2026 Masters Betting Guide: Odds, Favorites & Best Props
The 2026 Masters tees off at Augusta National on April 10-13, and the betting market is already loaded with value. Scottie Scheffler enters as the consensus favorite at +450, but a stacked field featuring Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and a resurgent Jon Rahm makes this one of the most wide-open Masters in years. Here’s everything you need to know to bet the tournament — from outright winner odds to the sharpest prop plays on the board.
2026 Masters Odds: Who’s Favored to Win the Green Jacket?
Outright winner odds shift constantly in the week leading up to the Masters, but here’s where the top contenders sit as of early April. These odds come from a survey of major US sportsbooks — always check your platform for the latest numbers before placing a bet.
| Golfer | FanDuel | DraftKings | BetMGM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | +450 | +425 | +450 |
| Rory McIlroy | +900 | +850 | +900 |
| Xander Schauffele | +1000 | +1100 | +1000 |
| Jon Rahm | +1400 | +1200 | +1400 |
| Collin Morikawa | +1600 | +1600 | +1800 |
| Ludvig Åberg | +1800 | +1800 | +2000 |
Scheffler is the obvious frontrunner — the man has won two of the last three Masters and finished T2 in the other. At +450, you’re getting roughly an 18% implied probability on the best golfer in the world at a course he’s practically memorized. The real question isn’t whether he can win — it’s whether the price is worth it. For context, Tiger Woods never went off shorter than +350 at Augusta in his prime.
The value plays start in the +1400 to +3000 range. Jon Rahm at +1400 has the talent and the Augusta pedigree (he won in 2023), and his form coming out of LIV has been trending up. Ludvig Åberg finished T2 in his Masters debut and has the ball-striking profile that Augusta rewards. And Collin Morikawa — two majors, elite iron play, quietly dangerous on these greens.
Types of Masters Bets: Beyond the Outright Winner
Picking the outright winner is the marquee bet, but it’s also the hardest to hit in all of sports betting. A typical Masters field has 87 players — you’re essentially betting on a 1-in-87 outcome. Fortunately, sportsbooks offer dozens of other ways to bet on the Masters with much better odds of cashing.
Top 5 / Top 10 / Top 20 Finishes
Placement bets are the sweet spot for golf betting. A top-5 finish at +250 means your golfer just needs to land in the top 5 — no championship required. These are ideal for players who consistently contend but might not win. Think of Schauffele (seven top-10s in the last eight majors) or Viktor Hovland (three straight Masters top-15s). You can also ladder your exposure: take a longshot outright at +5000 and hedge with a top-20 at +180.
Head-to-Head Matchups
Matchup bets pit two golfers against each other — whoever finishes higher wins. This is where course-specific knowledge pays off. Augusta rewards length off the tee and precise approach play on par-5s. A player like Scheffler (who gains 2.1 strokes per round on approach at Augusta) has a clear edge in matchups against shorter hitters, even if the other player is ranked higher overall. Most sportsbooks offer 30-40 matchup pairings per major.
Round and Tournament Props
Props let you bet on specific outcomes beyond just finishing position. Tournament props include: Will there be a hole-in-one? (usually around +180), Will anyone shoot 63 or better? (around +300), and the winning margin — over/under 2.5 strokes. Round-by-round props are where the real action is: first-round leader, top nationality, and whether a specific player will make the cut.
Player Props
Player-level props zoom in on individual performances. You’ll find lines on a player’s first-round score (over/under 70.5 for Scheffler), total birdies for the tournament, and whether they’ll hit a specific number of fairways. DraftKings typically offers the deepest player prop market for golf majors, with 40+ props per marquee player. FanDuel focuses on fewer but sharper lines.
Since 2000, the average winning score at Augusta has been -11. Only five winners in that span were priced longer than +4000 before the tournament. If you’re hunting longshots, the +2000 to +4000 range has historically produced the best risk-reward outcomes.
Best Masters Betting Strategies for 2026
Golf betting has a bigger luck component than team sports — one bad tee shot on Amen Corner can end a tournament. But there are edges if you know where to look. These strategies are specifically tuned for Augusta National.
Prioritize Course History Over Current Form
Augusta is one of the most course-specific venues in golf. Certain players just “see” the layout — their ball-striking and short game fit the demands of the greens, the doglegs, the elevation changes. Since 2015, players with at least two prior top-10 finishes at the Masters have won 70% of the time. Current PGA Tour form matters, but Augusta form matters more. Cross-reference both before betting.
Target Strokes Gained: Approach as Your Key Stat
Augusta’s greens are the most complex in major championship golf — multi-tiered, lightning-fast, with slopes that punish anything more than 20 feet from the pin. The stat that correlates most with Masters success is Strokes Gained: Approach the Green. Scheffler leads the PGA Tour in this category. Morikawa is top-5. Rahm is top-10. If a player isn’t elite at hitting greens in regulation from the right angles, their chances drop significantly — regardless of how well they putt.
Bet the First-Round Leader Market
The first-round leader (FRL) market is one of the most inefficient in golf betting. Since the field is so deep, FRL odds are inflated — even for favorites. Scheffler’s FRL line typically sits around +800, meaning a $25 bet pays $225 if he leads after Thursday. The beauty of this bet is that it resolves in one day, so your bankroll isn’t tied up all weekend. Look for players who historically start fast at Augusta — strong Thursday performers tend to repeat.
