1 April 2025 Golf

The Masters 2025 week early betting tips

Written by: Bradley Gibbs Casino & Sports Betting Expert
4 min to read
IMAGO Collin Morikawa is in good form going into this year's Masters at Augusta National.
IMAGO Collin Morikawa is in good form going into this year's Masters at Augusta National.

We’re now into April which, for those keeping a close eye on the world of top-tier golf, means the beginning of the Masters countdown. 

In less than two weeks, the best golfers on the planet head to the state of Georgia, where the first major will take place at the renowned Augusta National Golf Club. 

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What’s the recipe for success at Augusta? 

Is there such a thing as a recipe for success at Augusta? Well, perhaps not in so many words, but there are a couple of pointers. 

Course layout and player fit can be important to inform your golf betting strategy. For starters, recent winners of this tournament have typically played well at Augusta in the years leading up to their win, while it also must be said that the best-ranking players typically do well, which isn’t really surprising. 

Let’s face it, Augusta presents a tough test, and when it comes to tough tests, the best players typically come to the fore. This is true at Augusta, with most of the recent winners coming from the upper end of the world rankings. 

While there’s plenty to analyse in the first-round leader betting markets. Here are a few interesting trends to take note of ahead of the 2025 Masters: 

  • None of the last 10 Masters winners were ranked lower than 25th in the world at the time of winning. 
  • Four of the last five Masters winners were ranked in the top three at the time of winning. 
  • Only two of the last 10 Masters winners were ranked lower than 12th in the world when securing the green jacket.
  • Each of the last five Masters winners had finished t20 at Augusta or better in the three years
  • Since 2014, only one Masters winner failed to finish inside the top 20 at least once in the five years before winning. 
  • Only one of the last five Masters winners had failed to finish inside the top 10 at least once in the five years prior to their win. 
  • Six of the last 10 Masters winners had previously recorded a top five finish at Augusta. 

Two high-ranking players offer value for money 

Looking at the odds with less than a fortnight to go until the first player tees off and gets the 2025 Masters up and running, two high-ranking golfers appeal. 

What we’ve also seen from recent winners is that the ability to consistently birdie the Par 4’s makes a difference. In addition, those who can dial in and deliver hot strokes gained: approach number typically thrive at Augusta. 

This leads me to two players, both of whom have played well at the Masters before, which as we know is important. 

We’ll start with Collin Morikawa. The two-time major winner will arrive at Augusta in decent form following several recent top-10 finishes, while he’s played well at this tournament on several occasions in recent years. 

Without going on too much, he ticks several boxes ahead of the 2025 renewal, as the summary below suggests. 

Summary of Morikawa’s Masters credentials: 

  • Currently ranked as the world number four. 
  • Finished third at Augusta last year. 
  • Three top-10 Masters finishes in the last three years. 
  • Fourth-best player in the field for strokes gained: approach at Augusta since 2016. 
  • Fourth-best player in the field for strokes gained: total at Augusta since 2016. 
  • Fifth-best player in the field for average 18-hole score at Augusta.
  • Best player on the PGA Tour (at time of writing) in terms of strokes gained: approach. 
  • Best player on the PGA Tour (at time of writing) in terms of strokes gained: off-the-tee. 

Like Morikawa, Xander Schauffele knows how to raise his game at Augusta, while he also has the hugely positive experience of getting over the line in a major under his belt. 

The world number three seemingly has his game in decent shape too, following a recent T12 finish at the Valspar Championship, while he typically delivers his best golf in the biggest tournaments. 

Summary of Schauffele’s Masters credentials:

  • Currently ranked as the world number three. 
  • Two top-10 Masters finishes in the last two years. 
  • Four top-10 Masters finishes since 2019. 
  • Sixth-best player in the field for average 18-hole score at Augusta.
  • Seventh-best player in the field for strokes gained: approach at Augusta since 2016. 
  • Sixth-best player in the field for strokes gained: total at Augusta since 2016. 
  • Third-best player on the PGA Tour (at time of writing) in terms of strokes gained: approach. 

All in all, there’s lots to like about both Morikawa and Schauffele. We’re talking about two of the best in the business, both of whom have suggested that they could win this tournament, and I’m not quite sure the early market reflects that accurately enough.

In other words, both players offer value at the odds stated below. 

Masters Bets: 

Collin Morikawa (each-way) at 14/1 with Ladbrokes

Xander Schauffele (each-way) at 18/1 with Coral

Odds correct at the time of writing.

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