Everyone in the golf world is asking the same question as the 2023 Masters draws near: Who do you think will win at Augusta National this year? The first major of 2023 should be an incredible ride from Thursday’s first round onwards thanks to a fantastic field that includes many of the greatest amateurs and the best pros in the world.
Given the strong competition, the Masters this year appears wide open, but Scottie Scheffler, last year’s victor, arrives as the favorite to win a second consecutive green jacket since Tiger Woods arrived at Augusta National to win back-to-back in 2002. Scheffler (5-1), Rory McIlroy (7-1) and Jon Rahm (9-1) are the three single-digit favorites heading into the first major in 2023, as reported by Caesars Sportsbook, compared to none entering the first major last year.
Behind them, there are a ton of players who will undoubtedly be in the running, including Jordan Spieth and Jason Day, who have both been playing some of their finest golf in 2016. Then there is the pairing of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson; the former made the cut last year before collapsing on the weekend due to a physical setback, and the latter planted his spikes in the ground at Augusta after skipping the year 2022.
When you add it all together, it seems like the Masters week will be unpredictable and full of twists and turns, but there will also be many well-known players at the top of the leaderboard.
So what will take place in Augusta? Below is the whole list of picks and forecasts.
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2023 Masters Odds, Top 10 Favorites
These are the 2023 Masters Odds for the top 10 favorites to win the 2023 Masters:
- Rory McIlroy +700
- Scottie Scheffler +725
- Jon Rahm +900
- Jordan Spieth +1800
- Patrick Cantlay +1800
- Justin Thomas +2200
- Cameron Smith +2200
- Collin Morikawa +2500
- Xander Schauffele +2500
- Tony Finau +2500
2023 Masters Picks, Predictions
These are the 2023 Masters Picks:
Winner – Scottie Scheffler (5-1)
Scheffler will compete in this year’s Masters, and I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life (statements like that usually go well). Scheffler has been a beast thus far in 2023, and his performance right now is actually greater than it was when he first entered the game and burned this field. He hasn’t performed worse than a top 12 finish since the fall, so even if his chances of selecting the winner are terrible, I’m going to go with him. That is the caliber of his play.
Sleeper – Will Zalatoris (35-1)
Will Zalatoris (35-1) is a sleeper. I’m somewhat of cheating here because we usually consider golfers with odds of 40-1 or more to be “sleepers,” but Zalatoris at 35-1 is interesting. He hasn’t played well this year, which is worrying, but he has three things working for him: an apparently good health status, recent success (Riviera), and strong performance at Augusta National (two top-six finishes in as many starts).
Top 10 lock – Collin Morikawa (+225)
Collin Morikawa (+225), a top 10 lock: Corey Conners, who has placed in the top 10 in each of his last three Masters, is the simple solution here. But, Morikawa, who is ranked No. 1 in approach, No. 4 in ball striking and tee to green, as well as No. 8 overall in strokes gained this year, is the player to bet on. He placed in the top 10 at Augusta National last year, and he’ll do it again this year. He enters the game more covertly than any other player.
Star Who Definitely Won’t Win — Jon Rahm
Star who will undoubtedly not prevail — Jon Rahm When he lost to, say, five players over the course of his first seven events, I really picked him at the beginning of the year and was fairly pleased with myself. He has, though, slowed down a bit, and I’m not sure Augusta National is the best venue to recapture the enthusiasm you once had. He’ll play decently and make the cut, but I don’t think he will prevail.
Scottie Scheffler vs. Rory McIlroy vs. Jon Rahm
Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Jon Rahm all finished in the top three, but Scheffler outperformed McIlroy and prevailed. Rahm comes in at number 20, but he doesn’t really compete.
Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson will miss the cut in the matchup between Tiger Woods and him because of his recent dreadful play, which includes only one top-10 finish at a non-senior event since he won the PGA Championship in 2021. Woods will make the cut and be in the top 30, but he won’t have put himself in a position to really compete.
Surprise Prediction
Cameron Smith won’t make a splash LIV Golf and the PGA Tour will be in competition, but Cam won’t be involved. It will be mixed up by someone else—possibly Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, or Joaquin Niemann—and the pot will be stirred (not necessarily by them) sufficiently so that this Masters 2023 story becomes a true one at some point this week.
