RADIO
Hello, PGA DFS fans and welcome to the Masters DFS Bible! While the Masters is a tradition unlike any other, I like to think that this piece has turned into an annual tradition for some of you guys. This year, perhaps more than any other in recent memory, it feels as though the year's first major is wide open due to the vast amount of quality golfers that are in the world at the moment. It is also the first chance we've had to see a battle of PGA Tour vs. LIV players in 2023. No matter who ends up wearing the green jacket this year, chances are high that we will once again be blessed with some unforgettable moments at Augusta National.
Before we dive into the players, let me take a second to say thanks for all of your support throughout the PGA DFS season! This wouldn't be possible without you guys, so let me urge you to spread the word about the great golf content available here at RotoBaller each and every week. Follow our growing team on Twitter: @JoeNicely, @TeeOffSports, @JishSwish, @TheModelManiac, @Flag_Hunting, @RotoBaller, @RotoBallerPGA -- and make sure to like and share both this article and our weekly content!
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DraftKings DFS Player Preview for the Masters
The Masters is my favorite golf tournament and it's the event where it all started for me here at RotoBaller, when I published the first Masters Bible on this site in 2018. If you've been able to check out any of my previous 'Bibles', then you know the deal here. I will be jamming in as much DFS info as I can, on every single player in the Masters field. You will see write-ups for all the players you know and love from the top of the salary scale all the way down to the bottom of the barrel.
The golfers are listed in descending order of their DraftKings price, just like you would see on DK when building a lineup. When I first began writing this article, there was only one "Milly Maker" to strategize for, while this year DraftKings is offering the chance to win a million bucks in three different contests, with buy-in levels of $15, $100, & $2,222. This year's edition was written with the $15 "Everyman's Milly" in mind, so adjust your strategy according to your buy-in levels.
Some players are discussed more in-depth than others. I try to mix in stats, DFS info, Masters history, and strategy, as well as my own personal thoughts on each player that's reviewed. You can use this preview as a quick reference to get some thoughts on a specific golfer or you can spend some time with it and become familiar with the field. However you choose to use it, I hope that every reader will find at least one thing they feel is helpful or interesting.
My goal always remains the same...to create a piece that will be helpful to those of you that might be making your first PGA DFS Golf lineup, while also being interesting to you grinders that are slightly obsessed with this wonderful game! Ok, enough with all the formalities, let's get to the golfers for the Masters!
High-Priced PGA DFS Plays
Scottie Scheffler – $11,100
You're forgiven if you are experiencing a feeling of deja vu with Scottie Scheffler, as the Texan's start to 2023 has been eerily reminiscent of his blistering start of 2022 that saw him win four times across the first four months of the year. Scheffler has already lifted two trophies in 2023 with both coming in elevated events – WM Phoenix Open and THE PLAYERS Championship – against elite competition. He hasn't missed a cut in six stroke-play events this year and has finished T12 or better in each of those starts.
The young star's track record at Augusta National Golf Club isn't lengthy but is extremely impressive. Scheffler has made three career Masters starts, never finishing worse than T19. His victory in last year's edition was a lesson in understated dominance. Even history's greatest golfers will attest that winning major championships isn't easy. That's especially the case when trying to win at Augusta National in consecutive years, as only three players in history (Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, & Tiger Woods) have ever successfully defended their titles at the Masters.
That said, Scheffler comes into his title defense with both the skill set and form needed to pull it off. Augusta National has, obviously, proven to be a tremendous fit for the Texan and he enters the 2023 edition with every facet of his game firing on all cylinders.
Jon Rahm – $10,800
After a 2022 PGA Tour campaign that was largely below his very lofty standards, Rahm closed out the calendar year by winning two of his final three international starts (Open de Espana & DP World Tour Championship). The Spaniard was able to successfully carry that positive momentum into the new year, opening 2023 with an electric come-from-behind win at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, as well as subsequent victories at the American Express Championship and Genesis Invitational.
The Spaniard has yet to slip on the highly coveted green jacket but he's been tremendous across his six career trips to Augusta National Golf Club. Since a T27 in his 2017 debut, the Arizona State alum has recorded four top-10 finishes in the Masters. He's never missed a cut in six career trips to Augusta.
Though he's won 19 times since turning professional in 2016, just one of those victories has been a major championship, which has to feel like a disappointment for the generationally-talented Rahm. The 28-year-old is entering his prime and his play in 2023 reflects that.
An illness-induced WD at THE PLAYERS Championship aside, Rahm has looked motivated and largely dominant this year. While golf's depth of talent is greater than ever before, Rahm still stands out as an elite talent thanks to his well-rounded skill set and consistency. Along with defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, Rahm should be considered the man that everyone must beat in the year's first major.
Rory McIlroy – $10,600
Already a legend of the game, McIlroy has continued to bolster his legacy over the past year thanks to his leadership during what's been a time of turmoil for the sport, as well as his tremendous play on the course. McIlroy has put together one of the finest stretches of his career over the past 12 months. The future Hall of Famer has amassed four wins since 2022, including victories at the Canadian Open and TOUR Championship, with his most recent win coming in his first start of 2023 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. In addition to the victories, McIlroy finished inside the top 10 in all four major championships in 2022 and regained the title of No. 1 player in the world for a time.
