Augusta National once again plays host to the world's finest golfers as the first major of the 2024 season, The Masters, takes place this week, beginning on Thursday, April 11.
Ranked sixth in the PGA Tour's course difficulty ranking, the par-72, 7,555-yard challenge awaits the world's best, with several contenders hoping to don the famous green jacket by Sunday evening.
The 2022 champion Scottie Scheffler (7/2) heads the betting, a player who has been in contention – finishing in the top 20 – at the tournament the past four years.
He has also enjoyed a spectacular start to the 2024 season winning the 'fifth major' - The Players Championship - and finishing in the top 10 in seven of the eight tournaments in which he has participated.
He leads the PGA Tour in shots gained (2.812), scoring average (67.39), par fours (3.84), birdie average (5.48), greens hit in regulation (76.13%) and is second in putting average (1.668). He is an incredibly short price to win the tournament and is 4/5 to finish in the Top Five.
Another candidate for a repeat win is defending champion Jon Rahm (10/1). The Spaniard switched to the LIV Golf League in 2024 and has yet to claim an individual title in four tournaments. It's hard to back the 2023 winner given his last tournament success was 12 months ago.
Rory McIlroy (11/1), Xander Schauffele (16/1) and Brooks Koepka (18/1) round off the top five in the betting – only the Northern Irishman has a tournament title on his 2024 resumé having won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour in January.
Those looking for an outsider to claim victory could eye the American duo of Akshay Bhatia and Denny McCarthy who both recorded –20 scores at last week's Valero Texas Open – nine shots ahead of third-placed McIlroy.
This will be only Bhatia's second major appearance having finished T57 at last year's US Open. He has played 10 tournaments in 2024, finishing in the top 20 six times – including his last three events, and missing the cut in the other four. He's 13/5 for a top 20 finish.
His statistics back the form, he's fourth on the PGA Tour in shots gained (1.522), seventh in scoring average (68.97), eighth on par fours (3.93) and 22nd in birdie average (4.45). He's sound in all areas of his game, and worth a small wager on a 100/1 to win or 55/1 each-way for a top 12 place.
McCarthy comes in at 125/1 and has made eight of nine cuts in 2024. He does boast just one top 20 finish this term, so he may offer more value in the top 30 or 40 finisher markets – he has finished T40 or better in six of nine tournaments.
Selections
Scottie Scheffler to finish top 10 – 2/5 (Parlay Add)
Akshay Bhatia to win each-way – 55/1
Akshay Bhatia to finish top 20 – 13/5
Denny McCarthy to finish top 40 – 5/8 (Parlay Add)
