The 89th playing of the Masters kicks off Thursday at the famed Augusta National Golf Club that suffered some damage due to Hurricane Helene in September, but looks to be recovered pretty nicely overall, but without several trees. No. 16, the heralded Par 3- particularly on Sunday-looks different without the trees. Definitely a different look. N0. 10 is different too. Nonetheless, this Major Championship is always a gem, and a field of 95 players will compete for the Green Jacket, the undeniable legacy one player will create by winning the Masters, along with the $3.6 million check that goes with winning, And the 750 Fed Ex Cup Points. The winner will be exempt for life to play in the Masters, and will be eligible to play in all majors through 2029. Quite a reward for winning this spectacular and pressure filled event.

Scottie Scheffler is the favorite. Rory is right on his heels. Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Aberg, who finished second to Scheffler in 2024 and just recently won the Genesis Invitational that was played at Torrey Pines this year due to the wildfires in L.A. that kept the tournament away from Riviera. Not a bad consolation prize getting to play at Torrey if you can’t play at Riviera. It was an impressive showing by the 25 year old Aberg from Sweden.

Hideki Matsuyama, a previous winner at Augusta National in 2021, is a threat. Other LIV players who could make statements are five time major winner Brooks Koepka, who won the U.S. Open in 2017 and 2018, and the PGA Championship in ’18, ’19 and ’23. Brooks has also finished tied for 2nd at the Masters in 2019 and 2023. Dustin Johnson, the 2020 Masters champion, and a two time major winner, will still be a factor at age 40. He also won the U.S. Open in 2016 at Oakmont. I like Phil, the 6-time major winner and three time Masters champion in 2004, 2006 and 2010, to make some noise. A sleeper to me and several other people is Joaquin Niemann, the 25 year old from Chile. He’s won twice on the LIV Tour this season, and LIV players have shown they can win Majors. Two other LIV players who will contend are 2022 Open Championship champion Cam Smith, and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed. There’s another contender who I will list below my winner as my darkhorse to win the 89th playing.

Here are key Odds for the 89th Masters

Scottie: 4/1

Rory: 6/1. If he putts well, he can definitely capture the Green Jacket for the first time in his decorated career and capture his first major since 2014 while achieving the Career Grand Slam.

Jon Rahm: 14/1. Another definite contender from the LIV Tour.

Aberg: 16/1

Morikawa: 16/1

Xander Schauffele: 18/1. Been injured, but won two majors last season, the PGA Championship at Valhalla and the Open Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland.

Bryson: 20/1

Justin, JT: 22/1. Possible if he can putt well. Playing better lately.

Niemann: 28/1

Hideki: 28/1

Koepka: 30/1

Jordan Spieth: 33/1. Hard to believe in him right now. He’s a past champion in 2015, but he’s been in a slump for several years now. Can’t get out of his own way on the course.

Tommy Fleetwood: 35/1. I like the Englishman’s chances.

Shane Lowry: 35/1. The Northern Ireland native has a good shot to be in the hunt.

Viktor Hovland: 35/1. Bit of a head case right now, but the talent is there and won the Valspar Championship three weeks ago.

Patrick Cantlay: 35/1. If he putts well, he can contend. I guess you can say that about everybody.

Tyrrell Hatton: 40/1. Lost track of him since he joined the LIV Tour, but talented if he can stay composed mentally.

Bob McIntyre: 55/1. Outside shot.

Min Woo Lee: 55/1. Not a lot of experience at Augusta National, but just won the Texas Children Houston Open two weeks ago.

Will Zalatoris: 55/1. Been injured a good bit, but seems back to a regular on tour though haven’t seen his name much on leaderboards this season.

Cam Smith: 60/1. If he putts well, he’ll contend. Can putt with the best of ’em when he’s got the flat stick cookin’.

Sepp Straka: 80/1. Always bullish on Georgia Bulldogs at Augusta.

Dustin: 80/1

Sergio Garcia: 80/1. 2017 Masters champion, but was gag city at Doral last Sunday in the LIV event.

Patrick Reed: 90/1

Phil: 120/1. I like Mickelson to make some noise this weekend.

Weather: Prime scoring conditions this week/weekend.

Thursday: 76, Sunny, wind S 9 MPH.

Friday: 72, Partly sunny. W 15 MPH. That’s interesting.

Saturday: 68, Mostly sunny. NNW 7.

Sunday: 72, Sunny. NNW 6.

Couldn’t ask for better weather.


How to Follow: ****All times Central.****

Thursday-Friday, coverage on Masters.com from 6:30 A.M.-6:30 P.M.

ESPN: 2-6:30 P.M.

Saturday-Sunday, 9:15 A.M.-6 P.M. all kinds of options on Masters.com from featured groups to featured holes to the honorary starters on Thursday morning at 6:30.

Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson are the honorary starters. That’s worth watching. Greatness personified.

Saturday-Sunday. 11 AM-1 P.M. Paramount+. 1-6 P.M. CBS.

Will be a prolific weekend of Major Championship Golf with the first major of the

season at quite likely the best venue/atmosphere in golf.

Winner

It’s always tough predicting golf, and the majors are as unpredictable as it gets. But I’m

going to take the most predictably outstanding player on tour. Give me the

28 year old from Ridgewood, New Jersey, via the University of Texas, to capture his third

Green Jacket in four years, with his other two coming in 2022 and 2024. Jack Nicklaus is

the only golfer who has accomplished that feat, which he did in 1963, ’65 and ’66. Those

were three of his six Masters titles. Jack’s still the greatest in my book.

Scottie Scheffler

Darkhorse

I’ll take the 35 year old, who will turn 36 on Saturday. The Georgia Bulldog from Macon,

who just won the Arnie is an excellent players and putter which always works well at

Augusta National.

Russell Henley-good value at 55/1.