A combination of brilliant and painful, McIlroy's history at Augusta National could probably be studied in psychology classes. In 2011, at the age of 21, he held a four-shot lead going into the final round only to shoot an 80 on Sunday, which still stands as the worst round in history by any professional golfer leading the Masters after three rounds. It was a round that had both McIlroy and his fans on the verge of tears. While McIlroy has since battled back to play very well at Augusta National and has now recorded top-10 finishes in seven of his last 10 Masters appearances, the tournament remains his white whale and the last remaining obstacle between him and the career grand slam.
All the physical tools are present and an impressive display at the Dell Match Play in his most recent start indicates his apparent equipment issues are behind him. It's an oversimplification, but the only thing that appears to be standing in Rory's way at Augusta National is Rory. Now 33 and seemingly wise beyond his years, perhaps he's finally grown into the idea of slipping on a green jacket.
Cameron Smith – $9,800
Prior to hopping to LIV, Smith put together a spectacular 2022 campaign by winning the Sentry Tournament of Champions, PLAYERS Championship, and The Open Championship. He closed out the calendar year with a victory at the Australian PGA Championship in his home country. In two LIV starts this year, the Aussie has recorded a T5 at the Mayakoba event and a T24 at Tucson. Unfortunately, player statistics aren't made available by LIV at this time, so it's nearly impossible to dig into what exactly is going on with Smith's game currently.
The 29-year-old's track record at Augusta National is phenomenal. Smith has recorded top-10 finishes in four of the past five Masters tournaments and has never missed a cut in six career appearances. He scored a runner-up finish in the 2020 edition and battled eventual champion Scottie Scheffler throughout the final round last year before eventually settling for a share of third place. Smith's world-class short game and almost superhuman scrambling ability allow him to navigate Augusta National's unique grounds. He's an explosive scorer that has fired nine rounds of 69 or better across his 24 career Masters rounds.
While Smith's move to LIV Golf does cloud his Masters outlook to a degree, the Aussie should be considered a serious contender for the green jacket this year. His impressive accomplishments in 2022 proved that he's elevated his game to the next level and has a place among the game's elite golfers. His track record at Augusta National speaks volumes and the natural fit he possesses for this layout won't just disappear due to Smith playing on a different professional circuit. The concern for Smith - and all LIV players teeing it up this week - is just how sharp he will be since stepping outside of the competitive cauldron of the PGA Tour.
Jordan Spieth - $9,700
2023 has been a typical, roller-coaster experience for Jordan Spieth and his backers. After missing the cut in two of his first five starts of the year, Spieth has rebounded to gain strokes T2G in five straight starts. We could realistically be talking about him having two victories right now, as he experienced very close calls at both the API and Valspar. His iron play has been perhaps the most encouraging facet of his game, as he's gained an average of 4.1 strokes on Approach over his last five tournaments.
The trending form is amplified even more by Spieth's elite record at Augusta National. Over nine career Masters starts, the 29-year-old has a win and a remarkable four additional top-three finishes. While we can argue to the cows come home about Spieth's place among the game's elite players, in this spot, he must be considered as one of the top options on the board.
Patrick Cantlay– $9,500
The rock-solid Californian is the "slow and steady" type...not very flashy but consistently posting great results. That's been the case in 2023, as Cantlay hasn't found the winner's circle, yet has recorded terrific finishes. Most recently, the 31-year-old reached the Round of 16 in the Dell Match Play event. Prior to that run, a pair of top-five finishes against elite competition at the Genesis Invitational and Arnold Palmer Invitational preceded a T19 in The Players Championship.
A true "Steady Eddie", Cantlay's biggest asset is his proficiency in all aspects of the game, as reflected by his standing of sixth in this year's Masters field in Strokes Gained: Total over recent rounds. His driver has been his biggest asset to this point in 2023, as he stands first on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee thanks to his elite blend of distance and accuracy. For a player whose calling card is consistency, Cantlay's track record at Augusta National has included lots of peaks and valleys.
For a player of his caliber, Cantlay's Masters' record - and frankly his overall history in major championships - is underwhelming and a bit puzzling. On paper, his all-around skill set and normally-steady play are tailor-made for major-championship golf, including the Masters, yet he's managed just one top-five result in major championships for his career. That lack of success in golf's biggest tournaments makes it difficult to be overly bullish on Cantlay's Masters prospects this year. However, you can make the argument that he has too much talent for the major championship drought to continue indefinitely.
Justin Thomas – $9,300
it has been a sluggish start to the 2023 season for Thomas. Last year's winner of the PGA Championship has yet to get truly untracked through the first few months of the season, and while his results have been good enough, they fall short of JT's superstar expectations.
