The first Major on the 2024 golfing calendar is upon us as not just golfing but sporting fanatics all around the globe get excited for the 88th edition of The Masters at Augusta National, Augusta, Georgia.
A brief thank-you & goodbye
Before I continue it’s with much sadness that after almost four years writing for this amazing MFT website, The Caddy will be moving on after this week's Masters preview. I couldn’t think of a more fitting way to sign off as this was Mr F’s favourite tournament, making the trip with his brother several years ago to take it all in.
May I now take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you for all the help and support along with all the kind messages throughout the years.
This wonderful MFT community along with all the other fantastic tipsters here on the website have made the past few years a pleasure with plenty of good memories including decent profits every year.
Since it all began The Caddy has consistently delivered profits in the thousands each and every year. The bookies were down £3K in year one (£10 stakes) thanks to The Caddy then in year two, profits were showing around the £3.5k mark with last year being the best yet with over £4k being cashed in and removed from those bookies satchels.
Along the way we’ve had 150/1 winners, 110/1 Major champions, 100/1 Fed Ex champs and many many more maiden PGA winners including Scottie Scheffler but the list goes on and on with players I said would breakthrough anytime soon and they did but we were ready with over 40 outright winners across both the PGA and DP World Tours including majors.
It doesn’t have to be a final goodbye so for those who would still like to follow my tips every week you can sign up for my Telegram channel by clicking here to join us all for The Caddy’s PGA and DPWT golf previews every week along with matchbets, Top 40’s, 3-Balls, competitions and you can also now join our new group chat for members a share information or just have a chat.
So before I get back to The Masters preview once again I want to thank you all here on MFT for making this journey possible and for all the happy memories, I’ll still be keeping an eye on the website and visiting every day as always so on that note let’s get back to The Masters 2024.
The Masters 2024
This year the field consists of 89 players, the Top 50 in the world rankings along with 13 LIV participants, 5 amateurs and a few qualifiers including last week's Texas Open winner Akshay Bhatia as well as some previous champions, you may have heard of Tiger Woods.
They’ll all be teeing off at Augusta National on Thursday 11th-14th April, competing for a share of the mammoth £18m dollar prize pot with the winner collecting The Masters title along with a nicely fitted green jacket and a winning cheque for a cool $3.24m.
Augusta National will be playing 7,545 yards long this week. It’s a spectacular Par 72 Parkland layout and probably the stiffest task that golf has to offer.
Every year I watch The Masters on the TV, I don’t know about you but there’s just something so special about it, even just watching on television makes you feel like you're there with the unique scenery and amazing atmosphere, it’s just a wonderful spectacle and such a special venue.
The key to success around Augusta National will almost certainly include a hot putter on these beautiful, smooth, slick, fast dance floors and 3-putt avoidance will be the name of the game .
One thing I can assure you about right now is that every single player in this field will have at least one bogey this week and lots more so it’s all about keeping bogeys or worse to a minimum around Augusta.
Who is won The Masters last year?
Jon Rahm returns to Georgia as the defending Masters champion and he’ll be hoping he can show the world that the switch to LIV golf hasn’t affected him one bit but I’m sure a few will have something to say about that.
Scottie Scheffler won his maiden major here in 2022, he’ll be looking for a bounce back after losing out to Rahm last year but then Rory McIlroy may have something to say also as he still seeks that elusive Masters crown that would land him that holy grail grand slam.
It could even be one of the newbies like Ludvig Alberg or what about one of the old timers? Could TigerWoods defy all odds and injuries by landing his sixth Masters title? I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if it happened, this is what makes The Masters so exciting and special.
What is the weather forecast for The Masters?
The weather forecasts the possibility of some thunderstorms on Thursday but it’s good news from then on with hot and sunny conditions forecast for the next three days. Breezes will peak at around 18mph.
Where can I watch The Masters?
The Masters will be screened on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event for those in the UK with live coverage starting at 2pm on Thursday. Remember to place any pre tournament bets by 1.30pm Thursday.
Who will win The Masters?
So let’s move on with The Caddy’s best three betting selections for the first major of the year at The Masters.
Scottie Scheffler 9/2 EW
For my first & main selection at Augusta National I’m not messing around here, this guy is looking absolutely unplayable again, it’s the world No1 Scottie Scheffler 9/2 EW Boylesports 1-6 places.
Now already I here a few shouting, “favourite and safe pick etc” but as I've always said, my job is to pick winners and sometimes you just can’t allow the price to put you off, this is a classic example.
Where, oh where, do I start with Scottie? Well I have to start somewhere, so what about winner at two of his last three tournaments with the other being runner-up?
What about at every other event Scottie Scheffler has players at this year, it’s resulted with a Top 20 finish – but saying that only one was a Top 20 – the other four were inside the Top 10, that’s just this year, it’s truly phenomenal!
So let’s tally that up; nine events played in 2024, he’s already won two, runner-up at another, one Top 20, two Top 10’s and a couple of Top 5’s and you want me to leave him out? Not this week I’m afraid, I simply can’t.
Winner around these parts in 2022 when earning the green jacket along with all the other accolades is even more evidence that Scottie Scheffler will win again this year but if that’s not convinced you then let’s move on with some stats and figures…
Scottie gains strokes in almost every department everywhere he goes and the world No.1 is consistently good and better than anyone else at it.
