The Masters 2020: Early picks for Augusta this Autumn

In a world without Covid-19 we would now be deep into Masters week with all the suspense, hype and hot takes on who could leave Augusta on Sunday with a new addition to their wardrobe that entails.

But let’s look for the positives, and earlier this week we at least got a new date for the tournament with confirmation that, all being well, the 2020 Masters will be a late fall, early winter, major with it now being scheduled to tee off on November 12^th.

Of course, FansBet have put the odds up on the board and where there are odds there will be picks, so let’s have a look at some guys I think present a little bit of value – even if it is seven months ahead of the event taking place.

Course: Augusta National
Length: 7.435 yards (Par 72)
Greens: Bent grass
Opened: 1933
Architects: Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie

Justin Thomas 15.00*

How the talented Kentuckian still only has the one major (2017 PGA Championship) is beyond me and when the season gets going again I would have him only behind Rory McIlroy on the list of favourites in all the majors.

His last six months have been out of this world and have somehow gone a little under the radar because of McIlroy’s historic run and the constant Tiger focus, but in his last 11 starts Thomas has three wins and five other top 6 finishes.

His Masters record has gotten better year by year too (39-22-17-12) and 2020 very well might be the year where he gets it done.

Bubba Watson 34.00*

Watson has won here twice in his career, while finishing 5^th and a 12^th in the last two years and before the enforced break stopped him in his tracks.

He had two top-6 finishes in his last five starts, having seemingly learned how to putt once more, gaining strokes in 4 of 5 measured tournaments in 2020.

So with that in mind, you get higher odds on him than Finau and Fowler, who have fewer wins over the past three years than Bubba has majors – give me the eccentric lefty at those odds any day.

Marc Leishman 46.00*

The Australian veteran was enjoying one of the best stretches of his career when the season got postponed last month and in his last five starts had gained over 4.5 shots on approach in four of the tournaments – resulting in a win at Farmers and a runner-up position at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

With his biggest weakness being a driver that can go all over the place, Augusta and The Masters should be on of the majors (The Open being the other) that suits Leishman best. His supreme iron play combined with his deaf touch around the green and a putter that can get scorching hot is tailored for the Alister MacKenzie masterpiece.

In six starts he has produced a 4^th and a 9^th place and if he comes back after the break in close to that form, he could set a personal best and maybe even get his first major in November.

*Odds subject to change