The Kentucky native has been a top-25 machine, posting six in seven starts this year, though he's managed just one top-five result (a T4 at the WM Phoenix Open) to this point. A cool-to-cold putter has been the main culprit holding Thomas back this year, as he's lost strokes putting in five of his seven 2023 starts, including his last three straight outings.
Thomas is set to make his eighth career Masters start this year. Since a T39 in his 2016 debut, he's now reeled off six consecutive top-25 finishes at Augusta National.
He is the type of generationally-talented player that you can never count out. Despite entering this year's Masters with rather ho-hum form, he remains one of the most explosive players in the world. As it always seems to do with JT, his result at Augusta National will likely come down to the putter. It has remained frigid for the most part this year, but if some putts start dropping for him, there's a good chance he'll be in contention.
Max Homa – $9,200
The Californian has been one of the PGA Tour's most consistently elite players in 2023. Homa scored a huge victory in his home state in January, winning the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. He followed that triumph by battling Jon Rahm for the Genesis title at Riviera in February, ultimately settling for a runner-up finish.
The 32-year-old's game is clicking in every area, but the combination of brilliant iron play and excellent putting has helped to elevate him to the No. 6 OWGR spot in 2023. Homa ranks fifth on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Approach for the 2022-23 season, while standing ninth on Tour in Total Putting.
Homa's Masters record - and overall major championship history - leaves a lot to be desired. After missing the cut in his first career Masters start in 2020, he again failed to make the weekend in 2021. The Californian did finally break through in last year's edition, making the cut for the first time at Augusta National and finishing with a T48.
Homa did make progress in last year's majors by making the cut in three of four and scoring a career-best T13 in the PGA Championship. We can also keep in mind that Augusta National is a very unique golf course that can often take years for players to get comfortable on. With his world-class form and skill set, as well as his increasing Masters experience, this feels like a true breakout opportunity for Homa.
Collin Morikawa - $9,100
Set to make his fourth career Masters appearance, Morikawa has improved with every trip to Augusta National, jumping from a T44 in his 2020 debut, to a T18 in '21, and a fifth-place finish in last year's edition.
After a historic collapse in the 2023 opener at Kapalua, Morikawa has displayed inconsistent results that include high-end finishes at Riviera (T6) and Torrey Pines (T3), as well as missed cuts at Phoenix and Bay Hill. This volatility can be traced to the Californian's short game struggles. He grades out an abysmal 71st in SG: Putting among Masters entrants across his last 24 measured rounds.
Morikawa's generational talent with the irons will always give him a chance to get in the mix, but he'll need a spike performance on-and-around the greens to have a serious chance to nab his third major championship this week.
Xander Schauffele - $9,000
Though Schauffele has yet to lift a trophy in 2023 - and battled a back injury at the beginning of January - he has remained a consistent competitor every time he's teed it up this year. He was forced to WD from the Sentry Tournament of Champions, but he's missed no cuts since and has recorded five top-25 finishes across his seven 2023 starts, most recently reaching the quarterfinals of the Dell Match Play event.
The 29-year-old is set to make the sixth Masters start of his career in 2023. Since logging a T50 in his 2018 debut, Schauffele has recorded a pair of top-three finishes across his four subsequent trips to Augusta National. Last year marked his first missed cut at the Masters, but there's reason to believe that a rebound is coming in 2023. Of his 18 career rounds at Augusta National, half have ended with Schauffele signing for an under-par round.
Since bursting onto the scene in 2017, Schauffele has been one of golf's most consistent presences in major championships. He's made the cut in a staggering 19 of 22 career major championship starts, recording top-10 finishes at a staggering 40.9% rate. With his rock-solid recent form and comfort level in pressure-packed major championship environments, he should once again be firmly in the mix in this year's Masters.
Tony Finau - $8,900
Some big things have happened for Finau since last year's Masters, as he silenced questions about his lack of wins on the PGA Tour by racking up three victories in 2022. While Tony is yet to lift a trophy this year, the Utah resident has performed with rock-solid consistency, making the cut and posting top-25 finishes in all seven of his 2023 starts.
Finau has never missed a cut in five career trips to Augusta National and boasts a top-five, as well as a pair of top-10 finishes across his five Masters starts. With his combination of terrific course history, renewed confidence, and terrific form; Finau should be considered a very serious contender this week and deserves to be on DFS shortlists.
Dustin Johnson - $8,800
The 2020 Masters champion will look to add a third major to his trophy case this year. Now teeing it up in the LIV Golf league, DJ - along with Cameron Smith - figures to be one of a handful of ex-PGA Tour stars that have a legitimate chance of still winning majors, including this week's Masters.
Johnson's prodigious talent is well known, but the current state of his game isn't, as he's put forth ho-hum results in three LIV events this year.
Jason Day - $8,700
We've seen a real Day-connaissance over the past six months, with the world's former No. 1 player showing signs of life down the stretch in 2022 and carrying that positive momentum into 2023. The Aussie has played brilliant golf to this point of the year, displaying a renewed ball-striking prowess with a still-elite short game. Day has four top-10 finishes in six starts this year and has not finished outside the top-20 in any stroke-play event.
