Timeless tradition

AUGUSTA, GA

Robert MacIntyre finished second at the Valero Texas Open. Second runner-up in as many weeks, and our sixth of the PGA TOUR season in 12 events. Hey Golf Betting Gods, it's time... for The Masters.

There's a lot of talk about distractions around the Augusta National Press Building. Many of the popular names near the top of the odds board have storylines circling them entering Masters week. Jumping with the PGA TOUR from city to city, I feel that this is nothing new. The difference is the size of the microscope on the Masters’ field. Looking across the Press Arena, I marvel at the amount of coverage being created on the year's first major championship. Golf's largest global media pool converges annually on Augusta National. As you get inundated with an infinite amount of telltale trends, please keep in mind the most important through-line in recent years: the best player wins.

To compound the compelling nature of kicking off the major season, there are several questions surrounding a few of the favorites. Rory and Collin's back, and Scottie going three events without a top 10 to highlight the most popular points. Maybe the Masters is more wide open this year. Instead of eight guys having the ability to win, there are 10! Truth is, no matter how long and laborious the lead-in feels, it always pales in comparison to the competition. It's Wednesday morning, and the wait is almost over.

The Masters starts in...

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"Give and take"

Masters contender Tommy Fleetwood mentioned, "There is a give and take about this golf course." That comment made me sit back and think. Fleetwood is one of the best interviews in golf, and the thoughtful nature of his choice of words makes it worth delving into as I preview the one course that every avid and casual golfer knows. Even though many of you cannot recall the flower name of each hole, we still know the routing. The classic par 72 scorecard has an equal par of 36 on the first nine and the second nine. Augusta National has added 10 yards to the total; now 7,565 yards. The second-longest course the TOUR has visited in 2026 (Torrey Pines, the longest). ANGC is the first course this year where the players will putt on Bentgrass greens. ANGC will present four par 5s to score on. Fool around on the 5s, and it will take away your chances of putting together a good round.

Augusta National gives you putting surfaces a little larger than average at 6,486 sq/ft. Miss your approach target, and these surfaces will punish you with slope and speed. The course gives you 79 acres of fairway grass and will take away your chances of making par if you hit one of the 12 fairway bunkers. Get the idea? Forty-four perfectly placed bunkers dot the landscape. Thirty-two of them sit greenside, and each one has its own history. Along with the bunkers, five holes have water in play. Each of those penalty areas are on the second nine. The true beauty of this design is really the simplicity. Be patient, and take what ANGC gives you. Force the issue, and Augusta National will give you the weekend off.

The field is comprised of 91 players. For the first time since 1994, both Tiger and Phil will miss the Masters. To put that in perspective, 1994 was the last time the United States hosted the World Cup, Arnold Palmer played in the Masters, and the New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup. THAT'S a really long time ago! The purse and first-place winner's check are not released until Friday. The top 53 players in the OWGR are in the field. If you are looking for more information about the players, I wrote a little over 5,700 words on the 91 men in the field for Golf Digest (Power Rankings). The average winning score since the strokes gained era started at Augusta National seven years ago is 12 under par. A nice round number, I think most who know the golf course intimately would take 12 and wait in the clubhouse for Sunday afternoon. Scottie Scheffler said in his presser, "The greens were firm on Sunday."

The planets are aligned for a fabulous Masters. We have enough questions circling around the favorites to make you believe a long shot could win. Or better yet, a debutant can take home a Green Jacket out of this ridiculous rookie class. Then again, this is Augusta National. The best players always find a way to involve themselves in the narrative. We're not going to overthink this one. Our card is top-heavy and features the best players in 2026. Keep reading to learn more about them.

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How to win?

I love sitting in the Interview Room listening to players answering endless questions covering all aspects of their game. The clues are not in the communication, but rather in the delivery and the body language. One of the biggest edges we have at RTL is our access. As we prepare for 2026's first major championship, here are a couple of key insights I observed (and heard) in the interview room.

