With the 88th Masters quick approaching, the important thing query everybody’s asking is identical throughout the golf world: Who are you choosing to win this 12 months at Augusta National? With a rare field that includes the perfect professionals and most of the high amateurs on the earth, the primary main championship of 2024 must be an epic experience from Thursday’s first spherical via the awarding of the inexperienced jacket early Sunday night.

While the Masters field is stacked, the final two champions — Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm — are using momentum into the match. Rahm is looking for to turn out to be the primary golfer to win consecutive inexperienced jackets since Tiger Woods, whereas Scheffler’s blistering play has him standing because the clear favourite to win twice at Augusta National in a three-year span. Unlike two years in the past when there have been no single-digit favorites coming into the Masters, Scheffler holds that distinction at 9/2.

Rahm and Rory McIlroy observe at 11-1 with the latter nonetheless looking for his first inexperienced jacket. Should he obtain it, the long-desired profession grand slam would lastly be full for McIlroy.

There are loads of golfers behind them who will certainly be in rivalry, together with Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland, all of whom are among the many high gamers on the chances board. Check out the total slate of Round 1 tee instances and groupings scheduled for the Masters on Thursday, and plan your day with our Masters TV schedule and protection information.

And then there’s the duo of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the previous making the minimize the final two years just for his physique to fail him coming into the weekend. Tiger stands at 140-0 coming into the Masters, whereas Mickelson (regardless of enjoying extra regularly) is 200-1. 

So, what goes to occur at Augusta National this week? Let’s check out a full set of predictions and picks from our CBS Sports specialists as we try to challenge who will win — and what’s going to occur — on the most prestigious golf match on the earth. 

Watch all 4 rounds of the 2024 Masters beginning Thursday with Masters Live as we observe the perfect golfers on the earth via Augusta National with Featured Groups, examine in on the famed Amen Corner and see leaders around the activate holes 15 & 16. Watch reside on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports app and Paramount+.

2024 Masters skilled picks, predictions

Kyle Porter, senior golf author

Winner — Scottie Scheffler (4-1): I attempted as laborious as I may to choose any person apart from Scheffler, however after listening to Viktor Hovland discuss how disciplined a participant wants to be along with his irons and the place he misses — after which combining that with the outrageous degree at which Scheffler is enjoying (once more, he is at 3.2 strokes gained tee to inexperienced per spherical this 12 months whereas just one different golfer is over 2.0) — it positive does look like Scheffler will get a second inexperienced jacket.

Sleeper — Cameron Young (50-1): There are a variety of golfers within the 45-1 to 60-1 vary that I really like, together with Sahith Theegala, Russell Henley, Si Woo Kim and Shane Lowry. But I really like Young probably the most. Why? He’s enjoying good golf (he narrowly misplaced the Valspar Championship and is fifth on the earth in ball placing this 12 months) and has been superior at main championships, together with a high 10 at Augusta final 12 months.

Top 10 lock — Hideki Matsuyama: Matsuyama’s historical past at Augusta National is underrated. He has not missed a minimize since 2014, has 4 consecutive high 20s and is enjoying in addition to anybody on the earth this 12 months not named “Scheffler.” He’s flying in underneath the radar and is the perfect high 10 worth within the field. 

Star who undoubtedly will not win — Jon Rahm: It’s tough to return to again at any main, a lot much less a Masters, the place there are extraordinary obligations for a defending champion. Rahm’s vibe on Tuesday was not precisely jubilant, both; he had to field questions concerning the Official World Golf Rankings, his transfer to LIV Golf and whether or not he thought that transfer was going to carry LIV and the PGA Tour again collectively. There was one thing a bit … off with him, and I do not assume that is going to translate very nicely in his title protection. That stated … I put him on this area final 12 months, and he proved me unsuitable.

Scottie Scheffler vs. Jon Rahm: Scheffler by a mile. He has misplaced to one golfer in his final three occasions, and for all the explanations outlined above, Rahm’s disposition is a little bit of a priority for me proper now. 

Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson: Mickelson, however it’s shut. This one is tough. Tiger is seemingly hitting the golf ball nicely, however I am unable to belief that he is going to end the match given he is solely accomplished one main because the 2020 PGA Championship.