Although Day has missed the cut in his last two Masters starts, we can chalk that up to his form at the time rather than course fit, as the vet has performed at a sterling clip at Augusta National throughout his career. The Aussie has logged three top-five finishes and an additional four top-25 finishes across his 11 Masters starts. We are back!
Cameron Young - $8,600
On a meteoric rise through the pro golf ranks, Cameron Young has quickly announced his presence with authority at the highest level. The New Yorker scored not one, but two top-three finishes in major championships during his 2022 rookie campaign, notching a T3 at the PGA Championship and a runner-up at the Open Championship.
While his start to 2023 hasn't been quite as red-hot, he has top-20 finishes in four of his six worldwide starts this year. Young heads to Augusta National on the heels of an impressive runner-up finish at the Dell Match Play. Experienced some growing pains in his Masters debut last year, shooting a pair of 77s to miss the cut. As if Young didn't have enough positive momentum in his favor already, he recently added Webb Simpson's longtime caddie, Paul Tesori, to the bag. We can expect growth and improvement this time around.
Mid-Priced PGA DFS Plays
Viktor Hovland - $8,500
No surprises from Vik in 2023, as he is playing at an elite level from tee to green while piling up rock-solid finishes. Since closing 2022 with a win at the hit-and-giggle Hero World Challenge, the Norwegian has logged five top-20 results across his seven starts on the PGA Tour this year, including a sparkling T3 at THE PLAYERS Championship less than a month ago.
Since earning low amateur honors with a T32 in his 2019 Masters debut, Hovland has consistently produced solid, if unspectacular results at Augusta National. This year's edition will mark his fourth career Masters start. He's never missed a cut at Augusta but also hasn't yet displayed much upside with a T21 two years ago standing as his best career finish in the year's first major championship.
While Hovland's elite ball striking is undoubtedly a major advantage for him at Augusta National, his short-game issues could present a large hindrance on this unique layout that demands touch and creativity on-and-around the famously undulating and lightning-fast greens.
Hideki Matsuyama - $8,400
The 2021 Masters champion owns an elite track record at Augusta National. In addition to his breakthrough victory two years ago, Matsuyama has made the cut in 10 of 11 career Masters starts and has recorded top-15 finishes in six of his last eight trips to AGNC.
While there's little question about Hideki's ability to play well in the Masters, there are concerns about a lingering neck injury that's caused issues this year. Matsuyama most recently fought through it at the Valero Texas Open, but it is something to consider, as there is a minor WD risk with him this week.
Sam Burns $8,300
Coming off his best season as a pro in 2022 - a year in which Burns won twice - the Louisiana native opened 2023 in an erratic fashion. He followed a T6 at the WM Phoenix open with back-to-back missed cuts at the Genesis Invitational and Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The talented young star has since regrouped, scoring a sixth-place finish at the Valspar Championship and adding an impressive victory to his growing resume in the recent Dell Match Play. His win against elite competition in Austin showcased the type of upside that Burns possesses.
Still learning the ropes at Augusta National, the 2023 edition will be Burns' second career Masters start. The LSU product struggled in his debut last year, posting rounds of 75-74 to miss the cut. There's no shame in struggling your first time around the unique confines of Augusta National, as the layout is notoriously tough for first-timers. As Burns grows more comfortable in the coming years, we should see improvement, as he possesses the length off the tee and putting acumen necessary to compete in the Masters.
Will Zalatoris - $8,200
Shortly after securing the first PGA Tour victory of his promising career at the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship, Zalatoris was forced to shut it down for the year due to a back injury. The Wake Forest alum missed the season-ending Tour Championship, as well as the President's Cup with the issue. The wiry, ball-striking prodigy returned to action in January of this year, but outside of popping for a T4 at the Genesis Invitational, has yet to regain his form of the last 18 months and has now failed to record a top-50 result in any of his last three starts.
Zalatoris has made two Masters starts in his career, finishing runner-up to Hideki Matsuyama in his 2021 debut and posting a T6 in last year's edition. In eight career rounds at Augusta National, the 26-year-old has shot par or better on seven occasions. His prodigious length off the tee and sniper-like iron play have made him a force to be reckoned with both at Augusta National and other major championship venues, as he's logged three runner-up finishes and a total of six top-10s in just 10 career starts in majors.
A bet on Willie Z this week is a bet that he can rekindle his Masters magic and overcome some concerning putting issues that have reared their ugly head in the past few weeks. Legitimate tournament-winning upside here when he's right, but is he currently right?
Sungjae Im - $8,100
Golf's ultimate grinder has popped in two of his three career Masters starts, scoring a runner-up on debut in 2020 and a T8 in last year's edition after holding the first-round lead. In between those sterling results, Im sandwiched an ugly missed cut in a 2022 trip to Augusta National, which feels like an outlier at this point.
It's no surprise that Sungjae has teed it up a lot - and had plenty of success - this year. He's posted three top-six results in 2023. After a cold stretch with his irons in February, the South Korean appeared to regain his form en route to a T6 at THE PLAYERS. He's a sleeper this week.
