RADIO
Joe Nicely's Masters Bible, providing DraftKings PGA DFS lineup picks and value plays for The Masters. His extensive look at every golfer participating in 2024.
Hello, PGA DFS fans and welcome to the 2024 Masters DFS Bible! While the Masters is a tradition unlike any other, I like to think that this piece has turned into an annual tradition for some of you guys.
Before we dive into the players, let me take a second to say thanks for all of your support throughout the PGA DFS season! RotoBaller PGA has simply exploded in recent years and this wouldn't be possible without you guys, so let me urge you to spread the word about the great golf content available here at RotoBaller each and every week. Follow our growing team on Twitter: @JoeNicely, @TeeOffSports, @TourPicks @TheModelManiac, @Flag_Hunting, @MattyMillz85 @RotoBaller, @RotoBallerPGA -- and make sure to like and share both this article and our weekly content!
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DraftKings DFS Player Preview for the Masters
The Masters is my favorite golf tournament and it's the event where it all started for me here at RotoBaller when I published the first Masters Bible on this site in 2018. If you've been able to check out any of my previous 'Bibles', then you know the deal here. I will be jamming in as much DFS info as I can on every single player in the Masters field. You will see write-ups for all the players you know and love from the top of the salary scale all the way down to the bottom of the barrel.
The golfers are listed in descending order of their DraftKings price, just like you would see on DK when building a lineup. When I first began writing this article, there was only one "Milly Maker" to strategize for, while this year DraftKings is offering the chance to win a million bucks in three different contests, with buy-in levels of $10, $100, & $2,222.
Some players are discussed more in-depth than others. I try to mix in stats, DFS info, Masters history, and strategy, as well as my own personal thoughts on each player that's reviewed. You can use this preview as a quick reference to get some thoughts on a specific golfer or you can spend some time with it and become familiar with the field. However you choose to use it, I hope that every reader will find at least one thing they feel is helpful or interesting.
My goal with this write-up always remains the same...to create a piece that will be helpful to those of you who might be making your first PGA DFS lineup, while also being interesting to those that ball in the PGA DFS streets every week! Ok, enough with all the formalities, let's get to the golfers for the Masters!
High-Priced PGA DFS Plays
Scottie Scheffler – $12,100
The 27-year-old Texan is unquestionably the best player in the world at the moment and the prohibitive favorite to win the 2024 Masters. Scheffler's ball-striking has been at Tiger-like levels for the past year and his four wins over that timeframe somehow feel like a disappointment relative to his output from T2G.
BACK-TO-BACK!!
Scottie Scheffler is the first player in history to win consecutive @THEPLAYERS titles!
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 17, 2024
It's tricky business to oversimplify golf, but with Scheffler, things are pretty black and white: if he's just decent with the putter -- as he's been in March -- he's going to have a very strong chance of winning every time he tees it up. That's especially the case at Augusta National, a layout where he slipped on a green jacket in 2022 and has never finished worse than T19 in four Masters starts. While the Masters DFS slate is always filled with endless nuances, in many ways, lineup decisions this year will revolve around what you're doing with the World's top-ranked player.
Jon Rahm – $11,200
While we know what we're getting with Scheffler, Jon Rahm's true current form isn't as clear. The owner of a brilliant track record at Augusta National, Rahm's breakthrough win in last year's Masters felt more inevitable than surprising. He'll try to defend his Masters title -- a feat that only Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods have pulled off -- after making a shocking offseason jump to LIV.
The Spaniard has finished T8 or better in each of his LIV starts this year ahead of the Miami event, though it's fair to wonder what that really means in a grander context. The prevailing thought that LIV golfers would be at a competitive disadvantage in the majors was roundly destroyed last year, though it will be tough to truly know just how sharp Rahm is until we see him in the competitive fire of Augusta National. Due to that uncertainty, I expect his DFS ownership to come in below those priced around him at the top of the salary scale.
Rory McIlroy – $10,800
A combination of brilliant and painful, McIlroy's history at Augusta National could probably be studied in psychology classes. We won't dive all the way in here, but his shocking missed cut in last year's renewal was just the latest chapter in McIlroy's Masters odyssey. Since a victory in Dubai in January, he's been stuck in neutral, logging underwhelming-by-his-standards results on the West Coast and in Florida.
Statistically speaking, McIlroy's biggest issue has been his inconsistent iron play. Before the Valero Texas Open, he'd lost strokes on approach in three of his five U.S. starts this year. Speaking of Valero, it's fair to wonder how much stock to put in his decision to play the week before the Masters -- the last time he did it was in 2022 when he finished second at Augusta National.
We can also ponder on what to take away from his recent visits to legendary swing doctor/mental guru Butch Harmon. When it comes to Rory and the Masters things are never simple and he possesses one of the widest range of outcomes for any high-priced player on this slate.
Brooks Koepka – $10,200
Physically healthy and psychologically rejuvenated, Koepka broke out of his major championship slump in a big way in 2023 by leading at the halfway mark in the Masters before ultimately settling for a runner-up result. He'd then go on to claim his fifth career major by dominating the PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
Last year's runner-up was Koepka's second career bridesmaid finish at Augusta National and he's consistently been in the mix when healthy on this layout that obviously suits his championship pedigree. His 2024 LIV results haven't been spectacular, though the form has been strong enough to feel as though he's fully capable of making yet another serious run at the green jacket this year.
