The 2026 Masters Tournament kicks off this Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club, marking the prestigious event’s 90th anniversary. With a competitive field of 91 players, defending champion Rory McIlroy is among those to watch. The 36-year-old golfer made headlines last season by completing his career grand slam, winning after a nail-biting playoff against Justin Rose despite a dramatic bogey on the final hole.
Current odds for the 2026 Masters list McIlroy at +1200 for a chance to secure another green jacket. Two-time champion Scottie Scheffler is the favorite at +500. Other notable contenders include Jon Rahm (+950), Bryson DeChambeau (+1000), and Ludvig Åberg (+1500). Before finalizing your predictions, consider checking out Sia Nejad’s expert picks for the Masters.
Noted for his betting insights in golf and other sports, Nejad has excelled in outright and first-round leader markets as well as head-to-head matchups. Since the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge, he has a solid record of 52-37-5 in head-to-head matchups, yielding 11.67 units—over 12 units of profit during this period.
In 2023, Nejad successfully predicted Wyndham Clark as a +7500 longshot winner at the Wells Fargo Championship. His betting advice contributed to two first-round leaders and three outright winners during the debut of “The Early Wedge,” and in February 2026, a user on Discord credited him for winning a $100,000 DFS contest thanks to his guidance for the Genesis Invitational.
As the 2026 Masters approaches, Nejad has identified his preferred sleepers and competitors to bypass. Interestingly, he is not backing DeChambeau, despite the latter being a Masters favorite. The 32-year-old has enjoyed 16 professional victories, including U.S. Open titles in 2020 and 2024, but faced challenges at Augusta National last season, finishing T-5 after a final-round score of 75.
Although DeChambeau has placed in the top six at Augusta in recent years and was the low amateur in 2016, he has also missed the cut in 2022 and 2023. His mixed history at the Masters includes as many missed cuts (four) as top-20 finishes in nine starts. Discover more players to avoid here.
Meanwhile, Nejad is optimistic about Xander Schauffele, who has been regaining his notable form since his two major wins in 2024. “Xander is clearly starting to recapture some of the impressive form we witnessed two years ago,” Nejad commented. Schauffele has consistently performed well at the Masters, with three consecutive top-10 finishes, a runner-up position in 2019, and a third-place result in 2021.
Nejad’s finalized 2026 Masters picks include a longshot player valued at nearly 1000-1, selected for his strong short game and long iron proficiency at Augusta. Those interested in maximizing their bets should visit SportsLine for full details.