Matt Fitzpatrick - $8,000
The defending U.S. Open champion has largely struggled to carry last year's momentum over into 2023, amidst many off-course happenings that include some management changes and a new romantic interest. Fitzpatrick has now missed the cut in three of his last four stroke-play starts. He currently grades out just 71st in SG: Approach among Masters entrants over the last 24 rounds and has shockingly lost strokes with the irons in nine of his last 10 starts.
From a course-history standpoint, Fitz has been rock solid at Augusta, making the cut in seven of eight career Masters starts with a T7 in 2016 standing as his best result. So he likely has the ability to grind his way around this layout even without his "A" stuff.
Shane Lowry - $7,900
The 2019 Open champion put forth an excellent 2022 campaign, but has started 2023 in hit-and-miss fashion, mixing strong outings at Genesis (T14) and Honda (T5) with poor outings at WMPO (MC) and API (T67). The Irishman's game does appear to be trending in the right direction as he heads to Augusta National, as he's now gained strokes both T2G and on Approach in three of his last four starts.
After missing the cut in three of his first four career Masters appearances, Lowry has righted the ship in recent appearances with top-25's in three straight and a career-best T3 effort in last year's edition. He's a proven and experienced major championship performer that profiles as an intriguing sleeper option in DFS tournaments.
Tyrrell Hatton - $7,900
The fiery Englishman has made no bones about his dislike for Augusta National and his Masters results reflect that. Hatton has managed to make the cut in four of his six career Masters starts, though a T18 in 2021 stands out as his best result by far on the legendary Georgia layout. If he's ever going to better that finish it might be this year, as he comes in off a white-hot Florida Swing during which he scored a top-five at the API and an impressive runner-up at THE PLAYERS. Prior to a - hmmm - frustrating effort at the Valero Texas Open, he'd gained an average of 5.8 strokes T2G over his last five tournaments.
Joaquin Niemann - $7,800
The young Chilean appeared to be on a superstar trajectory before hopping to LIV late last year. Niemann scored the biggest victory of his career just over a year ago, taking down the Genesis Invitational at Riviera in dominant fashion. Despite his obvious talent, the 24-year-old hasn't yet found much success in majors, as he's posted just two top-25 finishes across 15 major-championship starts. His T35 effort in last year's Masters was his best result in three career trips to Augusta National. Like other LIV golfers, Niemann's true current form is a question mark.
Justin Rose - $7,800
Rose was in danger of missing his first Masters since 2010 but secured his spot in this year's field with a win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in early February. Now in the field, the veteran must be considered very dangerous, as his track record at Augusta National is elite. The Englishman is a two-time Masters runner-up and has notched top-25 finishes in 13 of his 17 starts in the event. After missing consecutive cuts following his surprise win at Pebble Beach, Rose bounced back to score a T6 at THE PLAYERS.
Tom Kim - $7,700
The talented 20-year-old exploded onto the scene last year, becoming the first player since Tiger Woods to win two PGA Tour events (Wyndham & Shriners) before his 21st birthday. Kim has cooled a bit in 2023 and has now lost strokes on Approach in three of his last four starts this year. The South Korean is preparing to make his first career start in the Masters, though he did get some major championship experience last year with three starts, highlighted by a 23rd-place finish in the U.S. Open. Augusta National can be notoriously tough on first-timers, but Kim has already proven himself to be an exception to many rules.
Tommy Fleetwood - $7,700
Another proven Masters performer, Fleetwood has made the cut in five of six career appearances with three top-20s, including a career-best T14 in last year's edition. The Englishman comes in on the heels of a successful Florida Swing in which he scored a T3 at the Valspar Championship and a T27 at THE PLAYERS. Fleetwood's ability to actually win in the U.S. is still a legitimate question mark, though he's a tried-and-true veteran of majors with a palatable price tag.
Brooks Koepka - $7,600
The four-time major champion looms large in the $7k range, though he comes with plenty of question marks. Koepka has battled injuries and confidence issues over the past two years and a jump to LIV seemed as much an admission of his body's continued failings as a money grab. All that considered, he recently won LIV's Orlando event over the weekend, which could help boost his once bulletproof confidence ahead of the Masters.
As for his record at Augusta National, it's been inarguably strong when he's been healthy. The Floridian appeared to be on a collision course with a green jacket after going T11-T2-T7 from 2017-20 but has now missed the cut in his last two Masters starts. He's the ultimate boom/bust GPP play.
Min Woo Lee - $7,600
The young Aussie announced his presence to many U.S. golf fans with his exceptional run at THE PLAYERS Championship last month, an effort that resulted in a T6 finish at TPC Sawgrass. Those in the know have been aware of Lee, a player that won the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2016 and has scored two victories on the DP World Tour, including the 2021 Scottish Open.
His game appears built for the biggest of stages, as he impressed in the major championships last year. Lee followed an eye-opening T14 in his Masters debut - that included a record-tying 30 on the front nine in the final round - with a T27 at the U.S. Open and a T21 at the British Open. Getting his second look at Augusta National, the 24-year-old is a juicy, boom/bust GPP option.