Wyndham Clark - $10,000
The 2023 U.S. Open Champion has accomplished so much in the past year that it's easy to forget that this will be his Masters debut. DraftKings hasn't been shy about pricing him up and it's tough to argue with this steep tag when considering his results of the last 12 or so months.
A rather one-dimensional power fade anchors Clark's bomb-and-gouge approach, though a win earlier this year at Pebble Beach and a runner-up at TPC Sawgrass shows his skill set has some depth. The last Masters rookie to win a green jacket was Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, but Clark has broken plenty of molds in the past year.
Xander Schauffele – $9,900
One of the game's most consistent performers in high-end events, Schauffele just can't seem to get across the finish line in golf's biggest tournaments. A runner-up finish last month at THE PLAYERS -- in which he served up two late back-nine bogeys -- was yet another reminder of the X-Man's closing issues.
Like in other majors, his Masters DFS floor is extremely high, as he's notched a pair of top-three finishes among three top-10 results at Augusta National over the last five years. His recent work with swing coach Chris Como is encouraging and he comes into the week with top-five finishes in three of his last four starts while gaining strokes T2G in every one of his 2024 appearances.
Joaquin Niemann – $9,600
I experienced a bit of sticker shock here with Joaquin Niemann at $9,600, but it's hard to argue with impressive recent results that compelled Augusta National to extend him a special invite to this year's Masters.
Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen, Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann have accepted invitations to compete in the 2024 Masters Tournament. pic.twitter.com/2O6yAncMIb
— The Masters (@TheMasters) February 21, 2024
A December Australian Open win preceded two 2024 victories on the LIV circuit. The 25-year-old Chilean has incrementally improved in each of his four career Masters starts and logged a career-best T16 in last year's edition. It's a natural trajectory for many golfers on this nuanced layout. Though I don't love his low-ish ball flight on this layout where high-ball hitters have historically flourished, the combination of his accrued Augusta National experience and recent form certainly makes him an intriguing option this week.
Viktor Hovland – $9,500
A breakout 2023 that concluded with Hovland winning the FedEx Cup hasn't carried over into 2024. Puzzling swing tweaks and the decision to part ways with coach Joe Mayo have sent the talented Norwegian's game careening in the wrong direction. He's struggled in limited action this year, logging just two top-25s in his five starts, electing to work on his game via practice rather than tournament reps.
Despite his recent woes -- including the return of his chipping problems -- Hovland undoubtedly possesses major championship firepower. He's never missed a Masters cut in four career appearances and last year's T7 was his best Augusta National result yet. Vik is tough to roster with confidence at the moment, which should severely depress his DFS ownership.
Patrick Cantlay - $9,400
It's impossible to dismiss a player as talented as Cantlay this week completely, but while the PGA Tour's stealth shot caller has accrued power in the game's bureaucracy, he's struggled to achieve the ultimate on-course goal of a major championship. There have been some signs that Augusta National could be his best shot to breakthrough, such as a T9 in 2019 when he oh-so-briefly held the lead on Sunday and an admirable T14 last year when he played slow enough to derail the final group.
My settled-upon strategy with Cantlay for about the past year is simple-minded and probably not for everyone, but I've concluded that I'm simply out on him in majors. If he beats me by winning a green jacket this week, I'll just live with it.
Jordan Spieth - $9,300
While I'm never in on the aforementioned Cantlay, I can never seem to be fully out on Jordan Spieth at Augusta National. He's a course horse on a handful of circuit stops, with the Masters serving as his annual happy place. A missed cut in 2022 shows that he's not completely infallible here, though that failure was sandwiched between top-four finishes in '21 &'23.
The Texan has now logged a win and five additional top-five finishes in 10 Masters starts. Form is never a reason to count him out of this event, and while he hasn't been especially good in 2024, he's certainly not been bad enough to be eliminated from your DFS player pool. His brand of golf can often be dismissed by the number crunchers, but Spieth ranks fourth among this week's entrants in strokes gained at Augusta National (+2.81).
Will Zalatoris - $9,200
The leader in strokes gained at the Masters in this year's field is Will Zalatoris. After earning an electric solo second in his 2021 Masters debut, the ball-striking phenom followed with a T6 in 2022. Zalatoris was forced to withdraw from last year's edition with a back injury that sidelined him for virtually the entire year.
Will Zalatoris #Masters Champions Dinner pic.twitter.com/Tt9An6gh3C
— robmillertime (@robmillertime) April 10, 2021
Willie Z has fought his way back in 2024, enduring several knock-the-rust-off outings before displaying vintage form at Riviera (T2) & Bay Hill (T4). Any magic gained by a switch to a broomstick-style putter appears to have worn off, however, as he put forth the worst putting performance of his career (-7.0 SG: Putting) -- which is really saying something -- in his most recent start at the Houston Open. Despite the legitimate concerns that come with his putting, his ball-striking superiority is perfectly suited for Augusta National.
Ludvig Aberg - $9,100
It'll be fun to see what the kid is made of, as he's set to make not only his Masters debut but his first start in a major championship this week. If you didn't already know, Aberg is the real deal. Perhaps the best pure driver of the ball we've seen since Rory McIlroy, I expect him to acquit himself well in his first circuit around Augusta National, though it could take a couple of years for the subtleties of the legendary course to take hold.
