2026 Masters Golf Pools: Strategy, Ideas, Expert Picks & Predictions For Augusta National
The most popular time of the year for golf pools has arrived. So, if you’re a casual sports fan, hesitant to bet The Masters odds, and want to play in a contest with friends, you’ve come to the right place. This strategy guide will walk you through the best options in each tier for your 2026 Masters Tournament golf pool picks.
I’ve also already written about Masters DFS picks for fantasy contests. These could apply to traditional pools, too.
MASTERS FAVORITES: TOP 10 IN 2026 ODDS
Find odds for this year’s Masters favorites below. You can use these to inform your Masters pool picks as well. Click any odds to wager on Masters odds at betting apps in your area.
STRATEGY FOR MASTERS GOLF POOL PICKS
Like a daily fantasy tournament strategy (DraftKings, FanDuel, etc.), game theory is key for your Masters golf pool picks. It’s best first to understand who the popular players in each tier will be, then decide which ones you want to double down on and which ones you’re comfortable fading for a more contrarian option. Below, we’ll review each tier’s consensus popular and pivot plays. The format in each golf pool will vary, but the below tiers are structured in order of consensus betting odds, as is most common for golf pools.
How Do Masters Pools Work?
Typically, the best cumulative score under par of the players rostered wins a Masters pool. Some pools will severely penalize one of your players’ scores if they miss the cut. For example, if a player misses the cut with a score of +2, the pool may add 10 strokes and make the player +12. That means it’s critical that the players you pick make the cut. Also, check your pool rules to see if the worst score is not counted among your picks. Sometimes, this is a feature of golf pool rules and scoring.
Tier 1: Top 1-6 Players
The Popular Play: Scottie Scheffler
The World No. 1 has won this event twice over the last four years, and finished no worse than T10 over his last four visits to Augusta National.
Scheffler looked to be on another world domination tour after a decisive victory in his 2026 debut at The American Express. He’s looked human since then, however, with three consecutive top-25 finishes leading in now. He’s still the best player in this field, but not as automatic a Tier 1 pool selection as he has been in previous seasons.
The Pivot Play: Jon Rahm
While Scottie, Bryson, and Rory will each have their fair share of popularity in pools this week, I see no reason not to back 2023 Masters champion, Jon Rahm. Rahm’s game is picture-perfect for Augusta National, possessing power off the tee, prowess with his long irons and fairway woods, and deft touch around these tricky greens. He’s finished 2nd, 5th, 1st, 2nd, and 2nd over his last five starts.
Tier 2: Top 7-20 Players
The Popular Play: Brooks Koepka
Brooks always carries popularity in pools by the time we reach major season. After all, there are no players in the field this week with more major championships (5) than Brooks. He’s finished top-20 in three of his last four starts, and the form truly does appear to be circling around a win soon. Brooks has twice finished runner-up at the Masters and will be hungry to claim the green jacket from Rory this time around.
The Pivot Play: Patrick Reed
No one ever wants to play Patrick Reed in pools or fantasy formats. He’s not the easiest guy to root for, and golf fans haven’t seen much of him of late, splitting his time between LIV and the DP World Tour. Rest assured, Reed comes to Augusta playing the best golf of his life right now, and the 2018 champion looks poised to continue his run of six top-12 finishes over his last eight Masters appearances.
Tier 3: Top 21-50 Players
The Popular Play: Nicolai Hojgaard
From a sleeper perspective, there is so much to love about Nicolai Hojgaard (not to be confused with his brother Rasmus, also in this field). Hojgaard is one of the longest hitters in this field, which will give him a distinct leg up at Augusta National. He’s also elevated his approach play in 2026, ranking 4th in the field in SG: Approach. Hojgaard finished T16 in his 2024 Masters debut and has three top-6 finishes over his last six starts.
The Pivot Play: Maverick McNealy
McNealy may not have top-5 finish potential this week, but few others in this tier truly do. He is one of the most well-rounded players in this field, averaging over a full stroke gained per tournament in terms of SG: OTT, SG: APP, SG: ARG, and SG: P. McNealy finished T32 in his 2025 Masters debut, and has finished top-30 in seven of his first eight starts in 2026.
Tier 4: Top 51-75 Players
The Popular Play: Marco Penge
One of the longest, and most gifted drivers in the field this week, Marco Penge will take his first crack at Augusta National with fairly high expectations. Penge was a standout performer on the DP World Tour last season, where he won three times. He’s acclimated well to PGA Tour competition right away, with three top-20 finishes over his last five starts.
The Pivot Play: Harry Hall
What Harry Hall lacks in distance relative to Penge, he makes up for with his short game. Hall ranks top-5 in SG: ARG, SG: Short Game, SG: Putting (Bentgrass), and SG: Putting (Fast greens). That’s an invaluable skill at Augusta National, where consistently scrambling for pars is essential. He’s proven he can handle difficult conditions well, too, finishing T9 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this season, and top-30 in his two 2025 major starts.
Tier 5: Top 76+ Players
The Popular Play: Aldrich Potgieter
If anyone in this field can out-drive Marco Penge, it’s Aldrich Potgieter, who is set to make his second Masters start, and first as a professional. Potgieter is a transcendent talent with the driver and has played his best on long courses. He finished T5 at the Genesis Invitational earlier this season, and was a winner at last year’s Rocket Classic.
The Pivot Play: Andrew Novak
The 31-year-old South Carolina native is set to make his Masters debut this week. He’s played the best golf of his career in this part of the country, winning the Zurich Classic and losing the RBC Heritage in a playoff last season. Novak looked sharp all-around at last week’s Valero Texas Open, where he finished T14, and posted a season-best T7 at the Farmers Insurance Open in Jamuary.
Best of luck with your Masters golf pool picks!
Photo Credit: AP/Eric Gay