• Chris Gotterup feels that, as a first timer, it is hard to take it all in. Maybe that's why no rookie has won since 1979? When asked about the keys to playing well, he mentioned that around the green play was just for recovery and not that much of a priority. Gotterup also felt he could play ANGC well because he has won on very different types of courses.
• Patrick Reed did not listen to one question. That's not to say he was rude; he sat there for every question sent his way, and he then proceeded to answer them with one thought in mind, "I'm playing really well right now, and I know it." That level of confidence oozing from the 2018 Masters Champion is definitely worth noting.
• Tommy Fleetwood has never felt like he has been in contention at The Masters. That's an interesting bit of introspection. Another comment worth mentioning, Fleetwood said, "This course always makes you feel like you should practice more." Draw your own conclusions there.
• Jon Rahm loved having three months off to work on his game. Rahm feels like he is hitting his irons as he did in 2023, and his short game feels great. Jon's interview was laser-focused. The European media tried to get him to speak about the DP World Tour conflict, and he would not have it. Jon seems comfortable and feels like he has nothing to prove. Get ready, world, I think Rahmbo is back!
• Cam Young is also one of the best interviews in the current game. Cam, why did you take three weeks off? "I wanted to spend time with my family and didn't feel like I had to play." Oh my. I asked him how his Ryder Cup experience has helped him. Young gained a ton of confidence from Bethpage Black. About 375 yards worth, if you know what I mean! When asked if The Masters is a special week, "I prepare for The Masters 51 weeks a year, and now it's time to go to work." OMG.
• Matt Fitzpatrick is aware of his low trajectory and the challenges it will present when taking on a firm ANGC. "We've been working on cutting the ball to get it to land softer." Fitzpatrick's having an incredible approach year, so I guess that will work? Matt also mentioned, "I have never been in contention here." Matt used the word “miss” a bunch. "Figuring out where I need to miss it." "Can't miss it there." Honestly, too much "miss concern" for me.
• Rory McIlroy did not receive one question about his back or general health. Rory was really relaxed. McIlroy's number creeping into the mid-teens might be one of the best values on the betting board. The defending champion was +650 last year, with far more skeletons in the closet surrounding taking home the Green Jacket.
• Bryson DeChambeau's buzz word was "wind." DeChambeau brought wind into almost every answer. He mentioned it seven times. Bryson just put new wedges into the bag, and he believes, "this place (ANGC) is always one step ahead of us." I know there's a bunch of momentum behind Bryson winning The Masters, but when I watch him in person, I still don't see someone who believes they have an iron game accuracy good enough for a Green Jacket.
• Scottie Scheffler deflected every question about the current state of his game. "Scottie, how does your game feel coming in as compared to the two years that you won?" Scheffler completely avoided that answer. Scottie's tone was anxious and curt. Scheffler, unlike others, spoke about the importance of around the green practice; probably why he has multiple jackets.

Walking the golf course many times and applying the current conditions, my focus is on speed. The turf is going to be firm, and the green surfaces will be exactly what officials want: a prime test. The players do have one saving grace; we only expect a challenging wind in the early round(s). Conditions can change, but there is no rain on the horizon. The firmness is not going away, and if your game is not sharp, you’d better pray around Amen Corner. Since the analytics era started, the winner has gained an average of six strokes on the field with their iron game. With an average par 4 length of 457 yards and six of the 10 par 4s over 450 yards, we are specifically looking for great mid-iron players. Ball strikers with precision impact who can rely on crisp contact off uneven lies. And speaking of uneven lies, that test will translate directly to around the green. Augusta National Golf Club was the toughest approach and around the green test of any major championship in 2025. That trend will likely continue in 2026.

Don't sleep on the driver. Cam Young said it best, "If I am hitting my driver well, this course will reward me with easier approaches." The best players excel at ANGC because they know that length and an aggressive mindset off the tee are the way to win. Rory McIlroy made 30 3s on his scorecards last year. Eleven of those 3s were on the par 4s. ANGC will let you score if you string together good drives and approaches. The easiest place to score is the par 5s, but the best place to separate is on the 4s. The last four winners (McIlroy, Scheffler, Rahm, Scheffler) played the 4s at even par or better. Do that this week, and you'll get to double digits under par. A target score that everyone planning to get fitted for a coat on Sunday should be thinking about. I could go on forever about course experience. We all know you need it, and nine of the last 10 winners have made a minimum of three starts before they won.

With all of the crazy commentary about these greens, one would think it takes a great stroke to win. Lag putting and making the short ones are vital, but the greens are so wild, it mitigates the flatstick game. Good putters are defensive, and bad putters miss anyway. The result is a bunch of guys two-putting for par. Average putters will contend here; don't be afraid to include a couple on your card and DFS lineups. We have all watched endless amounts of "Live From" coverage and everything else. RTL led off the week on Golf Channel when Gary Williams invited me on the morning show. It just so happens my segment fell right between Jim Nantz and Scott Van Pelt! Take a look, the interview begins at 1:12:00. (5 Clubs on Golf Channel). It's time for the talking (and editorial) to stop and the tourney to begin. The conditions call for an elite card. I’m going to be heavy at the top because that is who can win. Enjoy one of the best weeks of the year and our first major championship card of 2026!

Outright Winners - The Masters

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