The Masters Final 4
The Bearded Talisman’s 4 pre-tourney bets for the 2024 Masters
Matt Fitzpatrick to WIN (40-1) – I watched every one of his rounds at Sawgrass last month. He had everything working, and he finally worked out the glitches with his driver that plagued him earlier in the year. He birdied the final 4 holes to finish 5th, including a massive drive on 18 going over the water to setup a short approach. He had a T-10th tuneup at Valero over the weekend, quite a finish considering he drew the Friday afternoon tee time and played it in impossible conditions. Even in that round he showcased his skills around the green, nearly holing two difficult chip shots. He’s won a major so this moment is not too big for him, and he has 2 Top 10s in 9 previous Masters starts. 40-1? I’m all over it.
Hideki Matsuyama to WIN (22-1) – If I had to bet my life on one golfer not named Scottie Scheffler to win this week it would be Matsuyama. He’s won here before and he’s playing arguably the best golf of his career. He won The Genesis Invitational earlier this year at Riviera, then was 12th at Arnold Palmer, then 6th at Sawgrass, and T-7th over the weekend at Valero. His wedge game, both the long and short, is absolutely lethal. You can question his putting consistency, but if you stop and think about it, you can question any elite golfer’s putting consistency. Hideki has 9 Top 10s in majors, including finishing in the Top 7 three times at Augusta in the last 9 years. If he’s tied for the lead on Sunday and sitting in the fairway on 18, I trust him to stick the approach within 10 feet – and MAKE the putt.
Xander Schauffele to WIN (16-1) – Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. I hate that sports slogan – so condescending. Xander’s critics argue that he always comes up short in majors, which is true. But it’s also true he’s competed in 26 majors and finished in the Top 10 an astounding ELEVEN times, including 3 times at Augusta. He is an elite player in every facet of the game and he is playing well right now. In his last two starts he finished T-2nd at The Players and T-5th at Valspar. 16-1 odds is kinda short for some, but I like it a lot. "Is it his time???"
Bryson DeChambeau to WIN (40-1) – When asked which LIV golfer was most likely to WIN a major this year, DeChambeau said himself. When asked which major he would like to win he said The Masters. Most of Bryson’s previous trips to Augusta have ended in disappointment – either due to inexperience, bad strategy, poor play, or all of the above. He’s missed 2 straight cuts at Augusta, and has never finished better than T-21st in 2016. But no one can argue against his talent and commitment. In 2015 he won BOTH the NCAA individual title and US Amateur. In 2020, he won the US Open by six strokes when no other golfer broke par. Bryson won twice in late 2023 on the LIV Golf tour, including firing a jaw-dropping final-round 58 at the Greenbrier to win by six strokes. And he’s playing really well so far this year - he’s finished in the Top 10 in the last 4 LIV events heading into Augusta. And there is nothing about his game that would lead you to believe he cannot succeed at Augusta. He likes to shot-shape with his draw and that sets up really well here – just ask Patrick Reed.
Thoughts on Scottie Scheffler: Bearded Talisman, how can you not bet the best golfer in the world? I might bet Scottie at some point over the weekend, but I will not bet him pre-tourney. The reason is that his odds are too short at 4-1. My guess is that there will many points over the weekend to bet Scottie at 4-1 or WORSE, so why do it right out of the gate?
Editor's note: The Bearded Talisman (BT) is one of the most successful golf gamblers in the world. He has won six majors pre-tourney, including the 2023 Masters and the 2023 PGA Championship. BT is the only sports gambler known to have completed the COVID Slam, winning all 4 golf majors within a 12 month period. https://www.mylifeontheline.com/post/the-covid-slam