Corey Conners - $7,600
The Canadian's elite ball striking has made him a factor in major championships over recent years. That's been especially true at the Masters, where Conners is the only player other than Cameron Smith to record top-10 finishes in each of the last three years. His normally superhuman ball striking hasn't been as great to this point in 2023, but popped for him in San Antonio last week, as he won the Valero Texas Open for the second time in his career. He'll now head to Augusta with his arrow pointing up. I could easily see Conners becoming one of the most popular salary savers on this Masters DFS slate as we progress through the week.
Adam Scott - $7,500
Augusta National is a golf course that rewards experience and knowledge. As a result, we often see veterans perform well. That's been true for 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott, who is set to make his 22nd (!) Masters appearance this year. Scott's track record at Augusta is eye-popping. He's made the cut in 19 of his previous 21 starts, including each of his last 13 Masters appearances! However, the Aussie heads to this year's edition with poor-to-middling form, as he's lost strokes on Approach in his last three starts and has just one top-25 across five 2023 appearances.
Bryson DeChambeau - $7,500
DeChambeau appeared on the verge of "breaking" golf after his U.S. Open triumph at Winged Foot in the fall of 2020 but a win at the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational stands as the bomber's last real high point. Injuries and poor play preceded his jump to LIV golf last year and it's difficult to envision him finding his form at Augusta National, a course which he famously labeled a "Par 67" for him, yet one on which he's logged just one career top-25 in six tries. Although I suppose he's earned some level of respect due to his past accomplishments in the game, he ejected hard with rounds of 76 and 80 in last year's Masters, and we could see more of the same this week.
Sahith Theegala - $7,500
A breath of fresh air and one of the sport's most popular young upstarts, Theegala is making his first career Masters start this week. The Pepperdine alum won nearly every collegiate award possible and after a slight bump in the professional road due to COVID, he's been electric during his brief time on the PGA Tour, getting a first taste of major championship environments last year and scoring impressive top-six finishes against elite competition in this year's Genesis and Arnold Palmer Invitationals. Theegala can be erratic statistically but is a player that thrives on momentum and plays the game with emotion. If he's in the mix this weekend, he'll undoubtedly be a fan favorite and would feed off the crowd support.
Value-Priced PGA DFS Plays
Keegan Bradley - $7,400
A pro's pro, Bradley is set to make his first Masters start since 2019 after he ended a four-year winless drought with a win at the ZOZO back in the fall. He has flashed some form in 2023 with a runner-up at the Farmers Insurance Open and a T10 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational but reminded us of his erratic nature with a missed cut at THE PLAYERS as DFS chalk. The veteran is no stranger to majors and won the 2011 PGA Championship crown. He's yet to find much success at Augusta National, however, as a T22 in 2015 stands as his lone career top-25 in the Masters. Bradley is a tremendous ball striker and tough competitor, but he'd need an outlier performance on-and-around Augusta's tricky greens to find himself in contention.
Abraham Ancer - $7,400
A member of the LIV contingent that we could perhaps make an argument for on this slate, as unlike many of his fellow LIV competitors, Ancer is actually in the prime of his career and won the Saudi International earlier this year to remind us of that fact. The 31-year-old played in the final group during his 2020 Masters debut, ultimately falling into a T13. While he followed with another strong showing in 2021 with a T26, the Mexican badly missed the cut in last year's edition.
Si Woo Kim - $7,400
Still just 27, it feels as though Kim constantly flies under the radar. A lot of that is likely due to his volatility. However, he has been rather consistent at Augusta National. Since missing the cut in his 2017 Masters debut, the South Korean has ticked off five straight cuts in the year's first major with three of those outings resulting in top-25s. He comes into this year's edition sporting sharp form after a victory to open 2023 at the Sony, as well as three subsequent top-25 finishes. An intriguing GPP option this week.
Tiger Woods - $7,300
What is there to say about the G.O.A.T that hasn't already been said? We've seen him win this tournament in dominant fashion in the early and prime stages of his career, and by defying expectations as an underdog in 2019. I would consider his lone start of 2023 - a T45 at the Genesis Invitational - an encouraging progression, yet the lack of tournament reps is undoubtedly a strike against his chances to win his sixth green jacket. If there's a course where the 46-year-old legend can still compete, it's this one, but a made-cut and sniffing contention on the weekend would be a huge accomplishment considering everything.
Patrick Reed - $7,300
The most unpopular Masters winner of the modern era, Patrick Reed continues to endear himself to absolutely no one via a combination of lawsuits, continued cheating allegations, and his self-appointed gig as a LIV ambassador. All those unfortunate traits aside, the 2018 Masters champ is inarguably a dogged competitor who retains one of the world's finest short games. It feels like a mistake to completely count him out of majors.