Hideki Matsuyama - $9,000
A win at Riviera on the strength of a lightning-bolt final round of 62 seems to have sparked something in the Japanese superstar. Matsuyama has been dialed since his Genesis win and, for the moment, is perhaps hitting the ball better than anyone on the planet not named Scottie Scheffler.
Matusyama's Masters record was impressive even before his 2021 victory and he's now finished outside the top-25 only once in his last nine trips to Augusta National. I'm eager to ride the wave with Hideki, though I'm sure I won't be the only one.
Cameron Smith - $8,900
As mentioned with players such as Rahm and Koepka, it's difficult to tell exactly where the form is with LIV players. However, I think it's safe to say that Smith isn't playing at the level he was in 2022 when he won the PLAYERS and the Open Championship while also posting a T3 in the Masters.
That's not to say that Smith can't contend or even win this week. He rounded out 2023 by recording a top-10 in the PGA Championship and a top-five in the U.S. Open, while his Masters track record is exemplary and contains three top-five results across seven starts at Augusta National. I'll keep an eye on ownership and won't hesitate to be overweight if he's getting overlooked by the masses, although his recent WD from LIV Miami due to food poisoning is worth keeping an eye on as the week progresses.
Dustin Johnson - $8,800
The 2020 Masters champion looked to be sleepwalking through last year's edition and the vast majority of his 2023 campaign. However, DJ did remind us what he's capable of with a top-10 at the U.S. Open at LACC. The enormously-talented veteran kicked off 2024 with a top-five at Mayakoba followed by a win at Las Vegas, though he's been relatively quiet in subsequent LIV starts this season. His talent level and major championship know-how are elite, though it's fair to wonder if DJ can still find any gear higher than cruise control.
Justin Thomas - $8,700
An encouraging start to the year seemed to signal that JT's 2023 struggles were behind him, but things appear to have unraveled quickly in recent weeks. The first missed cut of his career at TPC Sawgrass was followed by a disheartening outing at Valspar that included one of the worst putting performances of his career.
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) April 3, 2024
If those weren't enough warning bells, Thomas' decision to part ways with veteran caddie Bones Mackay just a week before the Masters is a full-on four-alarm siren. He'll have Patrick Cantlay's former looper Matt Minister on the bag in Augusta, but no matter who is toting the sticks, JT will need to put four rounds together to contend, something he's struggled mightily to do consistently for quite some time.
Tony Finau - $8,600
Finau recently brought some life to what had been an otherwise sleepy 2024 with a runner-up effort in Houston. It marked just his second top-10 of the year. Though the results haven't shown it, he's actually been under-the-radar good from T2G this year while fighting a mostly ice-cold putter. He drove the ball poorly at the tail end of the Florida Swing before putting forth his best statistical week of the year OTT in Houston.
Big Tony's Masters CV is rock solid. He's never missed a cut at Augusta National and half of six career Masters starts have resulted in top-10 finishes. He'll likely gain steam with the DFS crowd as the week progresses and he's a terrific option for those playing single-entry events on this slate.
Cameron Young - $8,500
Is this dude ever going to win a golf tournament? I can't decide if the lack of victories is Cam Young's fault or just plain old bad luck. He shot 68 in the final round of the Valspar en route to finishing second and a 66 on Sunday at the Cognizant to finish fourth. Despite his lack of dominance in rank-and-file events, Young has been a noticeable force in major championships, logging four top-10 finishes -- including a T7 in last year's Masters -- despite having just two years' worth of major starts under his belt.
In the mold of a Brooks Koepka or a Will Zalatoris, Young is the rare player who is actually more likely to win on a challenging major championship layout than on a run-of-the-mill Tour stop birdie-fest venue. He's all the way legit from T2G but he'll need to find a spike week from his short game to finally find the winner's circle.
Mid-Priced PGA DFS Plays
Collin Morikawa - $8,400
Oh, our dear, sweet prince...what have they done to my beautiful boy? I'm not sure if it's the commercials or the assortment of coaches, trainers, and managers, but this isn't the same Morikawa that won two major championships by age 24. Once on a generationally great trajectory as an iron player, the Californian has actually lost strokes on approach in three of his last four starts as of this writing.
Collin Morikawa used to be an elite iron player ... what has happened that he ranks 52nd in approach on the PGA Tour?
Once an absolute sniper from 200, his strokes gained and proximity to the hole from that distance has seen immense regression over the last 2 years.
Proximity… pic.twitter.com/CBJyvCPtMi
— Byron Lindeque (@TheModelManiac) April 4, 2024
While the sky might appear to be falling, I still think Morikawa is great enough to put all the pieces together out of nowhere in a major championship environment, including Augusta National, where he's gone 5th-T10 in his last two Masters appearances.
Max Homa - $8,300
Maybe his first major championship top-10 in last year's Open will free up Homa in the majors? The sweet-swinger had struggled mightily in golf's biggest events before finally finding some success at Royal Liverpool. His Masters record isn't pretty, yet the biggest wins of Homa's career have come on challenging layouts such as Riviera, Torrey Pines, and Quail Hollow. My biggest concern isn't his track record in majors, it's his rather mediocre current form.
Bryson DeChambeau - $8,200
There's no need to make jokes at Bryson's expense, but he's yet to rewrite the Masters record books as some predicted after his U.S. Open win at Winged Foot. Once golf's Incredible Bulk, DeChambeau has slimmed down and limbered up with good results. He played high-quality golf last summer in the majors and has been a top-10 machine in LIV events this year. He'll look to top his best Masters finish, which remains a T21 that he recorded in 2016 as an amateur.
