The Masters 2023 betting tips: Who are the favourites for glory at Augusta? Smith lurks as Scheffler battles McIlroy
The 2023 Masters is coming up this week as golf’s elite get set for the first Major for the year.
World number one Scottie Scheffler claimed the green jacket at Augusta last April, clinching a superb victory to secure his first Major title.
Scheffler will no doubt be in contention again but he’ll face one of the finest fields in Masters’ history.
His main rivals are Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy with the three jostling to be the top ranked player in the world all season so far.
But such is the quality in golf at the moment, there are a host of names in contention in Georgia…
The favourites to win The Masters
The Spaniard is enjoying a Tiger Woods-esque season having already won the Sentry Tournament of Champions, The American Express and The Genesis this year.
Rahm’s power is a threat to any golf course and he has now learned to control his temperament to become a fine player.
Rahmbo has one Major to his name so far, winning the 2021 US Open at Torrey Pines in stunning style.
He’ll be eager to add at least one more big win this summer and would love to follow in the footsteps of legendary countryman Seve Ballesteros in securing a green jacket.
If Rahm’s game is on song, he’ll be hard to hang with.
Like Rahm, McIlroy has had a superb 12 months.
He won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January and claimed three big wins in 2022 as well.
The Northern Irishman finished top eight or better in all of the four Majors last year, including a brilliant second at the Masters thanks to his incredible chip in at the final hole.
But – and it’s a big but – Rory remains without a Major title since 2014 and he’s admitted that his off-field commitments this year have made his life more complicated.
His gut-wrenching miss out at The Open at St Andrews in July may also weigh heavy on his shoulders heading to Augusta.
However, McIlroy is, of course, an incredible player and his knowledge of Augusta is second to none these days.
If he can put it all together in Georgia, he could well complete his fairytale Grand Slam.
Completing the top three in the world, Scheffler will be looking to defend his Masters crown this year.
Scheffler burst onto the scene last February, claiming four wins in quick succession culminating in glory at Augusta.
He clearly loves playing springtime golf as he has two more victories this year, defending his Phoenix Open title before securing glory at the prestigious Players.
It is notoriously difficult to do the Players / Masters double but if any man is unflappable enough to pull it off, it’s Scheffler.
The 26-year-old will be on hosting duties in Georgia which could take his eye off the ball but he’ll be determined to add to his Major collection as soon as possible.
What a story this would be…
LIV Golf has dominated the sport’s headlines in recent years and despite the controversy, the Masters has invited players from the rival tour to the 2023 tournament.
The best LIV player is, by far, Australian star Smith.
The 29-year-old won the Players last year before pipping McIlroy to glory in The 150th Open.
He also won his first LIV event in Chicago in September and the Australian PGA Championship in November so remains one of the best in the business.
It remains to be seen if his LIV schedule will have damaged his game at the very highest level but he’d love to get one over his former PGA Tour peers.
Spieth would be a popular winner at this year’s Masters as he looks to complete his arc back to the top of the game.
Spieth blew his rivals away in his incredible 2015 season which saw him win the Masters, the US Open and several other big tournaments.
He won The Open two years later but then suffered a dramatic drop off.
He has rediscovered his best in the last two years, winning the 2021 Valero Texas Open and the RBC Heritage last April and will now look to complete his comeback by claiming Major glory once again.
Spieth has been in contention in most of his starts so far this year and if he can tighten up his putting, he’ll be eyeing a second green jacket.
Thomas has had some stellar wins in recent years and is primed for another shot at the Majors this summer.
JT only seems to win big tournaments with his last three victories coming at the 2020 WGC St Jude, the 2021 Players Championship and, of course, the PGA Championship last May.
His win at Southern Hills was as surprising as it was superb and he’ll be gunning for more at Augusta.
Thomas hasn’t had too much to shout about since claiming his second Major and will want a big week in Georgia.
Sam Burns’ recent win at the WGC Match Play saw Thomas drop out of the world’s top ten for the first time in six years so he’ll have added motivation too.
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