With the masters fast approaching, the main question everyone is asking is the same in the golf world: Who are you choosing to win at the Augusta Nationals in November? With a tremendous field of many of the best professionals and amateurs in the world, the final major of 2020 and the first Thursday of the 2020-21 season should be epic from the first round.
There are plenty of stories this week. Tiger Woods is defending his improbable but stunning 2019 green jacket. Brian de Chembu has chosen the event as Augusta promises to turn it into a long drive competition. John Reham and Dustin Johnson are looking to end the year with a start. Meanwhile, Rory McClroy is still in search of his first masters, and Jordan Spieth will be hoping for some of the waves he lost here a few years ago.
So what’s happening this week on Augusta? Let’s take a look at the full set of predictions and selections from our CBS sports experts. Check out the full set of differences by William Hill Sportsbook with the Tea Times in Thursday’s first round.
2020 masters expert picks, forecasts
Kyle Porter, golf writer
Winner – John Raheem (10-1): I’m a little worried about all the hole-meditation I got after skipping one on Tuesday the 16th, but now it’s been picked up for over a month. In the last three months, no one (not even Brian de Chembue) has been better than T, and he’s probably the most perfect of all the top ones. He’s already felt the heat of winning big-big events, so I don’t think that’s going to be an issue. Looks like we’re getting a trio of major winners for the first time in 2020.
Sleeper – Bernd Weisberger (200-1): The cut at the Masters was never missed, and his T-to-Green game has been on par with Rory McLeroy and Tyrell Hutton over the past three months. That sounds like great value at 200-1! If you want someone a little less, Louis Ost Stuizen at 55-1 is your guy.
Top 10 Lockers – Dustin Johnson: Six straight top-six finishes and he finishes in the top 10 here in his last four attempts. I’m not sure if there’s more than two-current current-history commbo for anyone at the top in this field.
Star who certainly can’t win – Tiger Woods: Is the 15-time main winner, who is also the defending champion, considered a star? Tiger doesn’t go back to winning the sixth green jacket, and I think he knows. If we only talk about 20-1 or better golfers, then I would say Brooks Kopeka. His performance last week was the gold of the fool who put it so well. (I should note that I also said that Bryson would definitely not win the US Open.)
Top 5 in order: John Rahm, Bryson D. Chembue, Dustin Johnson, Xander Schfell
Surprising forecast: I will get out of this because it is going to happen. De Chembue will again destroy the world from the team, but he will not win as he will be the mediator 160 yards and inside. Then critics (like me) will say, “Look it doesn’t work!” Except it works. The point isn’t that De Chambeu is going to win every time, just that he dials his odds of winning a little bit in each tournament. In the long run, the results will be there, even if it’s not every single week.
Lowest round: 64 (-8)
Winner Score: 271 (-17)
Winner’s Sunday score: 68 (-4)
Chip Patterson, author
Winner – John Raheem (12-1): Some golfers have distanced themselves from their peers by teeing, running the power of huge drives to shorten courses and give themselves as many wedge shots as possible. Others have been true to their iron game and differentiate themselves from the field on approach shots. Both have a way of winning the Major, as we’ve seen from both 2020 winners. But since August Gusta is a true test of skill, I prefer someone who checks all the boxes. Reham has been one of the best T-to-Green players since the start of 2019, and he’s not all behind the statistically elite performance at excessive driving distance or approach shots. His creativity and shot-filled bag make him an exciting choice to win in the most unique version of this pay generation masters. Weather and daylight potentially affect tee times and pairs, not to mention the game, I think this creativity and willingness to adapt can be an advantage.
Sleeper – Justin Rose (50-1): We are usually challenged to choose a deeper sleeper, but I have to pay attention to this incredible value. Rose has been the main champion with two runner-up finishes in the Masters since 2015. Its game has been in place throughout the year as part of a change of some devices, but its peak includes a fairly clear win. Rose is listed on board at the same price as Scotty Schaffler and Jordan Spieth, and has had greater championship descent and greater success than Schaffler. Rose should be close to the players at 25-1 or 30-1, so I can’t pass this value.
Top 10 Lockers – Patrick Cantley: The lead was sniffed during the busy nine in 2019 and since then there have been more consistent players on the PGA Tour. Kentley currently has plenty of inspiration after winning the T8 at Shriners and the Zozo Championship at Sherwood, and two disappointing performances in the first two majors of 2020.
Star who certainly can’t win – Rory McLeroy: I root McLeroy to finish the sclam and win the Masters, but I don’t think that’s going to be the year. There seem to be a few too many flaws in his acting that this will be the year he finally completes. Since McLaughlin’s own entry, he has been carding enough birdies to win golf tournaments, but the bogeys, missed putts and mashits have forced him to leave at the end of the 5 holes.
Top 5 in order: John Reham, Matthew Wolf, Xander Schaufel, Patrick Cantley, Bryson D. Chembu
Surprising forecast: T for analysis related to pre-championship hype and driving distance and stroke, good, old, different, different, different, different, different, different, different, different, different, different, different, different, different, different, different, different, different, different. The different parts we haven’t seen greens in this environment before, but thanks to the sub-air and select Agriarian armies, I’m confident we’ll see the competition equalize as we get closer to the hole.
Lowest round: 64 (-8)
Winner Score: 273 (-15)
Winner’s Sunday score: 69 (-3)
Who wins the master, and what long shots will stun the golfing world? Visit Sportsline to see the projected leaderboard, From all those models who have nailed six golf majors and called Patrick Reed a big win two years ago.
Kyle Boone, author
Winner – Brooks Koepka (16-1): After retreating from the US Open and battling injuries over the last several years, there are some clear doubts that the Koepka we get this week may not be the same Kopeka we saw on top of it. But even in less than 100% of the time it is in the mix of things. Starting with a top-5 finish at the Vivint Houston Open last week, he is striking himself again and looking for health just in time.
Sleeper – Patrick Reed (28-1): The 2018 Masters Champion has quietly put up a nice string of golfs in the last few months with a T8 finish in the T2 Championship and a T8 finish to show it in both the PGA Championship and the US Open. So in search of the second green jacket of his career, he will gain momentum in his navy. And he has generally played well in the Augusta Gusta National, missing only two cuts in his six performances.
Top 10 Lockers – Dustin Johnson (9-1): Earlier this fall the DJ had to retreat from two events as he battled Kovid-19, so his evil good year has become a bit vague. Prior to that, he finished at the US Open and finished second or better in the PGA Championship, Northern Trust, BMW Championship and Tour Championship. Dchambu is catching his attention this week as to how he gets to the course with his driver, but the DJ should be arguably the favorite after the way he has consistently performed over the last few months.
Star who certainly can’t win – Rory McLeroy: Five times in the last six years, McLeroy has posted a top-10 finish in the Masters. But he didn’t finish better than the fourth, and he still hasn’t managed to jump. Although he’s played a good game this year, this doesn’t look like the setup where he goes in his first green jacket.
Top 5 in order: Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Brian De Chambeu, Justin Thomas, Xander Schaufel
Surprising forecast: Tiger Woods missed the cut. Probably not That The forecast is surprising considering how its year has gone. He missed a cut at the US Open and was not really in the PGA Championship or the competition he played in the last five tournaments. But Woods is the defending champion and is the best to ever play August Gusta. Maybe he channels some 2019 magic, and if he does, I’m pretty much here for him, but it looks like the initial ejection is where he’s after an overall quite disappointing season for him.
Lowest round: 64 (-8)
Winner Score: 273 (-15)
Winner’s Sunday score: 70 (-2)
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