Sam Burns - $8,100
If you play PGA DFS long enough you're going to have "your guys". This is a group of golfers that you either have a very good feel for or always seem to get wrong. Unfortunately, Burns falls into the latter category for me, as I absolutely can't get a bead on the guy. While I know he's uber-talented, my personal history will force me to largely avoid him at the Masters.
Shane Lowry - $8,000
Lowry appears to have turned a corner at Augusta National after missing the cut in four of his first five Masters starts. The 2019 Open Champion has now reeled off four consecutive top-25 finishes at the Masters thanks in large part to driving the ball extremely well at ANGC. An encouraging Florida Swing included a pair of top-five finishes and a top-20 at THE PLAYERS. The big man's irons have been absolutely humming and I'm loving him as a dark horse contender this week.
Matt Fitzpatrick - $7,900
The 2022 U.S. Open champion has largely struggled to maintain the momentum from his breakthrough at The Country Club. Maybe the discovery that he'd been toting a long-forgotten extra weight will help get the Englishman back on track? A fifth-place PLAYERS finish was powered by his best statistical output in recent memory. Despite possessing a skill set that's fairly against type, Fitzy has made eight straight Masters cuts since coming up short of the weekend in his amateur debut and he scored a T10 in last year's edition.
Brian Harman - $7,800
The diminutive Georgia Bulldog will try to get a little home cookin' going this week on a layout that's historically been extremely kind to lefties. Since turning pro in 2009, Harman has made five Masters starts, making the cut in just two of those -- although he did score a T12 in the 2021 edition. His dominant win at Royal Liverpool last year proved that he possesses the mental toughness needed to win a major championship, while a couple of spike outings during the Florida Swing indicate that his game could be starting to fire.
This leaderboard @THEPLAYERS right now 👀
1. Xander Schauffele, Defending Olympic Gold Medalist
T2. Scottie Scheffler, Defending PLAYERS Champion
T2. Wyndham Clark, Defending U.S. Open Champion
4. Brian Harman, Defending The Open Champion pic.twitter.com/kamTGf3VjX— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 17, 2024
Jason Day - $7,700
Once upon a time, the Aussie seemed destined to slip on a green jacket after going T2-3rd in the first two Masters starts of his career. Day's length, towering ball flight, and elite short game are a natural fit for Augusta National. He's struggled in this event since recording a T5 in the 2019 edition.
An opening-round 67 last year was a nice reminder of what he's capable of when on point, though a final-round 80 demonstrated the flip side of the coin. Day appears healthy and looked sharp to open the year, but his iron play has trailed off as of late.
Sahith Theegala - $7,700
One of golf's most electric young performers, Theegala's game feels built for the spotlight. He soaked up his fair share of it in his Masters debut last year, racking up a ninth-place finish powered by a Sunday 67.
Theegala has some Spieth-like qualities, and like Spieth, it appears as though this Augusta National layout will accentuate the strengths of his game - short game wizardry and streaky-hot irons - while camouflaging his weaknesses, including the tendency to spray it off the tee. He's actually made big strides OTT this year and profiles as a high-upside GPP option on this slate.
Sungjae Im - $7,600
Impressive Masters resume includes a runner-up finish in his 2020 debut, as well as a T8 & T16 in three subsequent starts. Has been a ghost since kicking off 2024 with a T5 at The Sentry and is fighting through the most extended slump of his excellent pro career. We can trace Im's struggles to the irons, where he's lost strokes on Approach in seven of his last eight starts this year.
Tyrrell Hatton - $7,600
The sometimes-prickly, sometimes-hilarious Englishman actually got a couple of PGA Tour starts under his belt this year before taking a presumable truckload of cash to hop to LIV. He's struggled mightily at Augusta National and is one of the few golfers in history who hasn't been shy about sharing his less-than-sterling reviews of the golf course. I'd be interested in any other major at this price point, but can't pull the trigger on him this week.
Tommy Fleetwood - $7,500
A proven Masters performer, Tommy Lad has made the cut in six straight Masters since failing to make the weekend in his 2017 debut. All the tools to succeed are present, but Fleetwood's trademark explosiveness hasn't exactly translated to Augusta National, as he's logged just two sub-70 rounds in the Masters in his career. I'm a buyer at this price, so we won't get into his struggles to win on U.S. soil...
Corey Conners - $7,500
A ball-striking sniper, Conners sports a Jekyll-and-Hyde record at ANGC that includes three top-10s and two MCs across six career Masters starts. It's no surprise that he's again been excellent from T2G in 2024. As it always seems to be, his result in this year's edition will be tied directly to how his often-balky putter performs. He'll soak up a lot of DFS ownership with his Masters record and statistical profile.
Value-Priced PGA DFS Plays
Tom Kim - $7,400
The wunderkind has hit hard times of late. After withdrawing from THE PLAYERS with an illness, Kim missed the cut at Valero thanks to an abysmal second-round 78. He handled himself beautifully in his Masters debut last year, recording a T16. Despite his very bright long-term outlook, Kim is tough to trust at the moment, even at this reasonable price point.
Patrick Reed - $7,400
Is P-Reed the least popular Masters champion of the modern era? I still remember the deafening silence when he won the green jacket in 2018. Love him or hate him, Reed is undeniably a gamer, especially at Augusta National. He's recorded three top-10s since winning this event, including a from-out-of-left-field T4 in last year's edition when the doubt surrounding the ability of LIV golfers to cross over was at its peak. Speaking of LIV, Reed has been extremely quiet on that circuit in 2024. A bet on him is simply a bet on his Masters track record.