Unlike any other player when I’m looking at stats, I’m usually looking for Top 20 figures etc. but with Scottie, this guys on a different planet, check this out;
On the PGA Tour Scottie Scheffler ranks
- 1st SG Total
- 1st SG Tee to Green
- 1st SG Approach the Green
- 1st Greens in Regulation
- 1st Approaches 150-175 yards
- 1st SG Approaches 50-125 yards
- 1st Birdie or Better Birdie Conversion %
- 1st Scoring Average
- 1st Birdie Average
- 1st Par 4 Birdie or Better Leaders
- 1st Bounce Back
- 1st Bogey Avoidance
- 1st Final Round Scoring Average
- 1st Official Money List
Can I please stop now as I could go on with lots more No,1’s for the ever talented Scottie Scheffler.
Will Scottie be the next Tiger? Get back to me on Sunday evening after the weekend's final round at Augusta National when Scottie Scheffler is being fitted with another green jacket and I’ll answer any questions?
Hideki Matsuyama without Scheffler, Rahm & McIlroy 14/1
For my next best pick to win 88th edition of The Masters I’m going to point you all in the direction of Hideki Matsuyama but this time it’s betting without Scheffler, Rahm and McIlroy available at 14/1 with Boylesports 1-6 places but if you don’t fancy that then you can have 20/1 for the outright with various firms 1-8 places.
When you consider that the man from Japan is as short as 16/1 for the outright with some firms with the three big guns involved then this bet makes so much sense doing it this way.
Hideki is red hot at the moment, at his last four events he won the Genesis Invitational then it was 12th at The Arnold Palmer Invitational followed by T6th at The Players Championship and finally T7th last weekend at the Valero Texas Open. Not quite as consistent as the man above but nevertheless that’s good golf.
Hideki is also a previous winner at Augusta having won this tournament in 2021 which made him a household name a a national hero in his homeland.
Another noticable performance from this year was T13th at the Farmers Insurance so it’s been a fantastic start for Matsuyama so far this year and it could be about to get even better this weekend.
Hideki arrives in Georgia with a bag of tricks where the magician ranks 1st SG Around the Green, 1st Total Hole Outs, 1st Scrambling from the Fringe, 3rd SG Tee to Green, 7th Consecutive Birdie Streak, 8th Lowest Round and finally, 8th for Total Eagles.
If Hideki Matsuyama is on-song with all of the above then it could be another masterful Masters for the sensational samurai.
Xander Schauffele 16/1 EW
So here it is folks my final tip on MFT as the amazing four years comes to an end so let’s hope it’s a winner, Xander Schauffele 16/1 EW 888 Sport 1-8 places.
I think that by including Schauffele we now definitely have the three hottest players in the game at the moment.
Xander Schauffele ticks lots of boxes this week at Augusta and the 5th best player on the planet arrives in Georgia fresh from a T5th effort at the Valspar Championship and prior to Copperhead it was an amazing joint runner-up effort at the fifth major, The Players Championship.
Schauffele’s 2024 campaign so far has been nothing short of impressive. This year, going back the way, he also finished 4th at the Genesis Invitational, T9th Farmers Insurance, T3rd The American Express and T10th at The Sentry, can you see a pattern? It’s all Top 10’s.
His best finish at a major was runner-up at The Open in 2018 but he did finish 3rd at The Masters in 2021 and finished inside the Top 10 again around here last year.
Now what did I say earlier in the preview about 3-Putt Avoidance ? This is where the Masters could be won or lost and who better to rely on than the man who’s currently ranked No 1 in this department.
I can then hit you with a host of figures where he’s ranked 2nd as Scottie Scheffler owns all the 1st prizes, here’s a few; 2nd SG Total, 2nd SG Tee to Green and 2nd Scoring Average.
Xander Schauffele is as cool, calm and collected as they come and the talented American may not have much longer to wait for that elusive maiden major that has so far eluded him.
I guarantee if you ask most people, “has Xander Schauffele ever won a major?” then the answer would be yes, well maybe if you ask on Sunday then the answer will be YES for the current Olympic champion.
So all that's left to say now everyone is enjoy The Masters, have fun and let’s hope it all ends with a winner on Sunday evening.
The Caddy's Masters Tips
- Scottie Scheffler 9/2 EW Boylesports 1-6 places
- Hideki Matsuyama without Scheffler, Rahm & McIlroy 14/1 Boylesports 1-6 places
- Xander Schauffele 16/1 EW 888Sport 1-8 places
Don.t know much about Golf, but given Tiger Woods Health/Fitness Conditions surely the 4/5 on him NOT to Qualify appeals and the price is partly based on Sentiment.??..
Sorry that should have read .NOT to make the Cut..
Cheers for your input The Caddy. It’ll be a shame to lose you. Not always been a follower of golf but I know your input to the page has won many a few quid.
I occasionally have a dabble on the golf and I’ll be backing the three you’ve advised.
I also have a feeling Rory could go well this year.
Also small nostalgia stakes on Bubba Watson who won me a few quid in the past and Stephen Jaeger who won me a few quid last week.
Gone for
Toy finau 25/1 e/w
Will zalatorius 28/1e/w.
Theegala 28/1 e/w
Garcia 80/1 e/w
Many thanks caddy enjoyed your column over the years thank you.