2026 The Masters odds, predictions: Top picks, props and analysis from proven expert

Rory McIlroy finally broke through to win his first Masters Tournament championship last year as he completed the career grand slam. He had come close 11 times before before finally winning at Augusta. Now he returns with a chance to win his second consecutive Masters as well as his sixth major and 30th PGA Tour event. He enters the tournament at +1100, behind only Scottie Scheffler (+550) and Bryson Dechambeau and Jon Rahm (+1000).

The Masters gets underway at 8 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 9. The tournament, with a $21 million purse, will be played on a par-72 course measuring 7,555 yards. 

Before making any 2026 Masters picks, you NEED to see the predictions and best bets from elite golf expert David Bearman.

Bearman joins SportsLine after serving as ESPN's golf researcher from 2008-11, and as the Deputy Editor of ESPN Chalk from 2019-23, where he authored the weekly golf betting column for that site. 

In 2026, he's cashed 28 placement bets (top 5/10/20) in the first 11 tournaments, and hit Cam Young outright at The Players Championship. Anyone following could have seen huge returns.

Now, Bearman has been digging into The Masters field to find the best betting value and just locked in his best bets to back. He's fading Rory McIlroy (+900). 

"Fading Rory McIlroy is not an easy thing to do," Bearman said. "We are talking about the defending champion with eight top-10s and many narrow misses here. But a few things are working against him here. First off, he withdrew while tied for 9th place at the Arnold Palmer Invitational three weeks ago with a back injury. Yes, he returned for The Players Championship, but finished T-46 and never had a round under par. That's the physical part.

"Now the emotional part. How do you follow up on last year's historical win and completion of the sport's elusive Grand Slam? It wasn't just a guy who had come close, finally cashing in. It was a guy who had ELEVEN shots at the grand slam and in every way imaginable didn't get there, until last year. You saw it in his emotional release after he won and everything that followed. As much as he 'needed' that win to fulfill his career, he does not need it this time around. Oh, and only three golfers (Nicklaus, Faldo, Tiger) in the history of golf have won back-to-back green jackets, so history isn't on his side either."

Bearman has revealed his best bet, and it's a surprising golfer who returns around 60-1 and is a perfect course fit!

What are the best bets for the 2026 Masters Tournament, and which massive longshot should you back? ... Join SportsLine right now to see David Bearman's best picks, all from the expert who cashed 28 placement bets (top 5/10/20) in the first 11 tournaments in 2026!