This article is part of our FanDuel PGA DFS Picks series.
The Masters – Augusta, GA
Augusta National Golf Club (7,435 yards, par 72)
$11.0M Purse
$1,980,000 and 600 FedEx Cup points to the winner
Tournament Preview
The world's finest golfers will once again congregate for the season's first major at one of golf's grand showcases, Augusta National. The formidable field includes 20 former Masters Champions and 16 first-time entrants who received the coveted invite to Augusta National. Now a field of 87 after Ian Poulter punched the last ticket with a dramatic win at the Houston Open last weekend, the field remains a bit smaller than we typically see at the Masters. Storylines for this week include Tiger Woods making his first start since 2015, Phil Mickelson at 47 attempting to become the oldest Masters champion of all time, and Rory McIlroy (still) seeking the elusive career Grand Slam. With so many great players entering in form, the veterans and youth alike should provide plenty of excitement in this year's edition. Masters Week is expected to start off nice but then turn stormy Wednesday, and potentially Saturday as well. Blustery winds could well be a factor on those days as well. No matter the forecast, unparalleled drama should ensue per usual as the tournament inches toward the much-anticipated back nine on Sunday afternoon.
Recent Past Champions
2017 – Sergio Garcia
2016 – Danny Willett
2015 – Jordan Spieth
2014 – Bubba Watson
2013 – Adam Scott
2012 – Bubba Watson
2011 – Charl Schwartzel
2010 – Phil Mickelson
2009 – Angel Cabrera
2008 – Trevor Immelman
Key Stats to Winning this Week
• Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green
• Par-5 scoring
• 3-putt avoidance and putting conversion from 5-10 feet
Champion's Profile
With so many years to draw from at Augusta, the formula for victory in the modern era is simple: hit it longer than most, have a great short game, and stay disciplined all week. However, simple should most definitely not be mistaken as easy, since last year's scoring average per round was 73.89, nearly two shots over par. Augusta National has wide fairways, short rough, and plays on the long side. A big advantage of having length is that all four par-5s are reachable in two for longer hitters. The winner typically averages 2- or 3-under each round on the par-5's, making it essential to negating miscues on the non-par-5's. Around the green, tight lies and scary fast slopes litter the property, demanding not only great touch but the right technique and strategy for players to maintain momentum. In many situations, the best a player can do is setup a 5-10-foot putt to save par, which is why putting conversion from this range becomes so critical. Sure, mistakes will be made – even by the eventual champion – but showing mental fortitude despite the Sunday roars circling the property is what separates the contenders from the pretenders.
FanDuel Value Picks
The Chalk
Justin Thomas, $11800 – Justin Thomas has yet to crack the top-20 at Augusta in two trips, but his morphing into one of the world's best in the past couple years make it almost inevitable he will contend soon. Thomas is a bit of a risk at this salary given his lack of history, but he did win the last major championship and should be confident in his ability to close if he finds himself in the mix Sunday.
Rory McIlroy, $11700 – Seeking that elusive grand slam, Rory returns to Augusta fresh off a Sunday 64 at Bay Hill that netted him in impressive victory. Rory putted as well as he ever has in that Sunday round, which is really the only thing that has held him back from a green jacket to this point. Even if he doesn't win, he's pretty much a lock to make the cut and a good bet for a top-10 even if his putter is a bit off.
Tiger Woods, $11500 – Back-to-back top-5s have the masses pushing for Tiger to claim a fifth green jacket, which would be his first in 13 years. It's easy to see why, and though I'm not quite sold on Tiger picking up a major this week, it's pretty likely he'll play well enough to warrant his salary.
Jordan Spieth, $11000 – A win, two runner-ups, and a T11 last year round out Spieth's impeccable record at Augusta. While many will say his performance has to revert to something more sustainable over the long run, I believe Spieth is a special talent who can think his way around Augusta and make plenty of putts. After a solid top-3 finish at the Houston Open last week, Spieth heads to Augusta with some momentum.
Longer Shots Worth a Risk
Bubba Watson, $10300 – Two months ago Bubba was in a year-long slump, but since an out-of-nowhere victory at Riviera and dominating follow-up win at the WGC-Matchplay, he's suddenly a man to look out for again at Augusta. With two green jackets to his name, the course clearly fits his unique game like a glove, and at $10300, he's a no-brainer for most fantasy lineups.
Matt Kuchar, $9500 – Kuchar's hallmark is consistency, and Augusta rewards consistent ballstriking and putting, probably more than any other course. Kuchar has netted four top-10s at Augusta in 11 career starts, so give him a good look this week.
Ian Poulter, $9200 – Fresh off a win last week that earn him a last-minute invite, Poulter should parlay last week's efforts into at least a made cut this week. Beyond that it's hard to see him contending, but he's a great lineup filler in a smallish field.
Rafa Cabrera-Bello, $7400 – Digging deep into the salaries, Cabrera-Bello represents a quality "dud" option for a "studs and duds" lineup strategy. Though the last couple weeks he's been a bit off with his putter, prior to that he was one of the most consistent cut-makers over the past year. For a player ranked 22nd in the world, Cabrera-Bello begs to be selected at this rock-bottom price. He could pay immediate dividends, especially if he makes the cut while also enabling more "studs" to be fit into your FanDuel lineup.
Strategy Tips for this week (based on 60k standard salary cap)
Much is said about the very limited group of players who can theoretically win the Masters, so gravitating toward at least one or two of the elite players in DJ, Spieth, Rory, or Justin Thomas is a prudent choice to start a lineup. Having the Masters at Augusta National each year combined with a limited field (87 invitees) lends itself to choosing players with great records here. This is a proven idea that demands consideration, but don't hesitate to explore selecting talented newcomers or trending players in your lineup, especially if you're entering a large-scale GPP like the PGA Golden Eagle where differentiation is a key to separating from the masses.