Surprise prediction — Par is nice: In latest years, regardless of course adjustments, scoring has been most likely simpler than many people would like. For the primary time in match historical past, double digits underneath par has gained this occasion six years in a row. The golf course is seemingly firmer this 12 months — Xander Schauffele talked about balls “tomahawking” over greens earlier within the week — which signifies that in the event you shoot 4 72s, you need to truly be in a good spot.  

Lowest spherical: 66 (-6)
Winning rating: 280 (-8)
Winner’s Sunday rating: 70 (-2)

Patrick McDonald, golf author

Winner — Xander Schauffele (16-1): I’ve achieved the psychological gymnastics and concluded that dropping Tthe Players Championship was the perfect factor to occur to Schauffele’s Masters probabilities. His new swing was put underneath the microscope at TPC Sawgrass, and we recognized what his misses have been when underneath the gun. That expertise ought to pay dividends this week as he has statistically been the second-best participant on the earth this season and has loads of historical past round Augusta National with a few shut calls. 

Sleeper — Chris Kirk (200-1): We have seen numerous Masters winners discover success at Kapalua (simply have a look at Rahm final 12 months), and Kirk may observe go well with. The Georgia Bulldog’s numbers since his win within the season opener do not leap off the web page, however they continue to be sound. He’s driving the ball in addition to ever and his quick recreation is vastly underrated. He will want his iron play to return to peak ranges, however it’s not out of the realm of potentialities for the person who completed T23 in final 12 months’s Masters.

Top 10 lock — Scottie Scheffler: There’s no want to overthink this. Scheffler is the perfect participant on the earth by a large margin and may have a practical likelihood come Sunday to slip on his second inexperienced jacket. He acquired completely nothing out of his putter at Augusta National final 12 months and nonetheless completed in a share for tenth. That identical tee-to-green prowess ought to present up, and if a barely cooperative putter makes the journey, then Scheffler would be the one in Butler Cabin at week’s finish.

Star who undoubtedly will not win — Viktor Hovland: The full swing is not there and the quick recreation is not there. I’m no rocket scientist, however that does not sound like an excellent mixture. Hovland has but to crack the highest 10 this season and ranks 183rd in strokes gained across the inexperienced out of 183 PGA Tour gamers. His streak of 5 straight main high 20s will likely be in jeopardy.

Scottie Scheffler vs. Jon Rahm: Give me Scheffler. The world No. 1 will not have to cope with internet hosting the Champions Dinner like Rahm and can roll into Thursday’s motion refreshed and prepared to go. These two gamers are among the many highest in strokes gained whole at Augusta National, however it looks like Scheffler’s ground is a hair increased than Rahm’s in the intervening time. 

Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson: Tiger goes for a file twenty fourth straight made minimize on the Masters, whereas Mickelson will goal to recapture the magic of 2023 when he completed runner up to Rahm. We have solely seen Woods play 25 holes this 12 months, so it is robust to have any sense of confidence about his type and makes me imagine Mickelson may have the higher hand this 12 months. Both gamers will use their in depth expertise to their benefit to make their approach into the weekend, however neither will significantly be an element.

Surprise prediction — Rory McIlroy is within the combine on the second 9 on Sunday: Despite a bevy of good finishes at Augusta, McIlroy has solely had one nice alternative to full the profession grand slam. That got here in 2018. I really like that he did not arrive at Augusta National till later within the week, and his high quality took one other step in the fitting course on the Texas Open. There are nonetheless questions concerning the fast left miss off the tee and his strategy play, however I guess they get ironed out and McIlroy provides himself an actual likelihood at becoming a member of golf’s most unique membership.

