2021 Masters Preview – Odds – Longshot Picks
March 31, 2021
For the first time in the history of the PGA Tour, a major tournament will be played back-to-back. The Masters, which was moved to November of last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, is scheduled to begin play on Thursday, April 8, at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
This year’s Masters will kick off the 2021 golf major tournaments and the field is loaded. Here’s a look at the 2021 Masters as bettors prepare to capitalize.
The Favorite
It’s been a while since there has been a back-to-back winner, but could it happen in 2021? Tiger Woods was the last consecutive Masters winner taking the green jacket back in 2001 and 2002. Woods, the 2019 champion, will not play this year after an awful automobile accident.
Last year, the world’s No. 1-ranked player, Dustin Johnson, took home the title and it is he who is the favorite to win once again. Johnson, still the No. 1 player in the world, is listed at +800 at top online sportsbooks to become the first since Woods to win consecutive Masters titles.
Johnson obviously knows the course at Augusta. Last year, he shot under par in all four rounds ending with an absolutely dominant 20-under 268 to grab the first green jacket of his career. Johnson also has a U.S. Open victory to his credit, a pair of second-place finishes at the PGA Championship, and a runner-up finish at The Open.
This year is eerily similar to 2020 when Johnson posted back-to-back 80s at The Memorial and then went on to finish a great season by winning the Masters and the FedEx Cup. So far in 2021, Johnson struggled to a 54th-place finish at the WGC Workday Championship and a 48th at the Players Championship. He withdrew from the Valero Open to focus on the Masters.
The Contenders
Justin Thomas recently overtook Jon Rahm in the world golf rankings and is now No. 2. Thomas, the 2017 PGA Champion, finished fourth last year at the Masters and is listed at +1100 top online sportsbooks to win it this year.
In contrast to Johnson, Thomas finished 15th at the WGC-Workday Championship and then won the The Players Championship with a 14-under 274.
Bryson DeChambeau is also listed at +1100 after a strong start to the 2021 season. Ranked fifth in the world, DeChambeau and his monster drives have earned him three top ten finishes already this season. He was seventh at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, third at the Players Championship, and he won the WGC-Workday Championship with an 11-under 277. DeChambeau tied for 21st at last year’s Masters event.
Despite dropping to No. 3 in the world, Rahm is still an early favorite to win the Masters. He is listed at +1400. Like DeChambeau, Rahm already has three top ten finishes this season. Surprisingly, Rahm does not have a major championship. His best finish was a tie for third at the 2019 U.S. Open. His best Masters finish was in 2018 when he came in fourth.
The two other main contenders are no strangers to major titles. Jordan Spieth is given +1200 odds to win this year’s Masters. He won the green jacket back in 2015 and has also won the U.S. Open and The Open. Rory McIlroy has won all the majors – except the Masters – at least once. The 31-year-old is ranked No. 11 in the world and is listed at +1600 to win this year’s Masters.
Best Longshot Plays
Collin Morikawa
For those bettors looking for a solid longshot to play, the best is Collin Morikawa. Just 23 years of age, Morikawa snuck up on everybody and won last year’s PGA Championship. His play has moved him up the world rankings where he now checks in at No. 4.
Morikawa has three top ten finishes this season, including a victory at the WGC-Workday Championship. He shot an 18-under 270 to win the title at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida. Morikawa did not fare so well at last year’s Masters finishing tied for 44th, but he has dealt with the pressure of playing in major tournaments despite his young age. At +2800, Morikawa is worth a strong look.
The other longshot to consider is rising star Sungjae Im. Ranked No. 18 in the world, Im was the runner-up at last year’s Masters. He shot a 15-under par 273 to finish just behind Johnson. Im just finished eighth at The Honda Classic and, like Morikawa at last year’s PGA, could sneak up on the field at Augusta. Bettors would love the payout should Im win. He is listed at +5000 at top online sportsbooks.