Min Woo Lee - $7,300
The exciting Aussie was cooking during the latter portion of 2023 with a run that included a T5 at the U.S. Open being capped off by a win at the Australian PGA Championship and a near miss at the Australian Open in November. However, the kitchen has been largely closed for Min Woo in 2024.
Always cooking 👨🍳🟧 #MinWooLee #LetHimCook pic.twitter.com/EYcVTfntHA
— Trackman Golf (@TrackManGolf) April 3, 2024
A runner-up finish in a spike performance at the Cognizant stands as his only top-25 result across his past six starts. Lee is an electric player who can get nuclear hot -- as evidenced by his record-tying front nine 30 in his 2022 Masters debut -- but there's been little indication that he's warming up at the moment which puts him in the "GPP Only" category for me this week.
Rickie Fowler - $7,300
Fowler's 2023 Rick-aissance included a win at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, a near-miss at the U.S. Open, and a Ryder Cup spot. Unfortunately, the fan favorite's impressive comeback journey appears to have stalled out in the new year. Fowler has been abysmal from T2G and hasn't finished inside the top 30 in any start this year.
Despite the downright ugly form, experienced Masters performers seem to have a way of finding themselves when they drive down Magnolia Lane, so I wouldn't be totally shocked if a guy who's made nine of 10 Masters cuts and seriously contended for a green jacket on a couple of occasions were to play above his head.
Justin Rose - $7,200
Most of what was said about Fowler above can be translated directly to Justin Rose. The veteran Englishman's form has been worse than spotty so far this year, but would anybody be surprised if he's sitting in the top 10 by the time Sunday afternoon rolls around? He has made the cut in 16 of 18 career starts at Augusta National and has twice been a Masters runner-up.
Russell Henley - $7,200
This stands out as one of the more shocking price tags on the slate for me. While Henley's form hasn't been consistently elite in 2024, he's still snagged a pair of top-five results this year. This a player who also possesses an excellent Masters track record. Henley recorded a stealthy T4 in last year's edition and has finished T31 or better in each of his last six trips to Augusta National. Count me in.
Adam Scott - $7,100
Sweet-swinging past Masters champion who is still very active on the PGA Tour. Scott certainly doesn't look 43 years old and hasn't started playing like it either, although the Florida Swing wasn't very kind to him. His recent Masters results were better in my mind than in reality, as he's only recorded two top-25 finishes in the last eight years, though he's yet another one of these veterans who is still capable of contending in this tournament.
Si Woo Kim - $7,100
Like Russell Henley, Si Woo's price tag feels a bit jarring to me. There's certainly a lot of volatility that comes with the talented South Korean who broke his putter while in serious contention at Augusta National a few years ago, though there's real upside there as well. He's made the cut in six consecutive Masters starts with top-25 finishes in half of those appearances.
The recent form has been sneaky great with a T6 at THE PLAYERS standing as a highlight. Kim has gained an average of 5.9 strokes T2G over his last five tournaments and ranks first among this Masters field in Good Drives Gained this year.
Stephan Jaeger - $7,100
A prolific winner on the KFT circuit, Jaeger finally clinched his maiden PGA Tour victory a couple of weeks ago in Houston. He's worked hard to gain speed and it's paid off for him with a noticeable distance increase off the tee, which will certainly come in handy at Augusta National. This will be his Masters debut and just his fifth career start in a major championship. First-timers are always tough to predict, but I have less interest in Jaeger than several other players priced around him.
Nick Taylor - $7,000
Taylor's clutch gene in playoff wins at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open and this year's WM Phoenix Open has been impressive. It makes me think he's got the mental toughness needed to rise to the occasion should he ever find himself in major championship contention. A T29 in his lone Masters start in 2020 is encouraging, though it also stands as his best-ever finish in a major. I wish he had a bit more firepower off the tee...
Phil Mickelson - $7,000
Say what you want about Mickelson, but what he's been able to accomplish in the twilight of his career has been pretty remarkable, most recently a jaw-dropping T2 in last year's Masters. Back-to-back rounds of 80-68 at LIV Hong Kong last month sort of perfectly encapsulate where the 53-year-old's game currently resides, but I don't know how you can hate the idea of a tiny GPP sprinkle after last year's Masters performance.
Harris English - $7,000
Another one of the million Georgia Bulldogs in the field, English has found some major championship success in his rock-solid career. Most notably logging top-eight finishes in three of the last four U.S. Opens. However, his best result in four career Masters starts is a T21 and he's never carded a sub-70 at Augusta National. That said, his 2024 form is encouraging, especially his recent iron play, so a mini-Masters breakout isn't out of the question.
Cameron Davis - $6,900
A talented Aussie who can't seem to find consistency. Five years ago I'd have told you that Davis would have multiple PGA Tour wins and be seriously contending in majors by now. A T4 in last year's PGA Championship was a glimpse at what he's capable of, but his season to this point has just been more of the same up-and-down output with no real signs that a breakout is coming this week.