Thursday-Friday tee times matter at Augusta. Morning groups on Thursday typically face softer greens and less wind. Check the tee sheet (released Tuesday) and cross-reference with weather forecasts before locking in your first-round bets.
Our 5 Best Masters Prop Bets for 2026
Props are where golf betting gets fun — and where casual bettors can find real edges because the market is less efficient than outrights. Here are five props we’re watching heading into tournament week.
- Hole-in-one during the tournament: Yes (+180). The par-3s at Augusta — especially No. 12 (Golden Bell) and No. 16 — produce aces almost every year. Since 2010, there’s been at least one hole-in-one in 11 of 14 Masters. At +180, you’re getting nearly 2-to-1 on something that hits roughly 78% of the time historically.
- Scottie Scheffler top-5 finish (-120). In his last four Masters starts, Scheffler has finished 1st, T2, 1st, and T10. A top-5 at -120 is almost free money given his Augusta track record — and it hedges nicely against an outright bet on someone else to win.
- Rory McIlroy to make the cut (-450) + top-20 (-110) parlay. McIlroy has made 10 straight Masters cuts and finished in the top-20 in six of them. Pairing these into a small parlay boosts the payout on what feels like a near-certainty.
- First-round leader: Collin Morikawa (+2500). Morikawa is a fast starter in majors — he led after Round 1 at the 2021 Open and the 2024 PGA. At +2500, a small bet carries massive upside.
- Winning margin: Over 2.5 strokes (+160). Augusta has produced dominant wins recently — Scheffler won by 4 in 2024. When a player gets hot at this course, the field often can’t keep up. The over on margin has hit in four of the last seven years.
Golf odds move significantly between Monday and Thursday. Injury withdrawals, practice-round buzz, and weather forecasts all shift lines. Odds listed here are pre-tournament estimates — always confirm the current number at your sportsbook before placing a bet. T&Cs apply to all offers.
Where to Bet on the 2026 Masters
For a tournament like the Masters, you want a sportsbook with deep prop markets, competitive outright odds, and smooth live betting during tournament rounds. Here’s how the big three compare for golf majors specifically.
✅ What to Look For
- + 50+ player props per marquee golfer
- + Head-to-head matchups with multiple pairing options
- + Live round-by-round betting with real-time leaderboard odds
❌ Red Flags to Avoid
- − Sportsbooks with only outright winner and no props
- − Platforms that settle golf bets slowly (some take 24+ hours)
- − No dead-heat rules posted — this matters for tied finishes
DraftKings leads the pack for Masters betting — they typically post 70+ player props per top golfer, the deepest matchup menu in the market, and aggressive odds boosts during major championship week. FanDuel offers the sharpest outright winner odds and a clean same-game parlay builder for golf. BetMGM stands out for live betting during tournament rounds, with real-time odds that update hole by hole.
As always, having accounts at two or three sportsbooks lets you line-shop for the best price. A +1400 on Rahm at DraftKings vs. +1200 at FanDuel is a 16.7% difference in potential payout — that adds up fast over a weekend of betting. For more platform details, see our best betting sites rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 Masters?
Scottie Scheffler is the consensus favorite at +450 as of early April 2026. He’s won two of the last three Masters and finished in the top 2 all three years. Rory McIlroy (+900) and Xander Schauffele (+1000) round out the top three in most sportsbook odds boards.
What is the best type of bet for the Masters?
Top-5 and top-10 finish bets offer the best balance of payout and probability. Outright winner bets are the flashiest but hardest to hit in a field of 87 players. Placement bets, head-to-head matchups, and first-round leader props all give you better chances of cashing while still offering strong payouts.
Can I bet on the Masters from my phone?
Yes. All major legal US sportsbooks — including FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM — offer full Masters betting on their mobile apps. You can bet outrights, props, matchups, and live in-play markets from your phone. You must be 21+ and physically located in a state where online sports betting is legal.
When should I place my Masters bets?
It depends on the bet type. Outright winner bets often have the best value early in the week before lines tighten. First-round leader bets should wait until Tuesday or Wednesday when tee times and weather forecasts are available. Player props tend to sharpen closer to Thursday’s first round.
What happens to my bet if a golfer withdraws from the Masters?
Most sportsbooks void outright winner bets if a golfer withdraws before teeing off on Thursday. However, rules vary by platform — some sportsbooks grade futures as losses if the player was listed as a starter. Always check your sportsbook’s dead-heat and withdrawal rules before betting on golf. T&Cs apply.
Play Safe: Gambling should be fun, not stressful. Set limits, stick to your budget, and never chase losses. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-522-4700 or visit ncpgambling.org. For more resources, see our Responsible Gambling page.
Matthew specializes in writing our gambling app review content, spending days testing out sportsbooks and online casinos to get intimate with these platforms and what they offer. He’s also a blog contributor, creating guides on increasing your odds of winning against the house by playing table games, managing your bankroll responsibly, and choosing the slot machines with the best return-to-player rates.
