The opening two days of the 2024 Masters have been the most intriguing in many a year for several years. However, there is no doubt that the biggest one is the weather conditions at Augusta which have made the course play harder than it has done in as long as we can remember.
The leaders after two rounds are Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa who are all on -6 after 36 holes at Augusta National. It is the highest leading score at a Masters in seven years when three players went into the weekend on -4.
On day two at Augusta, the lowest score was shot by Ludvig Åberg (-3) which further illustrates how intense winds have made life extremely difficult at the first major of the year for the world's best golfers. With half the field now eliminated, the excitement can truly begin. Here is the current leaderboard and our Masters tips for the weekend.
Masters 2024 leaderboard
|
Position/Player
|
Score
|
R1
|
R2
|
R3
|
R4
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
T1 |
Max Homa (USA)
|
-6
|
67 | 71 | ||
|
T1 |
Bryson DeChambeau (USA)
|
-6
|
65 | 73 | ||
|
T1 |
Scottie Scheffler (USA)
|
-6
|
66 | 72 | ||
|
4 |
Nicolai Højgaard (DEN)
|
-4
|
67 | 73 | ||
|
T5 |
Cam Davis (AUS) |
-3
|
69 | 72 | ||
|
T5 |
Collin Morikawa (USA) |
-3
|
71 | 70 | ||
|
7 |
Ludvig Aberg (SWE)
|
-2
|
73 | 69 | ||
|
T8 |
Danny Willett (ENG)
|
-1
|
68 | 75 | ||
|
T8 |
Cameron Smtih (AUS)
|
-1
|
71 | 72 | ||
Masters 2024 tips
Scottie Scheffler to win – 11/8 (2.38)
It may seem like the obvious choice but the fact Scheffler is still priced above evens with no-one ahead of him in the leaderboard is surprising, to say the least. Scheffler has been the best golfer on the planet for a while now and he already has two wins to his name on the PGA Tour this season.
Scheffler's consistency above anything else is what makes him the firm favourite heading into the weekend. The 27-year-old hasn't posted a single round over par since August and if he can go under par twice more over the weekend then he will likely have done enough to pick up a second green jacket with more wind expected at Augusta.
Ludvig Aberg to finish in the top five – 21/10 (3.10)
Ludvig Aberg is playing in his first Masters and he was the best golfer on the course yesterday, an incredible feat for a 24-year-old. Eyebrows were raised when Luke Donald selected Aberg and fellow Scandinavian, Nicolai Højgaard, for his Ryder Cup team last year but those doubters now look even sillier than they did after Europe won in Rome.
Aberg is currently one shot back of the top five but is playing very relaxed but aggressive golf which should fare well over the weekend. High winds are expected and the Swede has already proven how well he can play in the toughest of conditions. He is second in strokes gained via putting this week.
Patrick Reed to finish in the top ten – 21/10 (3.10)
Patrick Reed is clearly someone who is comfortable around Augusta National having won the tournament back in 2018 and the controversial American looks in good touch again this week. He is currently even par for the tournament so will believe he is still in with a shot of winning his second green jacket but a top-ten finish is perhaps more realistic.
Reed has one of the best short games in the world which could prove to be important with the field looking to keep their balls as low as possible in the blustery conditions. Reed is already in the top ten for strokes gained around the green this week and if he can keep that up then a top finish in the tournament beckons.
Tiger Woods to finish in the top 20 – 5/4 (2.25)
Nobody, except the great man himself perhaps, could have anticipated how well Tiger Woods was going to play this week. The 15-time major champion has looked great for the most part, not only from a ball-striking point of view but also from a physical point of view.
Woods had to play 24 holes on Friday after his opening round was cut short due to bad light and he enters the weekend on +1. His short game has been phenomenal, and he is fifth in the field for shots gained around the green. If his iron game can improve, then a top-20 finish will be a formality.
Andy is tipster who has been calling Golf tournaments for several years across many different platforms. He has covered all tournaments from the Asian Tour to the Masters.