Taylor Moore - $7,300
A veteran of the Korn Ferry Tour that's put together a very impressive rookie campaign on the PGA Tour, Moore recently scored his first career victory on the Tour with a win at the Valspar Championship. It marked his fourth top-15 of 2023, locked up his Tour card, and secured his spot in the Masters. This will be Moore's first career start at Augusta National, a course that's consistently tough on newcomers. While he's displayed steely and well-rounded play over the last few months, it's anyone's guess as to how he'll react in this pressure-packed environment.
Louis Oosthuizen - $7,200
After a tremendous 2021 campaign in which he had a chance to win multiple majors, the likable South African fell off a cliff in golf's biggest events in 2022 after cashing in on the LIV retirement plan last year. Oosthuizen lost in a playoff in the LIV Tucson event last month FWIW. He's set to make his 15th Masters appearance and while he's been a consistent cut-maker at Augusta National since a runner-up finish in 2012, that effort still stands as his lone career top-10 finish at the Masters.
Mito Pereira - $7,200
A collapse on the 72nd hole at Southern Hills prevented the Chilean from grabbing his first major title at the 2022 PGA Championship. A rising star, Pereira elected to make the jump to LIV with his fellow countryman, Joaquin Niemann, late last year. The 27-year-old is set to make his first Masters appearance this week and has looked to be in good form in his LIV appearances of 2023. Has plenty of talent, but Augusta National can be tough on first-timers.
Aaron Wise - $7,200 AARON WISE HAS WITHDRAWN FROM MASTERS
Keith Mitchell - $7,100
A DFS darling, Mitchell's career has been on a serious upswing over the last 18 months. The UGA alum has recorded eight top-10 results since 2022, including a pair of top-five results this year (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am & Genesis Invitational). "Cashmere Keith" has been silky to this point in 2023 and has now made the cut in five straight events. The Georgia boy is set to make his second career Masters start after grinding out a T43 in his 2019 debut. He is an intriguing dark horse thanks to his elite ability off the tee and solid overall form this year. Mitchell also blessed us with one of the best Golf Twitter drops of the year:
Kurt Kitayama - $7,100
The career journeyman was an impressive David at this year's Arnold Palmer Invitational, knocking off a group of Goliaths that included Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy at Bay Hill for the biggest victory of his life. Kitayama has played on almost every pro tour under the sun at one time or another, but this will be his first trip to the Masters. The Californian has yet to find much success in limited major championship opportunities. He's never finished inside the top-50 in any of his eight career major starts.
Chris Kirk - $7,100
Another of member of the huge UGA contingent that resides on the PGA Tour, Kirk is set to make his fourth career Masters start and first one since 2016. The veteran made the cut in his first two trips to Augusta National and scored a T20 in his 2014 debut. It has been a long journey for the 37-year-old to get back to the Masters, as he's battled alcohol and depression issues. Now sober, Kirk has been sharp in 2023, most recently winning the Honda Classic. Experienced and playing the best golf of his career, he's an intriguing dark horse contender this week.
Sergio Garcia - $7,000
I can't believe I was actually happy when Sergio Garcia won the Masters in 2017, but that's what an outright bet and tons of DFS exposure will do. I'll have no such rooting interests this week, as the 43-year-old Spaniard has shown little form in major - or anywhere for that matter - since joining LIV.
Russell Henley - $7,000
Yet another Georgia Bulldog that will be looking to succeed in his home state. After posting blistering iron stats for the past two years or so, Henley finally broke through with a win at Mayakoba last November. However, he'd been a ghost since the win, before popping up for a top-20 finish at the recent PLAYERS Championship. Henley has been under-the-radar good when he's had the opportunity to tee it up in the Masters, posting four straight top-31 results with top-15 finishes in 2017 and '18. If you're looking to get cute in GPPs, Henley is a player of interest in this price range.
Billy Horschel - $7,000
The Baton Boy marches into the 2023 Masters in underwhelming form. A trip to the Round of 16 in the recent Dell Match Play is about the only signs of life we've seen from Billy Boy this year, other than his neverending press availability, of course. To his credit, Horschel has made four straight Masters cuts. However, the veteran hasn't logged a top-25 at Augusta National since posting a T17 in 2016.
PGA DFS Salary Savers
Bubba Watson - $6,900
The RangeGoat GC - yes, that's a real thing - captain has already secured his spot in Masters lore by winning the event twice in a three-year span (2012 & '14). Watson has remained competitive at Augusta, making the cut in seven of his last eight Masters starts. The mercurial lefty battled injury throughout 2022 and eventually made his way to LIV, where he's been a competitive afterthought to this point.
Thomas Pieters - $6,900
LIV golfers seem to be a recurring theme at this price point and the hot-tempered Belgian is another player that recently made the jump. The 30-year-old had a memorable Masters debut in 2017 with a T4, though he's missed the cut (badly) in his two subsequent trips to Augusta National. He's always been an unpredictable talent and that volatility only increased with his move to LIV.
