get off to a fast start in their pursuit of the Green Jacket.
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy dominate the top of the golf betting, the duo priced at 9/2 and 11/2 respectively, while Collin Morikawa and Jon Rahm are both priced at 12/1.
Masters first-round leader tips
Scottie Scheffler (e/w) 12/1
Bryson DeChambeau (e/w) 25/1
Patrick Reed (e/w) 50/1
Scheffler to make solid start
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler has won two of the last three Masters and he has made fast starts in all of those tournaments, with the American tied-third after round one in 2022.
The 28-year-old American shot an opening round of 68 in 2023, leaving him tied-sixth, while he has sole possession of second after the first 18 holes last year.
Scheffler has only been over-par after the first round at the Masters once, that coming in 2021, so he has got into a habit of making strong starts and another one can be seen on Thursday.
It’s also worth noting that the two-time Augusta champion is tied-ninth in round one scoring average on the PGA Tour this season and heads here off the back of a tied-second finish at the Houston Open.
DeChambeau to make early impression
Bryson DeChambeau famously stated before the 2020 Masters that he viewed Augusta National as a par 67, not the par 72 that it is, claiming he could overpower the course and win the Green Jacket.
The 31-year-old has failed to back these lofty claims up with his four appearances since those comments producing efforts of T34-T46-MC-MC and he has been forced to eat some humble pie.
Putting less emphasis on power last year and more focus on course management, DeChambeau recorded his best Masters finish of tied-sixth and he made a red-hot start, taking the first-round leader after signing for a 65.
The American looked in good shape when fifth in Miami on the LIV circuit on Sunday and he can take that momentum into the opening 18 holes in Georgia.
Reed can hit the top
Another LIV player ready to make an early impression is Patrick Reed, who was in a share of third after round one in 2018 before going on to win the tournament.
The American has a solid record around Augusta and getting off to positive starts has been key. He was three off the early pace in 2020 and tied-fourth after round one in 2021.
Reed raced into an early lead in Miami last time out, carding a five-under-par 67 at Trump National Doral to set the pace before eventually finishing in a tie for seventh.
That performance should have given the 34-year-old plenty of confidence heading to the Masters and he looks like a lively contender in the first-round leader market.