Mathieu Pavon - $6,900
The mystery man shocked U.S. golf fans by winning at Torrey Pines in January. Pavon then followed up with a T3 at Pebble Beach in a rain-shortened Signature Event. The Frenchman has played an eclectic schedule since, most recently recording a T5 in the Porsche Singapore Classic a couple of weeks ago. He logged a random T25 in the U.S. Open back in 2018 but has missed the cut in three other major championship starts. This will be his Masters debut and he can best be described as a wild card.
Chris Kirk - $6,900
One of golf's best stories, Kirk kicked off 2024 with a surprising win against an elite field at Kapalua. He's been solid, if unspectacular since, consistently making cuts but rarely scaring the top of the leaderboard. The former UGA Bulldog has been solid in previous Masters starts and his aforementioned victory on the undulating elevations of the Plantation Course is something of an Augusta National crossover. His upside is questionable, but another solid Masters result is within reach for him.
Tiger Woods - $6,800
I have nothing but love and respect for the GOAT, but the completion of 72 holes would have to be considered a victory at this point. He has understandably fired just one sub-70 at Augusta National since his unforgettable 2019 win, and the last time he was able to complete any tournament was the Genesis Invitational in February of last year. Tiger inferred that he would play once a month or so in 2024 and I'm surprised we didn't see a Florida Swing start.
🚨JUST IN: Notah Begay provides new insight into Tiger Woods’ Masters preparation: "For the past couple months, he's been trying to find a way to recover. He can play the golf. We always knew the question was going to be 'Can he walk the 72 holes?' That's still up in the air. But… pic.twitter.com/oFRGMsOtEj
— TWLEGION (@TWlegion) April 3, 2024
Sergio Garcia - $6,800
Past Masters champion who has fallen by the wayside with one top-25 and four missed cuts at Augusta National since slipping on the green jacket in 2017. One of the most talented ball strikers of his generation, Garcia grabbed the golden parachute that LIV offered and has been rarely heard from since, though he is making some noise at LIV Miami as of this latest update.
J.T. Poston - $6,800
The Mailman's delivery system has been broken since leaving the West Coast. Poston's last top-25 result came at Riviera in February and he's lost strokes T2G in each of his last three starts. The North Carolina native made his first Masters cut last year, scoring a T34 in his second trip down Magnolia Lane. Poston's skill set translates better to the scoring conditions at run-of-the-mill Tour stops than major championship tests.
Sepp Straka - $6,700
After a career year in 2023, the Sepptic Tank has been chugging along slowly this year. Maybe a T16 at TPC Sawgrass indicates he's close to figuring things out? A T7 in the PGA Championship and a T2 at The Open sort of force you to be aware of the big man in major championship environments, and I don't hate him as a GPP dart throw in this spot.
Ryan Fox - $6,700
A well-traveled international grinder, Fox has earned some major championship starts in recent years and made the cut in all four in 2023. He scored a solid T26 in his debut Masters appearance last year. The New Zealand native was hot down the stretch in '23 but has been unable to carry that momentum into this year, as he's battled issues off the tee. His lone top-25 result of the year came in Dubai back in January.
Keegan Bradley - $6,700
Following a stout 2023 campaign that ended in Ryder Cup heartbreak, the blue-collar ball striker nearly won the Sony Open at the outset of 2024. Keegs has been relatively quiet since. His often off-the-charts ball-striking numbers have been muted in recent months, while his struggles with the flatstick appear to have returned after a magical reprieve on the greens last year. He's a pro's pro who can get around Augusta National, but he's never finished better than T22 in seven career Masters starts.
Nicolai Hojgaard - $6,700
An up-and-comer who hits it a mile and already has multiple wins on the DP World Tour at just 23. Hojgaard earned a Ryder Cup spot last year and was seriously in the mix for a PGA Tour victory at Torrey Pines earlier this year. Making his Masters debut, I think he'll be one to watch at Augusta National for years to come thanks in part to his prodigious length, though his game has nosedived in his last few U.S. starts.
Eric Cole - $6,600
The late bloomer is set to make his Masters debut at 35 years old. After years of scuffling on golf's mini-tours, Cole broke through to win PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors last year. He lived in the top five across multiple Swing Season starts and has already recorded six top-25s in 2024. Making his Masters debut, Cole tends to spray it off the tee -- which won't be a big problem here -- though his lack of length is concerning.
Adam Hadwin - $6,600
Jessica's husband is set to make his first Masters appearance since 2020 thanks to a solid, if uneven, 2023 campaign. That volatility has followed Hadwin into 2024, as he's recorded three top-10s and three MCs across his nine starts this year. Recorded a T24 in the 2018 Masters, he's the definition of a boom/bust GPP play.
Erik Van Rooyen - $6,600
The South African was an emotional winner in Mexico during the Swing Season and has shown some signs in 2024, including a runner-up finish at the Cognizant. A streaky ball striker, EVR has failed to crack the code at Augusta National. He was forced to WD in his 2020 Masters debut after an opening-round 76 and followed with rounds of 73-79 to miss the cut in his second Masters start in 2022.
Jake Knapp - $6,600
Golf's newest Paul Bunyan, Knapp's booming distance, silky swing, and quixotic journey to the PGA Tour captured the imagination of many as the 29-year-old rookie was en route to victory in Mexico earlier this year. There are a lot of reasons why this shouldn't work -- Knapp's Masters and major championship inexperience being chief among them -- but distance can be a great equalizer at Augusta National (just peep Cam Champ's Masters results). I don't mind taking a few GPP fliers.
