2026 Masters: First Round Leader Predictions, Picks, Odds, Bets

The first major championship of the 2026 PGA Tour season begins Thursday with the Masters at Augusta National in Georgia.

While the world's top players compete for the venerable Green Jacket, there are more ways to bet on the tournament than just who will emerge victorious on Sunday. For more instant gratification, we turn to the First Round Leader market to find value on who will sit atop the leaderboard when play comes to an end on Thursday.

Here are my favorite 2026 Masters first-round leader picks and bets for Thursday.

2026 Masters: First Round Leader Picks, Bets

Ludvig Aberg +2400 (DraftKings)

Ludvig Aberg enters this week in excellent form, finishing inside the top five in each of his past three tournaments. A major factor in that success has been his greenside play.

Across those three events, Aberg gained true strokes around the green in each. In fact, he ranks in the 85th percentile on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: around the green.

Greenside play is arguably the most important factor at Augusta National. Last year, each of the top seven finishers ranked inside the top 20 in the field in strokes gained: around the green.

No other strokes-gained category showed a similar trend.

Aberg was one of those top-seven finishers, sitting T2 after Thursday’s opening round last year. Given his development and current form, he has a strong chance to make the jump this time around and secure the first-round lead.

Matt Fitzpatrick+3200 (DraftKings)

Another golfer worth targeting in Thursday’s opening round is Matt Fitzpatrick. Like Aberg, Fitzpatrick brings elite greenside ability to Augusta National, ranking in the 98th percentile on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: around the green.

Success around the greens is often underpinned by strong mid-to-long-iron play. Last season, 19.6% of approach shots came from the 150-175-yard range, the highest distribution of any 25-yard grouping at this course.

Entering this week, Fitzpatrick ranks third on the PGA Tour in birdie-or-better percentage from that distance. He also enters the tournament in strong form, coming off a win at the Valspar Championship and a runner-up finish at The Players Championship.

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When is the Masters?

The 2026 Masters tees off on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

• What: 2026 Masters Tournament
• When: April 9-12, 2026
• Where: Augusta National Golf Course, Augusta, Ga.
• Par: 72
• Length: 7,555
• Purse: $21 million (estimated)

Where to Watch the Masters?

2026 Masters TV Schedule

Round 1: Thursday, April 9

• Live stream: Masters.com (7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET)
• TV coverage: ESPN (3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET)

Round 2: Friday, April 10

• Live stream: Masters.com (7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET)
• TV coverage: ESPN (3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET)

Round 3: Saturday, April 11

• Live stream: Masters.com (10:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET); Paramount+ (12 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET)
• TV coverage: CBS (2 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET)

Round 4: Sunday, April 12

• Live stream: Masters.com (10:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET); Paramount+ (12 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET)
• TV coverage: CBS (2 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET)

Who is Favored to Win the 2026 Masters?

Masters Odds, Favorites

via DraftKings as of Monday