Ricky Dimon
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The 2021 Masters gets underway on Thursday, only five months after Dustin Johnson donned the green jacket for the first time in his career. Yes, the 2020 tournament was played in November instead of April because of the coronavirus pandemic. Thus this will be the second consecutive golf major played on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National.
Which players will start fast on day one in their return trip to Augusta? Who might struggle? Let’s take a look at best four-leg, two-ball parlay for Thursday at the Masters.
Ian Poulter (+110) over Brian Harman
Webb Simpson (-110) over Sergio Garcia
Viktor Hovland (-114) over Bubba Watson
Jon Rahm (-106) over Rory McIlroy
Parlay odds: +1363
Ian Poulter +110 over Brian Harman
Poulter has played the Masters 15 times and has placed in the top 10 on three occasions in his last 10 appearances. He has made 14 cuts in his 15 trips to Augusta National, which clearly indicates that he is accustomed to starting fast. In all likelihood, Poulter will be too much for Harman to handle on Thursday. Harman has played this event only twice, missing the cut once to go along with a T44 performance.
Webb Simpson (-110) over Sergio Garcia
Garcia is a former champion (2017), but he is nothing close to reliable at the moment—not in Augusta and not anywhere else. He missed the Masters cut in both 2018 and 2019 before not playing last fall. The 41-year-old Spaniard isn’t in terrible form right now, but inconsistency in his game remains. As for Simpson, he missed the cut at The Players Championship but had previously made 15 in a row. The 35-year-old American’s last two Masters results are T5 and T10, and he opened with a 67 in 2020.
Viktor Hovland -114 over Bubba Watson
Watson winning the Masters was no fluke; after all, he has won it twice and was one of the best players in the world at the time of his triumphs. But those came back in 2012 and 2014 and the 42-year-old American is no longer the same player. He has been surpassed in the yardage department by a whole host of other players and his short came can’t make up for it. Plus, this matchup with Hovland is a tough one. The 23-year-old Norwegian has posted four top-five finishes in his last seven events. He was the low amateur at the 2019 Masters, finishing T32.
Jon Rahm -106 over Rory McIlroy
In this battle between European Ryder Cup teammates, you have to like Rahm. McIlroy always wants to win the Masters too badly, because it is the only major he has never won. A title would complete the career Grand Slam. It may come some year, but 2021 probably isn’t that year. The Northern Irishman has missed two of his last four cuts, including at The Players. Meanwhile, Rahm has an amazing six top-10 efforts in his last eight events, which includes a T7 at the 2020 Masters. He carded an opening 69 five months ago in Augusta.
Want more picks and predictions for the 2020 Masters? Check out all our expert previews below:
- 2021 Masters winner picks and predictions
- Best prop bets for the 2021 Masters
- Best three-ball bets for Thursday at the Masters
- Breaking down the top 10 players in Masters betting
- The Masters 2021 course guide
- Golf betting guide: Available markets for the Masters
- The 2020 Masters: Reacting to Dustin Johnson’s win
Pickswise is the home of free expert Golf Picks and Predictions. Our outright PGA expert picks go live every Tuesday, so check out our latest golf picks, best bets, and analysis for this week’s PGA tournament now. We will also have our 2020 Masters 3-ball picks and our best golf prop bets for each round of the 2020 Masters.
