The 88th In Augusta

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Developing Stories 📰

Augusta National is unique as the sole venue hosting a major championship each year. Here, familiarity with the course and its history matters more than at other majors. The Par 72 course spans 7,545 yards, boasting some of the fastest Bentgrass greens on tour in 2024, minor changes include extending the tee box on the Par 5, 2nd hole, making the tee shot more challenging. Augusta has been tweaking tee boxes on easier holes, favoring off-the-tee specialists. The Par 5s are typically the easiest holes.

The short Par 4, 3rd hole offers a birdie chance despite its tricky green. Around-the-green skills are crucial here. The 16th, known for its Sunday pin position, is another favorable hole, though it can be deceptive. Nicknamed "Amen Corner," holes 11, 12, and 13 pose challenges, especially the lengthened 11th.

The 12th, Golden Bell, is a 155-yard Par 3 known for its narrow green and difficulty. Augusta features demanding Par 4s, notably the 17th and 18th, both challenging players with narrow fairways and tough scoring averages.

Scottie Scheffler is on fire in golf and a top pick to win The Masters. He's won two of his last three events and finished top five in five out of eight PGA Tour starts in 2024. As the 2022 Masters champ, Scheffler is a strong favorite against competitors like Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and Rory McIlroy. This marks the first major for Rahm and Koepka in the LIV Golf tour, but they've shown they can contend, just like Koepka's strong performance last year.

Scheffler's recent victories and consistent play make him a favorite for betting, despite facing tough competition. Rahm and Koepka have solid records at Augusta, while McIlroy's form is less predictable.

Historically, big names dominate the Masters leaderboard. Scheffler, Rahm, and past champions like Hideki Matsuyama and Tiger Woods are likely contenders. Course history matters, with former winners often landing in the top 10. Despite some big names lacking a green jacket, like Koepka and McIlroy, they're still threats. Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, and Cameron Smith are also ones to watch, given their recent top-10 finishes at Augusta

Headlines 🚨

On This Day in Sport History: 1916 the Professional Golfers Association of America is founded in New York City,

1947 Jackie Robinson becomes the first black player of the 20^th century to sign a MLB contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers,

2005 69^th US Masters Tournament, Tiger Woods wins his 4^th green jacket in a playoff with Chris DiMarco.

The Jaguars and pass-rusher Josh Allen agreed to a 5-year deal worth $150 million and $88 million guaranteed.

The Packers to play Eagles in Friday night game in Brazil in week 1 of the season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo avoids Achilles injury in last night’s game against the Celtics, ends up being a left calf strain.

Anthony Edwards had a career-high 51 points to overcome a 21-point deficit against the Wizards to win 130-121.

The Bucks and Celtics combined for an NBA record two free throw attempts last night, the Celtics became the first team in history to not attempt a free throw.

The Baltimore Orioles call up top MLB prospect Jackson Holliday for today’s game against the Red Sox.

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

⚾️ Tigers at Mets

• Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road

• Detroit is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing NY Mets

• NY Mets is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Detroit

• NY Mets is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit

⚾️ Pirates at Nationals

• Pittsburgh is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games on the road

• Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 6 games

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games at home

⚾️ Guardians at Twins

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing on the road against Minnesota

⚾️ Marlins at Cardinals

• St. Louis is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Miami

• St. Louis is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games

⚾️ White Sox at Royals

• The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Chi White Sox's last 9 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas City's last 5 games at home

🏀 Warriors at Rockets

• The total has gone OVER in 6 of Houston's last 7 games at home 

🏀 Nuggets at Clippers

• Denver is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing LA Clippers

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

⚾️ MLB

39% of bets and 60% of money is on SEA +102

56% of bets and 81% of money is on OVER 8.5 SEA at TOR

25% of bets and 49% of money is on WSH +170

44% of bets and 76% of money is on UNDER 8.5 MIL at CIN

51% of bets and 72% of money is on OVER 9 BAL at BOS

65% of bets and 84% of money is on OVER 9.5 HOU at KC

🏀 NBA

34% of bets and 55% of money is on CLE -18.5

47% of bets and 78% of money is on ORL -1.5

26% of bets and 62% of money is on UNDER 215.5 ORL at MIL

53% of bets and 87% of money is on PHX -5

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Picks 🔒

Suns -4 | Kawhi might sit out Wednesday missing his 5^th straight game to stay healthy for the playoffs. The Suns really need a victory. Expect their top players to perform well as they fight for the sixth seed in the West during the last week of the regular season.

Red Sox -115 | Boston should have a better showing tonight as the home team. The Orioles starter put nine runners on base in his 2024 debut versus the Royals, and I expect Boston to take advantage of these opportunities.

Masters

Brooks Koepka +1800 | Last year, Koepka held Jon Rahm in a virtual tie for the lead for most of the tournament, only to fall behind in the final round on Sunday and finish four strokes behind the winner. Aside from this year's runner-up, Brooks also finished T7 in 2019 and T11 in 2020 – form that’s hard to ignore. Winnings also play a big role in determining whether a player can handle the pressure of the Masters. Koepka already has five major championships under his belt – three PGA championships and two U.S. Opens.

Hideki Matsuyama +1800 | Matsuyama is a proven winner of Augusta (2021) and is healthy for the first time in his career. He enters the Masters in great form, having won Genesis and coming in T12th, T6th and T7th.

Shane Lowry +5000 | Lowry is coming to Augusta with two top 5’s and a top 19th in his previous three events. Shane hasn’t finished worse than top 25th in his last 4 trips to the Master’s, including a 3rd place finish in 2022. Shane has won a major before, and considering his history with successful play in windy and rainy conditions I think he is primed to potentially win his first green jacket this weekend.

Matchups

Phil Mickelson (-125) over Tiger Woods

Shane Lowry (+104) over Colin Morikawa

Patrick Reed (-134) over Corey Conners

Top 20

Will Zalatoris +120

Matthew Fitzpatrick +140

Cameron Young +150