The Masters 2026 Predictions, Golf Odds and Expert Best Bets for Thursday, 04/09/26

With the exception of an additional 10 yards tacked on to the tough par-4 17th, Augusta National is as we knew it for this year’s tournament. The 7,565-yard par-72 masterpiece remains among golf’s ultimate tests, and while certain skills – approaches and scrambling in particular – are more important than others, this is a course that tests all facets of the game. Few boast a better Augusta skill set than Xander Schauffele, who can capitalize on an ideal preparation to claim the Green Jacket this week.

Schauffele’s 2024 campaign, in which he won the PGA Championship and the British Open, was always going to be tough to beat, and he never found top gear last season after suffering a rib injury early in the campaign. However, he was still able to finish 8th at Augusta on just his 5th start of the year, and signed off 2025 with victory in the Baycurrent Classic in Japan. Schauffele finished in a share of 2nd spot behind Tiger Woods in the 2019 Masters, in just his 2nd appearance, and he has since compiled form figures of 3-MC-10-8-8 in the tournament.

His last 15 Major starts have resulted in 14 top-20 finishes, and his performances on the PGA Tour this year have all the hallmarks of someone who has been building to this week. Schauffele started slowly on the West Coast Swing, found form to finish 7th at Riviera, then a productive three weeks in Florida resulted in 24th at Bay Hill, 3rd at Sawgrass and 4th at the Valspar Championship.