11 Golfers Who can win the Masters in 2023

Animosity and confusion lingers within the midst of the continuing PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf battle. Tiger Woods will try to beat Augusta with improved well being and a made minimize in February on the Genesis Invitational.

And golf’s present “Huge Three” consisting of Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, and defending champion Scottie Scheffler will all compete for the Inexperienced Jacket, and in addition the title of No. 1 participant within the Official World Golf Rankings, with a win.

This 12 months’s 88-man subject is stuffed with storylines and motivated gamers. With 18 LIV Golf gamers among the many group, it’s the primary crossover occasion between rival excursions in 2023.

Throughout an interesting 12 months for the majors listed here are the 11 largest contenders to win the 2023 Masters. Odds are from Tuesday, April 4, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

11. Tony Finau (+2000)

The texture-good story of Full Swing has three top-tens in 5 appearances at Augusta. Three wins in 2022 proved he can shut when Sunday strain strikes.

10. Dustin Johnson (+2200)

Regardless of enjoying a lighter latest schedule on LIV Golf, counting out the previous champion and completed Augusta competitor can be foolish.

9. Collin Morikawa (+2500)

One among golf’s good ball strikers lastly appeared to determine the Masters with a top-five end in 2022. A latest downturn in outcomes after a scorching begin has Morikawa on the lookout for some solutions this week.

8. Patrick Cantlay (+1600)

Regardless that he’s grown right into a well-rounded, elite participant, Cantlay has struggled to seek out that elite type on the Masters. The common top-ten machine on Tour solely has one in 5 appearances.

7. Justin Thomas (+2000)

Two main championships and a love of Augusta Nationwide means Thomas is at all times a menace. A gradual begin to 2023 with solely two high tens in 9 occasions leaves his latest type in query.

6. Xander Schauffele (+2200)

The San Diego State product is hoping to shed the label of being one of many sport’s most gifted with no main. Schauffele got here near successful this in 2019 and 2021.

 

 

 

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5. Cameron Smith (+2200)

The reigning Open Champion faces an interesting week in Georgia. Smith is a serious champion with a serious resume at Augusta. The Aussie owns 4 top-10 finishes prior to now 5 years – together with three top-five finishes. He was the primary participant to ever shoot all 4 rounds within the 60s throughout his runner-up end in 2020.

Performed within the closing group on a Sunday? Smith has carried out that. He’s checked nearly each field that Augusta has to supply with out ending the occasion with an enthusiastic Jim Nantz monologue and a Inexperienced Jacket.

However the LIV Golf conundrum can’t be neglected. Smith hasn’t performed the PGA Tour schedule in 2023. His artistry and expertise has been missed in the course of the elevated occasions that commonly pit the highest gamers towards one another.

Coming off the season he had in 2022, Smith belonged in any Finest within the World dialog. Politics obtained in the way in which of Smith having the ability to defend titles on the Event of Champions or the Gamers Championship. Is Smith nonetheless amongst golf’s really elite who contend at each main? The expertise, the course profile and the trophies all present Smith can win this week.

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4. Jon Rahm (+900)

A month in the past it will have appeared insane to have Rahm this low. Rahm regarded utterly unbeatable opening the season with wins in three out of 5 PGA Tour begins. He was the dwelling embodiment of Bowser in Mario Golf – a big, highly effective, sometimes-volatile participant with insane size off the tee and sufficient ability across the greens to pour in birdies at will. When Rahm is working at his finest, he can drop sufficient lengthy putts to run away with an occasion.

Currently, Rahm has slowed after the torrid begin. Three latest begins haven’t yielded a top-30 end – though sickness was accountable for a shocking mid-event WD from the Gamers final month. Throughout an surprising early exit from WGC Match Play, Rahm’s irons regarded out of kinds as he was eradicated from group play.

Regardless that the final month has been spotty, it will be not possible to rely out a participant who can simply flip it on and develop into the very best at seemingly any time. Rahm has by no means completed worse than twenty seventh on this occasion – highlighted by 4 straight years within the high ten. After a sluggish 2022 by which he didn’t contend in any respect 4 majors, Rahm is additional motivated to compete and have an opportunity so as to add one other main.

 

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3. Jordan Spieth (+1600)

Among the many trendy technology, no one owns a extra constant Augusta observe document, whereas producing extra compelling moments, than Jordan Spieth. There’s the memorable win in 2015 and two runner-up finishes. 5 top-three finishes in 9 begins is totally ridiculous.

Sure gamers simply have a method of seeing Augusta and enjoying to its distinctive contours – making probably the most out of any scenario. That’s Spieth’s sport on the Masters in a nutshell. There’s at all times the possibility for a particular hole-out or a loopy putt.

Coming into this version, Spieth is displaying strong type with three top-10 finishes on the 12 months. There’s additionally the notable Spieth on Easter pattern.

Spieth faces the distinctive strain of not successful a serious for the reason that 2017 Open Championship — however his present type coming into this week gives main optimism for him to contend.

 

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2. Rory McIlroy (+700)

No participant within the subject faces extra inner strain than McIlroy. It’s laborious to imagine that Rory, the most important star of his technology, has not received a serious for the reason that 2014 PGA Championship – when he was nonetheless solely 25 years outdated. McIlroy has but to win the Masters. He’s maybe probably the most gifted participant not consuming “Scottie-style” cheeseburgers on the Masters Champions Dinner this week.

On paper, McIlroy’s observe document at Augusta is robust. Final 12 months’s unbelievable Sunday 64 catapulted Rory to an unlikely runner-up end. That top-two spot gave McIlroy a notable seven top-10 finishes within the final 9 years.

Regardless of the strong finishes, nevertheless, Rory’s by no means been a reputable menace to truly win the occasion throughout that span. Until you’re together with the final-round collapse in 2011 that I’m certain McIlroy wish to overlook.

The necessary factor is that McIlroy is enjoying a few of his best general golf coming into a Masters. The motive force seems to be fastened after a robust third-place displaying on the WGC Match Play occasion two weeks in the past. It’s additionally notable that Rory reintroduced an identical Scotty Cameron putter into his bag that he used to win his first two majors.

First-round jitters stay an intriguing subplot for McIlroy. The final 4 years, Rory has been over par after the primary spherical. McIlroy’s gradual begins have prevented him from really competing down the stretch. One thing so simple as a robust begin may change McIlroy’s fortunes at this occasion.

 

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1. Scottie Scheffler (+700)

Defending at Augusta feels practically not possible. It’s solely been carried out by titans of the game: Jack Nicklaus (‘65-66), Nick Faldo (‘89-90) and Tiger Woods (‘01-02). That’s the whole record. But when anybody was to tug off back-to-back Masters within the trendy period, it’s Scheffler in present type.

Sustaining his unorthodox swing-out-of-your-shoes fashion off the tee, Scheffler has dominated once more to begin 2023. For as terrifyingly good as Scheffler was coming into final season’s Masters, gobbling up three wins the months earlier than, strokes gained knowledge from Knowledge Golf signifies he’s even stronger in 2023.

Main as much as this, Scheffler already captured titles on the Gamers Championship and repeated on the WM Phoenix Open. Astoundingly constant, via seven begins in 2023, Scheffler hasn’t completed decrease than twelfth.

And but, regardless of Scheffler’s elegant stretch, he nonetheless isn’t a mega star outdoors of the golf neighborhood. An unassuming and easygoing nature lends Scheffler to being faraway from a variety of off-course drama that has consumed the game over the previous 15 months.

However back-to-back wins at Augusta modifications all the things. A number of wins at Augusta is a life-changing accomplishment. So long as Scheffler can stand up to a loaded subject, the strain of repeating and his heavy Masters Dinner then he’s the favourite as soon as once more.