– Last Updated on November 21, 2022 2:41 pm
2017 PGA The Masters Golf Predictions and Picks
Ready to bet this week on the 2017 The Masters Open Odds? Golf’s first Major comes our way this week when arguably the most prestigious prize in the sport – the Green Jacket of the Masters at Augusta will be up for grabs. The best the golf world has to offers have been assembled in Georgia to try to conquer the 7,435 yard, par 72 layout that will challenge absolutely every aspect of a player’s game.
Tree-lined fairways, lush, thick rough and uber-slick greens will greet the hopefuls this week as per usual.
2017 The Masters
When: April 6-9, 2017
Where: Augusta National, Augusta, Georgia
Format: 72 holes – Stroke Play
Purse: $10,000,000
Defending Champion: Danny Willett
TV Coverage: Golf Channel, CBS
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
Length off the tee will be more important than Accuracy this week – Greens in Regulation stats and Scrambling ability are the aspects of a player’s game we need to focus on.
A sizzling putter is also crucial at Augusta National.
So who should we keep an extra eye on this week? Let’s take a look.
2017 The Masters Favorites:
Dustin Johnson +450
How good has DJ been? How about three straight wins against some top quality fields, six top six finishes in his last seven starts and six wins the last year?
He has finally been able to put his incredible length with some touch around the greens.
He currently sits 11th on TOUR in strokes gained approaching the green, second in GIR percentage and is 31st in strokes gained: putting – add that with him being second on TOUR in driving distance and he looks utterly unstoppable right now.
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He has finished inside the top 10 in his last two trips to Augusta including a T4 last year and a T6 before that – expect DJ to be in the hunt again this week.
Jordan Spieth +700
The scene of the Spieth collapse last year, you can bet that Jordan will be motivated for a good finish this week. He has a second, a win and another second in the last three years here – as dominant a player as there is on this track.
His stats support another strong finish here this week – he is second on TOUR in strokes gained approaching the green and first in GIR percentage and despite taking a slight step back is still a serious threat with the flatstick.
With improved ball striking this year and a lethal putter, Spieth absolutely has to be on the radar again.
Rory McIlroy +750
Seemingly back to full strength after a rib injury, the world #2 is ready to terrorize again with his insane tee-to-green game. He has three straight top 10 finishes on this track and will be looking for that first elusive Green Jacket.
He has been a top 10 machine lately including a T7 at the WGC-Mexico Championship and a T4 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
He struggled most recently to a T30 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play but there is no doubt that motivation for the career Grand Slam will give Rory an extra boost this week.
If he can get some putts to drop Rory may be THE MAN this week.
2017 The Masters Contenders:
Jon Rahm +1800
Rahm continues to impress in his rookie season – he won the Farmer’s Insurance Open in January, was T16 at the Waste Management Open, a T5 at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, a T3 at the WGC-Mexico Championship and a runner-up in the WGC-Dell Match Play – incredible.
His stats are eye-opening – third on TOUR in strokes gained tee to green, fourth in strokes gained overall, second in Par 4 scoring, 21st in GIR percentage and sixth in birdie-or-better percentage – impressive.
Inexperience on this track has been an issue in the past but Mr. Rahm is just too Hot and too talented to ignore.
Hideki Matsuyama +1800
Hideki was the best player on the planet this past winter when he won five of nine starts but has cooled off lately.
Still, his all around game and the fact that he has top 10 finishes in his last two appearances here is worthy of mention.
Rickie Fowler +2000
Has been very good this year – a win (Honda Classic in late February), three Top-10’s and four Top-20’s including a T3 last week at the Shell Houston Open – five straight top 20s ahead of this weekend with three top 5s over that span.
The difference this year has been his putting which will definitely come in handy this week – he is 11th on TOUR in strokes gained: putting, third in strokes gained: approach-the-green and is tops on TOUR in adjusted scoring – great attributes for Augusta.
Fowler hasn’t done well the last few years in Majors but is due this week.
Phil Mickelson +2500
Will tee it up for – get this – the 25th time in this event! He has three wins and another eight top 5s in this event – 15 top 10s!
He has been playing well this year – three top 10s already including a seventh at the WGC-Mexico and seventh at the WGC-Dell Match Play. His week will depend on his putter as per usual – he is eighth on TOUR in strokes gained: putting.
Forget that he has missed two of his last three cuts – Phil is always a threat here.
Justin Rose +2500
Englishman has always done well at Augusta – he finished T2 here in 2015 and has never missed a cut in 11 career tries with four top 10s and another five top 25s.
He has been good, not great so far in 2017 but looks as though he is seriously on the verge.
He has three top fives and another two top 15s in seven starts this year and has the game to make things interesting again this week – he is 11th on TOUR in strokes gained: tee-to-green which is perfect for this track.
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Rose always elevates his game here – I am expecting more of the same in this year’s Masters.
2017 The Masters Sleepers (+5000 or higher):
Brandt Snedeker +5000
Sneds has to be mentioned because of the price that we can get him at.
He has four top 15s on TOUR this year (three top 10s in his last six starts) and has finished inside the top 20 five times in his nine trips to Augusta – he was in contention here last year before falling apart on Sunday.
Nobody would be shocked to see Brandt’s putter to come alive and for him to do well here – at +5000 he’s worth a look!
Tyrrell Hatton +5000
Maybe poised to be this year’s Danny Willett. He enters in very good form – top 20s in six straight tournaments ahead of this week!
His stats are no joke – he is tops on the TOUR in strokes gained: putting and he ranks second in adjust scoring which should definitely help this week.
Hatton has shown that he isn’t scared of any situation – it will be put to the test this week.
Louis Oosthuizen +5500
Runner-up here in 2012, Louis has been quiet but has been getting some results at the same time – he has made the cut every time he’s teed it up this year and finished T28 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a T17 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
Although he hasn’t set the world on fire, Oosthuizen tends to save his best efforts for the biggest stages.
With some of the top guys struggling just a tad, Louis could be a sneaky threat.
2017 The Masters Picks:
It’s pretty hard to ignore Dustin here – but I am.
Another one of the faves – Rory McIlroy at +750 is the pick here. He has finished inside the top 10 in his last three appearances here and he has gone T4-T7-T4 in his last three non-matchplay tournaments. The rain forecast this week helps him to get the career-slam.
The sleeper was a tricky one for me – any one of the three mentioned could take down the favorites.
I’m going with Tyrrell Hatton at +5000. His form is good, his putting is terrific and I just can’t get the Danny Willett comparison out of my mind.
Golf handicapper DAVE B weighs in each week with his top selections. Including top picks and sleepers!
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