Jake Knapp ran out of money while trying to qualify for the PGA Tour, so he spent 9 months working as a bouncer at a nightclub to keep his dream alive.
Now, just 2 years later, he has won the PGA Tour's Mexico Open, taking home $1.45 million.
It also got him into the Masters. pic.twitter.com/uLXDaXQ9Jz
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) February 25, 2024
Adrian Meronk - $6,500
A Ryder Cup snub was the catalyst for Meronk to jump to LIV following a breakout 2023 campaign that included two DP World Tour wins. He was the first-ever Polish player to participate in the Masters when making his debut last year, though rounds of 73-76 left him short of the weekend. Meronk opened 2024 with strong outings in Dubai and has been a top-10 machine since joining LIV. He is an intriguing dark horse GPP option.
Luke List - $6,500
The PGA Tour's Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh, List possesses million-dollar ball striking and a five-cent short game. Though he'll likely be up to the task from T2G, Augusta National's rigid requirements on and around the greens will likely continue to stump List, just as they did when he shot 77-75 in his last Masters appearance in 2022.
Thorbjorn Olesen - $6,500
The Piss Bear returned to glory with a win in Thailand last year. Olesen managed to play well throughout 2023 and into this year, when he scored another DP World Tour victory in the United Arab Emirates. A notoriously bad traveler, that form hasn't translated to U.S. soil for Olesen, as he'd missed the cut in three of four PGA Tour attempts in 2024 before a promising showing at Valero.
His Masters record does pique some interest, though, as a T6 in his 2013 debut was followed by a T44 and a T21 in spot appearances in the 2014 & 2019 editions.
Nick Dunlap - $6,500
The first amateur winner on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson, Dunlap would love to follow in Lefty's footsteps at Augusta National. His win at La Quinta was no fluke, as the Alabama star won last year's U.S. Am, competed at the 2023 U.S. Open, and was the world's top-ranked amateur when he turned pro. It's impossible to predict how someone will react to playing their first Masters, but Dunlap has proven himself to be capable of handling extraordinary situations.
Bargain-Basement PGA DFS Plays
Emiliano Grillo - $6,400
The fiery Argentinian will be returning to the Masters for the first time since 2019. Grillo impressed with a T17 in his 2016 debut but hasn't found similar success in just two subsequent trips to Augusta National. Won at Colonial last year and a T6 in The Open was a reminder of what he's capable of. Five top-25s in 2024 with a T8 at the API being his most recent highlight. Grillo is an interesting dart throw option.
Kurt Kitayama - $6,400
Surprise 2023 winner at Bay Hill missed the cut in his Masters debut last year thanks to rounds of 75-77. However, Kitayama earned a return invitation to Augusta National thanks to a T4 in the 2023 PGA Championship. He has been flying under the radar to open the year but has been good overall both OTT and on approach that led to solid finishes at Phoenix (T8) and TPC Sawgrass (T19).
Bubba Watson - $6,400
Two-time Masters champ who has moved on to the greener pastures of LIV as captain of the Range Goats. Yes...that's a real sentence that I just wrote. Bubba's had some fun outings at Augusta National since slipping on his last green jacket in 2014 but his last sub-70 Masters round came in the 2020 edition. His LIV output this year has been a bit more encouraging than what we saw from him in 2023.
Gary Woodland - $6,400
Woody is playing in the last year of his exemption for winning the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble. The poor guy has experienced almost nothing but bad luck since that breakthrough win. Woodland has dealt with hip and shoulder injuries that forced him to miss time, and most recently had to undergo honest-to-goodness brain surgery to remove a lesion that was causing all sorts of problems. I worry that he's tried to come back to action too quickly, but he recently gained a whopping 8.8 strokes with the irons in Houston.
Taylor Moore - $6,400
A bit of a late bloomer who has some grit to his game. Moore recorded a T39 in his Masters debut last year shortly after winning his first PGA Tour title at the Valspar. Relatively quiet 2024 has been ratcheted up recently with a T12 in defense of his Valspar title and a runner-up finish beside Scottie Scheffler and Tony Finau in Houston. A poor man's Xander Schauffele who isn't elite in any facet but can be solid across the board.
Austin Eckroat - $6,300
A young gunner out of Oklahoma State, Eckroat has been on a collision course with success, notching four top-10s as a PGA Tour rookie last year - including a T10 at the U.S. Open. Things have escalated this year, as he captured his first PGA Tour victory at the Cognizant Classic in March. Masters debuts are notoriously tricky, but the kid is a stud.
First win in his 50th TOUR start! 🏆
Austin Eckroat has won @The_Cognizant for his maiden PGA TOUR victory. pic.twitter.com/RRyiyvmTYf
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 4, 2024
Ryo Hisatsune - $6,300
Many have the 21-year-old pegged as the next Hideki Matsuyama. He's already put together an impressive CV, winning on the Japan Challenge Tour three times and bagging a DP World Tour victory last year en route to earning that circuit's Rookie of the Year honor. He has been trying to find his way on the PGA Tour in 2024 with moderate success. Playing on a Special Invitation, this will be his Masters debut.
Charl Schwartzel - $6,300
The former Masters champion is plying his trade on the LIV circuit. Schwartzel has remained largely competitive at Augusta National since winning the green jacket in 2011, recording a third-place finish in 2017 and a T10 just two years ago. Popped for a runner-up finish at the Dunhill Links to close 2023 and scored another second place at LIV Jeddah last month.
