The initial major golf championship of the calendar is set to take place at Augusta National Golf Club for the 2026 Masters. This prestigious event commences on Thursday, April 9, showcasing a lineup of prominent players such as Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm, all vying for the esteemed green jacket. McIlroy participates in the 2026 Masters as the reigning champion, aiming to be the first competitor to retain his Masters championship since Tiger Woods achieved it (2001-02).
Scottie Scheffler, recognized as the world’s top-ranked golfer, is positioned as the +500 betting favorite based on the most recent 2026 Masters probabilities. Following him on the PGA betting charts are Jon Rahm (+1000), Bryson DeChambeau (+1000), and Rory McIlroy (+1300). When considering your selections for the 2026 Masters, it’s worth pondering whether to support a top contender or explore an underdog like Brooks Koepka (+4000) or Jordan Spieth (+4500).
Forecasts for prominent players at the 2026 Masters: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm
Among the player projections for the 2026 Masters, Jon Rahm (+1000), who claimed the Masters title in 2023 and is considered a leading contender this year, is predicted to mount another formidable challenge for the green jacket, though he is expected to narrowly miss victory. Rahm has consistently performed well at Augusta, securing a top-10 placement on five occasions since 2018. With a professional win already this season and no finish lower than fifth in any event this year, forecasts indicate he will be a strong competitor at Augusta, with a 10.5% likelihood of outright victory and a 41.3% probability of a top-5 finish.
Projections have also been established for Scottie Scheffler (+500), the clear betting favorite and a two-time Masters victor. Scheffler consistently positions himself among the leaders at Augusta National, having achieved two victories, a fourth-place, and a tenth-place result in the last four years.
His remarkable achievements are attributed to his exceptional ball-striking prowess. The global top-ranked athlete presently holds the ninth position in greens in regulation percentage (71.30%) and eleventh in strokes gained: off the tee (0.623). Furthermore, he has demonstrated considerable skill with his putter this season, ranking second in putting average (1.662) and ninth in putts per round (27.67) as he heads into the 2026 Masters.
Rory McIlroy’s (+1300) prospects of securing consecutive green jackets, a feat that would make him only the fourth golfer to do so, have also been evaluated. McIlroy solidified his status as a golf legend with his triumph at the 2025 Masters, becoming the sixth individual to complete the career Grand Slam following his playoff win against Justin Rose last year.
McIlroy has participated in four PGA Tour events in 2026, with three finishes at T-14 or lower. Nevertheless, the 36-year-old possesses the capability to be the first back-to-back Masters victor since Tiger Woods accomplished it between 2001-02. As he approaches the 2026 Masters, McIlroy holds the top spot in strokes gained: off the tee (0.799), 10th in strokes gained: approach to green (0.748), and 11th in greens in regulation percentage (71.03%). His putting performance this season has shown some challenges, placing him 102nd in putts per round (28.86) and 136th in one-putt percentage (38.49%).
Leading contenders and betting probabilities for the 2026 Masters
Betting probabilities sourced from FanDuel (may vary)
Scottie Scheffler +500
Bryson DeChambeau +1000
Jon Rahm +1000
Rory McIlroy +1300
Xander Schauffele +1500
Matt Fitzpatrick +1800
Ludvig Åberg +1800
Cameron Young +2200
Tommy Fleetwood +2200
Hideki Matsuyama +2700
Justin Rose +2700
Robert MacIntyre +3000
Min Woo Lee +3300
Collin Morikawa +3500
Patrick Reed +4000
Brooks Koepka +4000
Chris Gotterup +4500
Russell Henley +4500
Si Woo Kim +4500
Jordan Spieth +4500
Viktor Hovland +5000
Shane Lowry +6000
Nicolai Højgaard +6000
Jake Knapp +6500
Justin Thomas +6500
Akshay Bhatia +6500
Maverick McNealy +6500
Adam Scott +7000
J.J. Spaun +7000
Patrick Cantlay +7000
Sepp Straka +8000
Tyrrell Hatton +8000
Jacob Bridgeman +8000
Jason Day +8000
Sungjae Im +10000
Sam Burns +10000
Harris English +10000
Corey Conners +10000
Cameron Smith +10000
Marco Penge +10000
Daniel Berger +12500
Kurt Kitayama +12500
Gary Woodland +12500
Rasmus Højgaard +15000
Ben Griffin +15000
Keegan Bradley +15000
Aaron Rai +15000
Alex Noren +15000
Ryan Gerard +15000
Sam Stevens +17500
Harry Hall +17500
Wyndham Clark +17500
Aldrich Potgieter +17500
Brian Harman +17500
Max Homa +17500
Ryan Fox +22500
Casey Jarvis +22500
Kristoffer Reitan +22500
Nick Taylor +25000
Dustin Johnson +25000
Nicolas Echavarria +25000
Carlos Ortiz +25000
Michael Kim +25000
Max Greyserman +35000
Sergio Garcia +35000
Haotong Li +35000
Matt McCarty +35000
Andrew Novak +35000
Tom McKibbin +35000
Sami Valimaki +50000
Michael Brennan +50000
Bubba Watson +50000
John Keefer +50000
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen +50000
Charl Schwartzel +50000
Zach Johnson +50000
Davis Riley +75000
Angel Cabrera +100000
Mason Howell +100000
Fifa Laopakdee +100000
Ethan Fang +100000
Brian Campbell +100000
Vijay Singh +100000
Jose Maria Olazabal +100000
Brandon Holtz +100000
Naoyuki Kataoka +100000
Danny Willett +100000
Jackson Herrington +100000
Fred Couples +100000
Mateo Pulcini +100000
Mike Weir +100000