Lowest spherical: 65 (-7)
Winning rating: 277 (-11)
Winner’s Sunday rating: 70 (-2)

The First Cut crew alongside Joe Musso provides you one remaining preview forward of the 88th Masters Tournament. Follow & hear to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Adam Silverstein, director of editorial

Winner — Jordan Spieth (25-1): Is Scheffler extra doubtless to win this Masters than anybody else within the field? Yes, in fact. The odds inform that story. But as Kyle wrote this week, there are few programs or tournaments within the nation as sticky this one — and Spieth is without doubt one of the greatest enjoying right here. Spieth’s strokes gained at Augusta National (2.81) is second solely to Rahm (2.84) amongst golfers who’ve performed a minimum of 4 Masters during the last 10 years. That’s 0.01 forward of Scheffler (2.80). He was only a couple strokes shy of profitable three straight Masters (2014-16) and has three top-four finishes within the seven he is performed since with a T4 final 12 months. He additionally has momentum coming in with a T10 end on the Texas Open, although to be honest, he did miss the minimize in consecutive occasions prior. Still, his chance of profitable is sort of as sturdy as both Scheffler or Rahm, and his odds are six instances as nice as the previous.

Sleeper — Justin Rose (130-1): Speaking of high quality golfers on this course, Rose is kind of an choice. He solely has two modes at Augusta National: rivalry or the weekend again house. The 43-year-old has not gained on the PGA Tour in a 12 months, however he is aware of this course just like the again of his hand. with six high 10s and two runner-ups, although these got here almost a decade in the past. He has not gained a significant since 2013 but regularly appears to be in rivalry with 4 high 10s within the final 13 he is performed. Is he going to win the Masters? Probably not. But expertise at Augusta issues, and throwing some beer cash on Rose is a play that is … higher than most.

Top 10 lock — Scottie Scheffler: The advantage of not choosing Scheffler to win is that he can slide in proper right here with the utmost confidence. Scheffler has not completed exterior the highest 10 at a match since Jan. 21; he is positioned among the many high of the leaderboard in six straight occasions and enters the Masters going Win, Win, T2 in March. He bumped into the highest 10 final 12 months after profitable in 2022, and get this, has positioned inside the highest 10 throughout 9 of his final 13 majors (69%). There’s no approach anybody within the field has a greater proportion than that.

Star who undoubtedly will not win — Justin Thomas: Hopefully it is a reverse jinx state of affairs for J.T., as a result of it actually feels as if he ought to have gained a Masters already given his talent and mastery of this course. The downside could also be that he simply desires it a lot. Thomas missed the minimize final 12 months enjoying alongside idol Tiger Woods; fortunately, that will not be the case this 12 months, so he ought to find a way to calm down a bit. He is debuting a brand new bag man after splitting with Jim “Bones” Mackay. 

Scottie Scheffler vs. Jon Rahm: There’s a basic perception round Augusta National that Rahm is feeling the stress given his controversial transfer to LIV Golf, serving because the reigning champion, internet hosting the Champions Dinner, and so forth. Maybe true; possibly not. What I do know is that there could also be no golfer who enters an occasion feeling much less stress nowadays than Scheffler, and given the aforementioned streak he is working, it could virtually be silly to take Rahm on this head-to-head. 

Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson: Speaking of basic beliefs round Augusta, there’s a lack of it in Woods. You know, the man with 5 inexperienced jackets. The man who who has made 19 straight cuts at Augusta National (by no means lacking one) as knowledgeable. The man who gained this occasion simply 5 years in the past. OK, Tiger’s physique is falling aside; he stated this week that he “hurt[s] every day.” What does not harm, apparently, is his surgically repaired ankle. Nor does his thoughts, which understands the hills and valleys, the minimize of the greens and the way to transverse this course higher than anybody on the earth. Not solely do I’ve Tiger over Phil, I’ve him over one other rival, Sergio Garcia, too.

Surprise prediction — Rory McIlroy backdoors his approach to a top-five end: The 2024 season has not been overly form to McIlroy, nor has Augusta National over time, as he is alternated between top-five finishes and missed cuts during the last 4 Masters. He has seven high 10s right here since 2014 and 7 high 10s in his final eight majors. It’s unlikely that Rory wins at Augusta till he figures out a approach to cease wanting it so badly. That sounds asinine, however we have seen that need be his undoing at numerous occasions. Where he thrives on the Masters is when he performs from behind and has nothing to lose. 

Lowest spherical: 65 (-7)
Winning rating: 278 (-12)
Winner’s Sunday rating: 69 (-3)

Who will win the 2024 Masters, and which longshots will stun {the golfing} world? Visit SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard, all from the mannequin that is nailed 10 golf majors, together with final 12 months’s Masters and Open Championship.