Lucas Glover - $6,300
The magic gained by the switch to a broomstick putter late last year led the veteran to a pair of PGA Tour victories down the stretch in 2023. However, that spell seems to have dissipated, as Glover had lost strokes putting in five of his last six starts heading into the Valero Texas Open. The ball striking has still been good, but that hasn't been enough for him at Augusta National, as he's posted just one top-25 finish in nine career Masters appearances.
Danny Willett - $6,300
The former Masters champ is recovering from shoulder surgery and is reportedly "touch and go" to compete this year. Avoid him.
Denny McCarthy - $6,200
One of the world's best putters, McCarthy has put together a couple of strong seasons in recent years. He's set to make his Masters debut and is coming in off his best effort of the season at the Valero Texas Open. His T2G production is always a concern with D-Mac but he managed to rank top-10 in the field in SG: APP at TPC San Antonio.
Lee Hodges - $6,200
Will make his Masters debut thanks to winning the 3M Open last year. Hodges hasn't recorded a top-10 since his victory in Minnesota.
Adam Schenk - $6,200
Schenk qualified for the 2023 TOUR Championship in what was his best season as a pro by a wide margin. Schenk is set to make his Masters debut as a result of last year's success.He missed the cut in all three of his 2023 major championship appearances and has struggled with the irons while logging ho-hum results this year.
Peter Malnati - $6,200
Peppy Peter was the shocking winner at Innisbrook last month. It was his first PGA Tour win since the 2015 Sanderson Farms Championship. A true "King of the Mules", this will mark Malnati's first career Masters start and just his fourth career major championship start. He's never made the cut in a major, and even if that trend continues this week he'll somehow put a positive spin on it.
Grayson Murray - $6,200
One of 2024's several longshot winners, Murray's Sony Open victory was perhaps the most shocking outside of Nick Dunlap's win as an amateur. A one-time prodigy who's long been considered a bad boy with talent, this redux version of Murray hasn't exactly handled the success well on the course, as he's logged just one top-25 finish since winning at Waialae.
Christo Lamprecht (A) - $6,100
The South African skyscraper will tee it up in his first Masters thanks to his victory in The Amateur Championship last June. The Georgia Tech star reached the ranking of top amateur in the world last year and also had some fun moments at Royal Liverpool while carding an opening-round 66 to make the cut at The Open.
Camilo Villegas - $6,100
Once a superstar-in-the-making, Villegas will make his first Masters -- and major championship -- start since 2015 thanks to his remarkable win in Bermuda last November. His journey has been both tragic and inspirational, as Villegas lost his 22-month-old daughter Mia to cancer in 2020. That devastating event eventually led him to rededicate himself to golf and earn this invite back to Augusta National. I won't be rostering him, but I'll absolutely be pulling for him.
What a win for Camilo Villegas! Been through absolute hell with the death of his young daughter in 2020. Has kept at it despite struggling with his golf the last couple years. Now seeing results. T2 last week to EVR and now first win in 9 years. What a two weeks on tour. pic.twitter.com/7irjhVp4T7
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) November 12, 2023
Jasper Stubbs (A) - $6,100
The 22-year-old Aussie won the Asia-Pacific Am at Royal Melbourne to punch his Masters ticket. Stubbs wasn't considered a top-tier amateur before the surprising win, though he did follow up by recording an impressive T21 at the Australian Open to close out 2023.
Zach Johnson - $6,100
The former Masters champion got schooled by his counterpart Luke Donald as a Ryder Cup captain in Rome, had some cringe-worthy moments on the Netflix show Full Swing, and was caught on video absolutely dressing down a fan who made the mistake of calling him "sir" at the WM Phoenix Open. Tough stretch for Zatch and it ain't gonna get any better this week.
Santiago De la Fuente (A) - $6,100
Latin American Amateur champion and a collegiate All-American at the University of Houston as a senior in 2023 when he finished 38th in the PGA TOUR University points rankings. He made the cut in the Mexico Open earlier this year and is a member of the ARA program for elite Latin American golfers.
Stewart Hagestad (A) - $6,000
An amateur in name only, the 33-year-old Hagestad will be making his third career Masters start. He scored a T36 to take Low Am honors in his 2017 debut but struggled mightily in the 2022 edition.
Neal Shipley (A) - $6,000
Runner-up to Nick Dunlap in the 2023 U.S. Amateur to secure an invitation to his first Masters. Won the Southwestern Invitational collegiate event earlier this year and was a steady presence in many 2023 amateur events.
Fred Couples - $6,000
The beloved former Masters champion was a serious threat to compete at Augusta National for many years past his prime. Couples' made cut last year was his first time qualifying for the weekend since 2018. The 64-year-old hasn't shown much in limited Champions Tour starts this year.
Mike Weir - $6,000
The Canadian lefty captured his green jacket in 2003 and will captain the International squad in the President's Cup later this year. Weir has made just two Masters cuts since 2011.
Vijay Singh - $6,000
The 2000 Masters champion has followed up his Hall of Fame career with a hugely successful second act on the Champions Tour, where he won an event last year and continues to grind it out. However, he hasn't been competitive at the Masters in recent years and has frequently struggled to break 80 since last making the cut in 2018.
Jose Maria Olazabal - $6,000
A two-time Masters champion, the Spanish legend will be making his 35th Masters appearance this year. Ollie impressively made the weekend in the 2021 edition, though he's failed to break 77 since.
