The Masters Preview and Picks

⛳ Welcome to Masters Week at GolfStats Insider

Welcome to a tradition unlike any other—and to your inside track on one of golf’s most iconic events. It’s Masters week at Augusta National, and whether you're dreaming of a green jacket or just eyeing a winning DraftKings lineup, this is the tournament that moves the needle.

The Masters is more than just the first major of the year—it's where legends are made, heartbreaks unfold under Georgia pines, and GolfStats can give you the edge. From the classic Amen Corner drama to potential breakout performances, we’re here to help you navigate the field with data-driven insights, sharp picks, and expert analysis.

GolfStats Insider is your free weekly preview, but if you’re ready to unlock full access to our proprietary tools, sortable stats, historical breakdowns, and betting formulas, now’s the perfect time to upgrade. Augusta rewards precision—and so does your strategy.

Let’s dive into what promises to be an unforgettable week.

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🏌️‍♂️ A Stacked Field Set at Augusta

This year’s Masters field is absolutely stacked, bringing together the best from every corner of professional golf. Seventy of the world’s top 100 players are teeing it up at Augusta, including the entire top 52 in the Official World Golf Rankings. That means names like Scheffler, McIlroy, Schauffele, Morikawa, and Aberg will all be in action, with a mix of rising stars and major champions ready to take on golf’s most iconic stage. The field also features 24 of the top 25 in the 2025 FedExCup standings and includes 18 former Masters champions—each bringing a touch of nostalgia and the potential for one more magical run. From legends like Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples to defending champ Scottie Scheffler, Augusta once again serves as golf’s ultimate proving ground.

📊 Data-Driven Insights for Fantasy & Betting

If you’re serious about making the best picks this week at The Masters, our GolfStats tools have you covered.

• Our Masters Performance Chart ranks players by their average finish of all players at Augusta, helping you identify those who consistently contend.

• Our GolfStats Custom Formula highlights the best performers at The Masters over the last five years, factoring in course history and key stats.

• Our Sortable 8-Year Glance lets you track trends, breakout performances, and potential sleepers at The Masters.

These tools are invaluable whether you’re betting, setting a DFS lineup, or simply looking for an edge in your fantasy league. Check out our Historical DraftKings full blog post for the latest insight on DK fantasy advice.

🍑 The Buzz at Augusta

As we head into the Masters, the background noise from LIV Golf continues, but it’s clear that most fans—and even players—are ready to move on. Despite some new visibility via a TV deal with Fox, interest in LIV remains lukewarm, especially when compared to the PGA Tour’s consistent audience. Yes, 12 LIV players are in the field, and names like Rahm, Koepka, Smith, and DeChambeau could certainly make noise, but this week isn’t about fractured tours—it’s about who can win on golf’s most iconic stage.

Rory’s Heavy Burden

All eyes, as always, are on Rory McIlroy. This will be his 17th Masters appearance and once again, he arrives chasing the elusive career Grand Slam. It’s been 11 years since his last major win, and the pressure only grows with each visit to Augusta. While Rory is in top form—already a two-time winner this year and showing sharp play from Pebble to Bay Hill—the shadows of past disappointments still linger.

His collapse in 2011 remains one of the most painful in Masters history. That final-round 80 opened a mental scar that, despite his immense talent, has never fully healed. Since then, Rory has often stumbled out of the gate, making it difficult to contend come Sunday. His final-round 64 in 2022, which vaulted him to a solo second, remains a lone bright spot in recent years.

There is optimism—he’s reportedly working with sports psychologist Bob Rotella to get in the right mental state. But as much as we want to see Rory slip on the green jacket, history reminds us that Augusta doesn’t give second chances easily. If the first round goes sideways again, it could be another long week for one of the game’s best.

Scottie: The Man to Beat?

Then there’s Scottie Scheffler—cool, calm, and unshakably consistent. While Rory is chasing closure, Scottie is simply chasing another title. His iron play is in a league of its own right now, and from tee to green, there’s no one better on the planet. If his putter cooperates even slightly, he’s nearly unbeatable.

That’s been the only thing holding him back in recent months—the flatstick. But it’s not as if he’s lost; he’s just not in the kind of rhythm that turns top 10s into wins. And still, he’s won twice this year. Scheffler's ability to grind out solid rounds even when the putter runs cold is what makes him so dangerous. Augusta’s slick, sloping greens demand precision and confidence, and if Scottie finds it this week, he could lap the field.

In many ways, Scheffler feels like the modern blueprint for winning at Augusta: elite ball-striking, strong composure, and a short memory. It’s easy to see why he’s the betting favorite—and why so many in the field are hoping he doesn’t catch fire.

