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Important update on 1476AMDeepDiveGolf's Masters odds preview: Who will leave Augusta with the green jacket?
Sport Nation • April 9th, 2026 10:18 am
Rory McIlroy | Photo: AP
Golf's greatest showpiece gets underway this weekend, as millions across the globe turn their attention to the famed links at Augusta to see who'll leave wearing the hallowed green jacket at the US Masters.
The theatrics of 2025 will be difficult to top, with Rory McIlroy's duel against Bryson DeChambeau becoming an instant classic.
With the Northern Irishman having finally completed that long-awaited sweep, will it be a case of the floodgates opening? Or will it be Scottie Scheffler or Jon Rahm's time to return to the spotlight, or perhaps DeChambeau's turn to earn his maiden Augusta triumph?
Few would be better placed to make such predictions as DeepDiveGolf's David Bieleski.
With a mountain of research in his back pocket, the golfing fiend and betting aficionado joined Sport Nation Mornings for an extended preview of everything Masters - of course, with a heavy lean on where you could best place your hard-earned money this weekend.
Bieleski's record speaks for itself, having previously tipped the likes of 2016 winner Danny Willett at 100/1, Sergio Garcia at 50/1 the following year, and 2021 champion Hideki Matsuyama at 50/1.
According to Bieleski, The Masters - of the four majors - is "the most predictable and easiest to get right".
"I might be shooting myself in the foot by saying that, if one of my tips doesn't win, but it does tend to be one of the easier events to handicap," he told Sport Nation Mornings.
"There's a variety of reasons for that. One is the smaller field than the other majors. There's only 92 golfers.
"The other is the fact that Augusta National does have the strongest correlation between prior course form and predicting future success. So, if you've played well at the Masters previously, you tend to play well at the Masters again in the future.
"It's different to every tournament in that regard because it is the only major that is played at the same venue every single year."
In regards to who he believes is most likely to prevail in 2026, Bieleski offered his thoughts on each of the four frontrunners in a field he says is "more open than in recent years".
Photo: AAP
"They've welcomed their second child into the world and he took his last two tournaments off to spend time with his family.
"But prior to that, it was the Scheffler slump. He was a shadow of his former self the last three or four starts.
"Of course, Scheffler's set such a high standard, but his price has finally drifted. It was $4.80, it's come out to $6.50. For me, I really needed to see this somewhere near $8.00 for me to consider betting him, and $6.50 is probably pretty marginal in terms of whether there is any value there.
"I think it will surprise absolutely no one if Scheffler suddenly turns around and comes out and plays well here, his record on this golf course is so superb that you just have to feel that anytime he shows up at Augusta National he is going to be a chance. It wouldn't surprise at all to see him in the top 10 of the leaderboard come Sunday."
"Rory has the difficulty of being the defending champion. Defending champions have tended to play very poorly the following year at The Masters.
"It is one of the most difficult titles to defend, not just because of the quality of the field, but being the past champion does demand so much extra. You've got the champions dinner to organise, extra media duties. A lot of pressure comes in.
"If anyone's going to do it, it's probably Rory McIlroy. The one time that we were expecting him not to perform well he goes out and wins it, but it will be a big ask for him to defend."
"John Rahm has been ultra consistent on LIV Golf but he has only won a single title since September 2024. Given the depth of the LIV Tour fields, you'd expect him to be winning more than he is.
"But he's a past champion here, so that tends to be a very good predictor of The Masters."
A birdie on the last hole gave Bryson DeChambeau victory over Talor Gooch | Photo: Michael Errey/AAP
"Of the four, you would probably say Bryson is the most likely, given the fact that he is coming in with those back-to-back wins off LIV.
"The big question for me with Bryson, whenever it comes to Augusta National, he's got his own irons that he's manufactured, and they're all the same length.
"The reason why there's a big question for me is the strokes gained around the green, when you are chipping and playing for bunkers and the ball is often above or below your feet, it can be a disadvantage to have all of your clubs being the same length."
With so many questions surrounding the 'top four' Bieleski believes there could be more value in taking a shot on a relative outsider.
Exhibit A, as per below...
Ludvig Aberg will be a key threat for Europe when they defend their Ryder Cup title at Bethpage | Photo: AP
"He is continually putting himself into contention and not necessarily getting the job done.
"The two times he has played The Masters, he finished second on debut in 2024 and then in 2025 he was actually third for the majority of the final round, until the 72nd hole and eventually finished seventh. He was right there again within a sniff of the lead, so he's got superb form there.
"It just feels that with Aberg, the next step for him is to step up and contend or win one of these majors.
"I think it's excellent value at $16.00 or you can get a top 10 and finish at $2.50."
All TAB odds are current at the time of publishing - R18, please gamble responsibly.
For more, listen to the full interview below:
