Masters 2023 Round 3 Picks and Predictions

Through (almost) two rounds of the 2023 Masters, LIV Golf star Brooks Koepka is dominating at Augusta — and he, plus some other big storylines (such as an impressive amateur and unimpressive weather) highlight our Masters picks heading into Round 3.

Round 2 of the 2023 Masters was suspended until Saturday morning, the weather is wreaking havoc (and could continue to do so tomorrow) on what is normally a beautiful, springtime event.

In fact, it seems more like February in the South, and I can attest to that being in North Carolina: It’s cold, it’s rainy, and, well, it feels like the end of winter more than early April.

LIV Golf defector Brooks Koepka was able to complete his Round 2, and he is the clubhouse leader at a 12-under 132 for the tournament heading into Moving Day. Amateur Sam Bennett posted back-to-back 4-under 68s in the first two rounds, and he sits all alone in third place despite the ugly weather and non-optimal conditions as his star is quickly on the rise.

Koepka also, unsurprisingly, has the best Masters odds to win the Green Jacket this year... perhaps with a Monday finish, if the weather forecast holds as  Saturday is a complete mess with a shield of rain blanketing Eastern Georgia.

That said, there is still golf that will be played, despite knowing the ugly weather could turn things in a hurry, and I'm breaking down the golf odds to give you my best Masters picks heading into (hopefully) Round 3.

Best 2023 Masters Rounds 3 picks

Picks made on 4/7/2023 at 7:38 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

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Best 2023 Masters Round 2 picks

Sam Bennett Top-10 Finish (+130)

Besides the weather, and a LIV golfer ruling the roost through 36 holes, Bennett has been one of the biggest stories through the first two days.

The amateur has been unflappable, turning in back-to-back rounds of 4-under 68 in the first major of the season. He is one of seven amateurs in this year's field, and he is well ahead of the other six competitors, with the nearest amateur (Ben Carr) sitting at 5-over 149.

With a Masters projected cut line of +2, Bennett will be the only amateur to play this weekend — and the Texan has not been fazed playing with Tour regular Max Homa and defending Masters champ Scottie Scheffler.

He has averaged 283 yards off the tee, while managing only a single bogey through the first 36 holes, but there is tremendous risk backing an amateur, as there are so many unknowns. When you get on a Tour regular, there is a sample size, history, etc. — but it’s fun to cheer for the winner of last year’s U.S. Amateur and a Havemeyer Trophy at Ridgewood Country Club.

The only previous amateur with a lower score at the Masters through 36 holes was Ken Venturi, who not only starred on the Tour with a U.S. Open win in 1964, but he was a great broadcaster, as well. Bennett made the cut at the U.S. Open in 2022, finishing T49. He has much bigger aspirations this time around, and at plus-money for a Top-10 finish, he is worth a roll of the dice in showinf no chinks in the armor through two days.

Pick: Sam Bennett Top-10 finish (+130 at Caesars)

Patrick Cantlay Top-20 finish (+110)

Originally, Cantlay was my pick to win the whole ball of wax at Augusta, and I am stubborn and refuse to believe my initial assessment was not valid — so I'm banking on him to finish strong at Augusta.

Cantlay posted a 1-under 71 in the opening round, and through 10 holes Friday (before play was suspended) he was plus-1. That’s fine, as he is currently T38 (with the likes of Mito Pereira, Tyrrell Hatton, Homa, Fred Couples, and Mackenzie Hughes) and I expect to see Cantlay rocket up the leaderboard on Moving Day with his first strong round of the tournament.

It hasn’t come yet, and he is still in contention and well above the projected cut line.

He's battling against a history of just one Top-5 finish in his career at a major, posting a T3 at the PGA Championship in 2019, but he has dominated this season in Strokes Gained: Approach, Strokes Gained: Off The Te,e and Driving Distance — all categories which can propel a player to glory at Augusta National.

Cantlay has yet to piece together a great round, but if he can hang around it to Sunday (or conceivably Monday) for a dry final round, I can see big things in his future. He is just too good, and he came into this major brimming with confidence while playing flawless golf.

Pick: Patrick Cantlay Top-20 finish (+110 at Caesars)

Brooks Koepka Round 3: 70 or Lower (-110)

OK, this one is cheating, a little bit, right? Nothing is a guarantee, but Koepka has been dominant through the first two rounds of play.

While the staunch PGA Tour backers are hoping this doesn’t come to fruition, the LIV Golf star has a chance to secure a Green Jacket with the way he has been crushing the field through the first 36 holes.

Koepka came out on Thursday with guns blazing, firing a 7-under 65, and he followed that up with a 5-under 67. He was bogey-free in Round 2 and the highlight of the day was his ridiculous shot from 250 yards out on No. 8, setting up a 13-foot putt for eagle on the Par 5 hole.

Koepka has managed to hit 24 of his 28 fairways, while hitting 28 of his 36 greens through the first two days. Remember, this is a guy who won four major tournaments between 2017-19, and he is a force to be reckoned with. The way he is playing, even if he fell back a little bit on Saturday, should still get him to 2-under 70 or better.

Are you betting against him? I wouldn't recommend it.

Pick: Brooks Koepka Round 3: 70 or lower (-110 at BetMGM)