US Masters: Steve Palmer's tips

The US Masters starts at Augusta National on Thursday and Racing Post golf guru Steve Palmer is on hand to provide tips for the opening Major of the season.

Steve Palmer's US Masters Tips

Scottie Scheffler Enhanced Win @ 21/5
Bryson DeChambeau E/W ⅕ 1-8 @ 33/1
Sahith Theegala E/W ⅕ 1-8 @ 40/1
Adam Scott Top 20 Finish @ 23/10
Russell Henley Top 20 Finish @ 9/5

Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.

Setting the scene….

The Masters is one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the sporting calendar and another treat looks set to be served up for golf fans in Georgia over the next few days.

Rory McIlroy is again bidding to complete a career Grand Slam of Majors and this will be the 10th time the Northern Irishman has attempted to complete the Majors set - and he can be backed at 10/1 to finally get the job done.

Defending champion Jon Rahm is a 10/1 chance to retain his title. World number one Scottie Scheffler is 4/1 favourite, but can be backed at 21/5 in the Enhanced Win market.

Scottie Scheffler Enhanced Win @ 21/5

The ball-striking statistics of Scottie Scheffler over the last couple of years have shown the Texas-based superstar is on a different level to his peers - and that tee-to-green solidity should deliver a bold Masters title tilt this week.

Scheffler, who has won three of his last nine tournaments, won the Masters by three shots in 2022. Putting improvements over the last month have made the 27-year-old an even more complete player and he seems by far the most likely winner this week.

Steve Palmer's Tip

World number one Scheffler will take some stopping this week given his current form and a second Masters title could be coming the way of the American.

Bryson DeChambeau E/W ⅕ 1-8 @ 33/1

A missed cut in each of the previous two Masters means Bryson DeChambeau has been dismissed by the vast majority of the betting community, but he was injured for the first of those and badly out of form going into the other.

Since the last Masters, DeChambeau has got back to his best, winning LIV Golf Greenbrier by six shots, then LIV Golf Chicago. He was fourth in last year's US PGA and the 2020 US Open champion is playing well enough to make an impact at Augusta this time.

Steve Palmer's Tip

DeChambeau has struck out at the last two editions of the Masters but with form and fitness now seemingly on his side, he could be a major player this week.

Sahith Theegala E/W ⅕ 1-8 @ 40/1

Rising star Sahith Theegala has the ideal set of skills for Augusta National and the 26-year-old can get his name on the Masters leaderboard.

Theegala enjoyed a brilliant Augusta debut 12 months ago, finishing ninth, and there seems every chance of him producing something similar this time. He has made his PGA Tour breakthrough since then and has arrived in great form.

Theegala's form figures from his last six tournaments are 20-5-37-6-9-28. His ball-striking was hugely impressive in the Houston Open last time out.

Steve Palmer's Tip 

Rising star Theegala could be one to watch this week and may better his ninth-place finish at Augusta from last year.

Adam Scott Top 20 Finish @ 23/10

Australian ace Adam Scott won the Masters in 2013, two years after finishing second, and there seems every chance of the former world number one getting into the thick of things again this time.

Scott has often been let down by his putting at Augusta, but he has become more dependable on the greens in recent times, and he seems set to give a strong account of himself at the Cathedral of Pines.

Scott has not missed a Masters cut since 2009 and there is every reason to believe he can finish in the top 20 in his current mood.

Steve Palmer's Tip

Scott is Mr Dependable around Augusta and he could roll back the years this week and end up in the upper echelons of the leaderboard.

Russell Henley Top 20 Finish @ 9/5

Another top-20 wager which appeals is Russell Henley, who has rock-solid form figures of 31-21-11-15-30-4 from his last six Masters starts.

Henley, a Georgia man teeing up in his home state this week, finished fourth in the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month and fourth in the Texas Open last week.

Steve Palmer's Tip

Home-favourite Henley is coming into this year’s Masters in good form and another top-20 finish could be on the cards for the Georgia native.

Steve Palmer's US Masters Tips

Scottie Scheffler Enhanced Win @ 21/5
Bryson DeChambeau E/W ⅕ 1-8 @ 33/1
Sahith Theegala E/W ⅕ 1-8 @ 40/1
Adam Scott Top 20 Finish @ 23/10
Russell Henley Top 20 Finish @ 9/5

Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.