2026 Masters predictions, sleepers, longshots at Augusta National

Forecasting the outcome of four rounds of golf over 72 holes (and maybe more) at Augusta National Golf Club is a fool's errand, plain and simple.

One could rightly assume the cream will eventually rise to the top at the Masters. It did last year when Rory McIlroy edged Justin Rose in a playoff, with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finishing in fourth place.

But for every McIlroy, Scheffler (in 2022 and 2024) or Tiger Woods (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019), there's always the possibility of an out-of-nowhere champion like Danny Willett (2016), Bubba Watson (2014) or Charl Schwartzel (2011).

Who will win the first major title of 2026?

Updated odds to win 2026 Masters

Odds from BetMGM as of noon ET on April 7

Here's who the betting public believes has the best chance to win this year at Augusta. There's a pretty strong chance the eventual winner will come from someone in this group.

• Scottie Scheffler +550
• Jon Rahm +1000
• Bryson DeChambeau +1200
• Rory McIlroy +1200
• Xander Schauffele +1400
• Ludvig Aberg +1400
• Cameron Young +2000
• Matt Fitzpatrick +2200
• Tommy Fleetwood +2200
• Hideki Matsuyama +2800
• Collin Morikawa +3000
• Justin Rose +3000
• Robert MacIntyre +3000

Scheffler is still a strong favorite, but Rahm has moved ahead of DeChambeau over the past 24 hours as the tournament's second choice.

Scottie Scheffler vs. the field at 2026 Masters

• Scottie Scheffler to win +550
• Anyone else in the field -900

Sleeper picks for 2026 Masters

USA TODAY Sports' Jon Hoefling offers up a trio of sleepers plus one intriguing longshot who have the talent to buck the odds and put on a green jacket if things break their way.

Tommy Fleetwood (+2200)

Fleetwood is someone who often gets glossed over when discussing the best golfers in the world, but he's been consistently good at Augusta the last eight years, finishing in the top-25 in five of those tournaments, including a tie for third place in 2024. He tends to play up at Augusta and is fresh off winning the Tour Championship in 2025.

Patrick Reed (+3300)

Patrick Reed won the Masters back in 2018, so he knows what it takes to get the green jacket. Of course, his presence on the LIV Tour for the last few years certainly hasn't helped his chances. He might be a little too used to playing in three-day tournaments at this point. However, Reed is different.

In the seven Masters Tournaments since his victory, he's finished top-12 or better in five of them, and that includes a top-ten finish in three of his last five Masters appearances. A bet on Reed to finish in the top-20 could pay out massively.

Jordan Spieth (+3300)

It's been just over 10 years since Spieth won the green jacket at Augusta, and he's been inconsistent ever since. Five years ago, he tied for third. Four years ago, he missed the cut. Three years ago, he tied for fourth. Two years ago, he missed the cut. Last year, he tied for 14th.

Sure, the pattern would indicate that he's due for some regression in 2026, but streaks are meant to be broken and Spieth has played in this tournament enough to warrant some confidence that he can still do well. After all, he's finished top-25 in more than half of the events he's played this year.

J.J. Spaun (+6600)

Though Spaun has not done well at Augusta National, finishing tied for 23rd in 2022 and 50th in 2025, he is coming off a victory at the Valero Texas Open, the third win of his PGA Tour career. He also knows what it takes to win a major after defeating Robert MacIntyre by two shots at Oakmont in the 2025 U.S. Open.

That said, Spaun has appeared in eight tournaments thus far in 2026, and has only made the cut in four of them. Furthermore, he only has one top-25 finish in those tournaments (T-24 at The Players Championship) outside of his win this past weekend.

One bold prediction for 2026 Masters

To close things out, how about going in a completely different direction? We will see a first-time winner this year at Augusta.

Sure, Scheffler, McIlroy and Rahm have all topped the leaderboard the past four years, but it's time for a change.

Why can't two-time U.S. Open champ Bryson DeChambeau (+1200) take advantage of his length off the tee to master Augusta National?

Justin Rose (+3000) came oh-so-close last year. Will the experience help him finish the job this time and earn him a second career major?

Cameron Young (+2000), the 2026 Players Championship winner, has at least one top-10 finish in all four majors, including a tie for ninth at the 2024 Masters. He's currently ranked No. 3 in the world.

Xander Schauffele (+1400) won two majors in 2024 (the PGA and the British Open). He also has five top-10 finishes at Augusta in the last seven years − including a tie for second in 2019 and a tie for third in 2021.

And finally, Jacob Bridgeman (+8000) leads the PGA Tour this season in three different putting categories: strokes gained, putting average and 3-putt avoidance. We all know how important it is to read the greens at Augusta. Bridgeman won his first Tour event earlier this season at the Genesis Invitational, hasn't finished outside the top 20 in eight total tournaments and currently leads the FedEx Cup points standings.