The Masters First Round Leader Predictions, Picks & Player Odds | Pickswise

The weather forecast for the opening round of the Masters at Augusta National has been getting progressively worse and the chances of play being suspended at some stage seem high. With stormy skies, heavy rain and 45 mph gusts expected, a stop-start Thursday could be in store, and the temperaments of the Masters betting favorites will be tested. Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele – the top 4 names in the winner betting – are all scheduled to tee off in the morning wave.

Scheffler, McIlroy and Schauffele are due to go out together in the 10:42 am ET group. Scheffler, adept in the wind and the king of course management, should hang tough better than most on a day when avoiding big numbers will be the key to success. Let’s get into our Masters 2024 first-round leader predictions and our Masters three-ball best bets.

See our Golf expert’s The Masters 2024 best bets, including a +5500 longshot

The Masters 2024 First Round Leader best bet: Shane Lowry (+4500)

Odds available at BetMGM at time of publishing.

Former British Open champion Shane Lowry will be licking his lips at the weather forecast and the burly Irishman looks to have great value to finish as first round leader at The Masters 2024. Lowry typically excels when conditions turn rough and the breezy weather expected over Thursday and Friday should bring out the best in him. Lowry has got to grips with the Augusta assignment over the last 4 years, compiling form figures of 25-21-3-16, and he seems a lively Green Jacket contender this time. Lowry played superbly on the Florida Swing of the PGA Tour last month and can finish top of the standings after day one.

Si Woo Kim to beat Vijay Singh and Emiliano Grillo in three-ball (-120)

Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.

Si Woo Kim has made the cut in the last 6 Masters and can be fancied to outscore Vijay Singh and Emiliano Grillo in the 11:42 am ET contest. Kim, Sawgrass champion at the age of 21, is undaunted by Golf’s biggest stages and has been consistently impressive on the PGA Tour this season.

Singh, a 61-year-old who has missed the cut in the last 5 Masters, is easily dismissed, while Grillo has not comPeted at Augusta since finishing tied last of the weekend qualifiers (62nd) in 2019.

Find out our Golf expert’s The Masters best prop bets, including a nationality prop pick at +1600 odds!

Corey Conners to beat Zach Johnson and Jasper Stubbs in three-ball (-140)

Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.

Corey Conners looks a solid first-round three-ball wager. Conners, who had Masters form figures of 10-8-6 from 2020 to 2022, has arrived at Augusta National this year in excellent ball-striking form. Zach Johnson has only one top-30 finish in his last 15 Masters and the 48-year-old is in the twilight of his career, while Australian amateur Jasper Stubbs is massively inexperienced.