2026 Masters Tournament Preview: Top Contenders & Picks

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From The Smylie Kaufman Show

Highlights and Predictions for the 2026 Masters Tournament

Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, is gearing up for another exciting Masters Tournament. Known for its prestigious design by Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie, this iconic course has been a golfer's paradise since its opening in 1932. The tournament, played on a par 72 course stretching beyond 7500 yards, invites the world’s top golfers to face off for the championship, with the course record standing at 63.

The upcoming 2026 Masters Tournament has already started to heat up with speculations and analyses of potential winners among the golf enthusiasts. DraftKings Sportsbook lists 20 players with odds of 50 to 1 or shorter, marking them as front runners. Leading the pack is Scotty, a favorite with 3 to 1 odds, followed by Rory at 5 to 1, and Xander at 11 to 1.

Scotty, with a history of success on this course, is particularly notable. He not only comes with a caddy that has multiple wins at Augusta with Bubba Watson but is also renowned for his comprehensive skill set which is deemed perfect for this course. Despite a slow start last season due to an injury, his iron play and consistent putting have set him as a top contender according to Smylie Kaufman. Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, and other notable players like John Romm, Xander Schauffele, Ludwig Oberg, and Colin Morikawa are also looked upon favorably.

The anticipation builds as aficionados and experts alike speculate whether the favorite’s label placed on Scotty will hold strong against a field that boasts depth and pedigree. Smylie Kaufman suggests that with extensive offseason preparation and improvement, Scotty’s performance at the upcoming Masters could hardly be bet against. The analysis sums up the engaging dynamics and the high stakes involved, as the golfing world looks toward another thrilling showdown at the legendary Augusta National.