🥇 A Tournament Unlike Any Other

This year marks the 89th playing of the Masters Tournament—an event steeped in history and tradition. Aside from a three-year hiatus during World War II (1943–1945), it has been played every year since 1934. It’s the only major championship that returns to the same venue every year: Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

The tournament was the brainchild of Bobby Jones, who dreamed of hosting the U.S. Open at Augusta but was turned down due to the summer heat. Instead, he partnered with Clifford Roberts to create their own championship—originally called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament. It wasn’t until 1939 that the name "Masters" was formally adopted.

A Course Built to Be Iconic

Augusta National was built on the grounds of a former indigo plantation turned nursery, known as Fruitlands Nursery. Designed by Jones and legendary architect Alister MacKenzie, the course was meant to emphasize natural slopes and contours over heavy rough or bunkering. The property’s historic azaleas and magnolias still define the club’s springtime splendor.

The layout officially opened in 1932 and began hosting the Masters in 1934. Over the decades, Augusta has been constantly tweaked—but always with reverence to its original design. The most recent changes have subtly stretched the course to its current length of 7,555 yards, playing to a par 72 (36-36).

The Anatomy of Augusta

The course features Bermuda grass tees and fairways, overseeded with ryegrass each fall for tournament play. The bentgrass greens are known for their lightning speed and subtle breaks, making putting a true art form at Augusta. The average green size is 6,150 square feet—about Tour average—but the slopes and speed make them far more treacherous.

Water hazards come into play on five holes on the back nine—most famously at holes 11, 12, and 13, which make up Amen Corner. There are just 43 bunkers on the course, making Augusta more about angles, slopes, and strategy than pure hazard avoidance.

The club is known for its quiet but constant course modifications. In recent years:

• Hole 5 was lengthened by 30 yards, turning it into a demanding test off the tee.

• Hole 11 saw subtle fairway re-contouring and a new tee to challenge tee shots without making it excessively punishing.

• Hole 15, a pivotal par-5, was extended by 20 yards, adding decision-making complexity for players trying to reach the green in two.

• Hole 18 had 13 yards added to the tee area, not significantly altering play but addressing modern driving distances.

• Most notably, Hole 13 was stretched by 35 yards in 2023, fundamentally changing how players approach the famed risk-reward par-5 that closes out Amen Corner. For many in the field, going for the green in two is no longer an automatic play.

This year, just one small adjustment was made—10 more yards were added to Hole 2, nudging the total course length to its current 7,555 yards.

Check out the course overview done by Masters.com.

Augusta’s character is shaped as much by weather as by design. The early forecast calls for mixed conditions, but the weekend is expected to bring more stable weather—potentially setting up ideal scoring conditions for moving day and Sunday drama.

📊 Key Stats for Success at Augusta

Augusta National is a course that demands a complete game—but not necessarily brute strength. While length off the tee can be helpful, especially on the par 5s, it’s precision, touch, and mental toughness that separate the contenders from the pretenders. Year after year, the Masters challenges players with slick greens, tricky recovery shots, and the need to capitalize on scoring opportunities—particularly on the back nine.

While the Masters doesn’t provide full shotlink data like other PGA Tour stops, we can still identify four key statistical areas that have consistently defined champions at Augusta:

1. Greens in Regulation (GIR)
If you want to contend at Augusta, you have to hit greens—plain and simple. The sloping putting surfaces make scrambling tough and birdie putts rare unless you're dialed in with your irons. Historically, most Masters winners have ranked inside the top 10 in GIR for the week. Recent champions like Tiger Woods (2019), Dustin Johnson (2020), and Scottie Scheffler (2022 & 2024) all excelled here. Augusta’s average GIR rate ranks among the most challenging on Tour, so those who can consistently find the dance floor have a major edge.

2. Scrambling
Missing greens at Augusta is inevitable. What separates the winners is their ability to save par from those tight, shaved areas around the greens. The lies are tricky, the angles are tough, and you rarely get a clean look. That’s why scrambling is so crucial—especially late in rounds when nerves are running high. Recent winners like Rahm, Scheffler, and Matsuyama all ranked among the best in the field in this stat. If a player can turn bogeys into pars, they’re already ahead of the game.

3. Three-Putt Avoidance
Augusta’s greens are fast, undulating, and treacherous. Avoiding three-putts is often the difference between a top-10 and a missed cut. Even elite putters have struggled to manage pace and reads over the years. Winners don’t need to make everything—they just need to lag putt with confidence and clean up the tough 4–6 footers. While the stat doesn’t always predict the winner, a high rank in three-putt avoidance typically correlates with a strong finish.

4. Par 5 Scoring
The par 5s at Augusta are the best scoring opportunities on the course—and elite players take full advantage. Every winner since 1997 (except Danny Willett) has finished the week under par on the par 5s, often by a wide margin. Whether laying up smartly or going for it in two, players must post red numbers on holes 2, 8, 13, and 15 to stay in the mix. History shows that winning the Masters often comes down to who dominates these four holes.

Who to watch for at The Masters

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