Tom Hoge - $6,900
Hoge is often underestimated on the PGA Tour, but continues to sporadically impress with his grit and very real ball-striking ability that has him grading out FIRST IN THIS MASTERS FIELD in SG: Approach over his last 24 rounds. Most recently, Hoge dropped a TPC Sawgrass course-record 62 in the third round of THE PLAYERS Championship en route to a T3 finish. It was his second top-five result of 2023. "Tommy Tables" is set to make his second career Masters start this week. He handled himself well in his debut last year, logging a solid T39.
Seamus Power - $6,800
The Irishman has logged two victories since 2021 and was perhaps the PGA Tour's hottest player throughout the 2022 Fall Swing. The form cooled considerably through the Florida Swing, but Power could reasonably get back on track this week at an Augusta National layout that suits him fairly well. He scored a T27 in his Masters debut last year and also put forth impressive efforts in his other major championship starts of last year with top-12 finishes in both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open.
Talor Gooch - $6,800
The OSU alum is one of the few players that made the move to LIV while his career was actually trending upward. Gooch climbed to 31st in the OWGR before, surprisingly, leaving the PGA Tour last year. While he was part of a strong "team" last year, his individual play has been middling to this point in 2023. He impressed in his 2022 Masters debut with a T14 but it's fair to wonder if he's entering this edition with his game as sharp.
Alex Noren - $6,800
The 10-time DP World Tour winner opened the year with a top-five in Abu Dhabi but has struggled since. Noren has lost strokes T2G in all four of his U.S. starts this year, missing three of four cuts as a result. The Swede has also found little success at Augusta National in previous years, as he's missed the cut in two of three career Masters starts and never fired a sub-par round in the event.
Gary Woodland - $6,700
A victory at the 2019 U.S. Open appeared to be a breakthrough moment for the talented Kansas Jayhawk, but it's proven to be a career-high rather than a harbinger of things to come. Injuries and inconsistency have plagued Woodland in recent years. Even when playing well, he's often struggled to find his footing at Augusta National, as he's missed the cut in half of his 10 career Masters starts.
Harris English - $6,700
Still working his way back from a hip injury that derailed him in 2022, a runner-up finish in last month's Arnold Palmer Invitational reminded us what English is capable of when right. Outside of his pop at Bay Hill, he's struggled to find consistent ball striking and has lost strokes T2G in six of his eight 2023 starts. Couple that with a Masters track record that's pretty "meh" and English shouldn't be considered more than a dart throw with a cheap price tag.
Brian Harman - $6,700
The diminutive lefty entered the last two editions of the Masters with trending form, but that's unfortunately not the case for the veteran this year, as Harman's ball striking has fallen off a cliff following a strong fall season. He's lost strokes on Approach in all eight of his 2023 starts which makes it hard to have much interest in him on this slate.
Ryan Fox - $6,700
A long-time presence on the international scene, the man from New Zealand is set to make his Masters debut at the age of 36. Fox won the Dunhill Links Championship in the fall and has impressed stateside in 2023 with strong finishes at both the API (T14) and PLAYERS (T27).
Danny Willett - $6,600
Former Masters champion that's experienced a true career roller coaster since stealing the green jacket from Jordan Spieth in 2016. One thing's for sure, there's no quit in the Englishman. With sneaky-solid form in 2023 and top-25s in two of his last three Masters starts, Willett is a better-than-you-think salary saver on this slate.
Cameron Champ - $6,600
Champ is in the field via his T10 in last year's Masters. It was no fluke, as the long hitter has never finished worse than T26 in his three career appearances at Augusta National. Champ is nearly an impossible player to figure out, as he'll struggle for months on end and then randomly pop up and win a tournament. He entered last year's Masters with similarly-poor form and scored a T10. Distance means so much here that I suppose there are worse total dart throws out there...
J.T. Poston - $6,600
A player that relies on accuracy off the tee and excellent putting, Poston's game is a fairly ill fit for this lengthy Augusta National layout. He missed the cut in his lone career Masters start in 2020. Has played well recently with a T10 at Valspar followed by a Round of 16 run at the Dell Match Play.
Francesco Molinari - $6,600
Tiger changed his world at this event in 2019 and he's never been the same.
Jason Kokrak - $6,500
The PGA Tour veteran parlayed a hot stretch that resulted in his first three career wins into a big payday from LIV. Hey...it is what it is. A T14 in last year's Masters was his best result in three career opportunities and he does possess the distance needed to compete at Augusta National. Wouldn't expect much this go 'round.
Adam Svensson - $6,500
A ball striker that fits the mold of fellow Canadian Corey Conners, Svensson is set to make his Masters debut thanks to his victory at the RSM Classic in November. He appears to have found his stride lately, as he's gained strokes T2G in four straight, posting impressive results at Genesis (T9), API (T24), and PLAYERS (T13). It will be interesting to see how his short game holds up at Augusta National.
Harold Varner III - $6,500
HV3 scored an impressive top-25 in his Masters debut last year. Tough to peg the shape of his game since the jump to LIV.
Kevin Na - $6,400
Despite his lack of distance, Na has been a consistent producer at Augusta National in recent years. The veteran has now posted top-15 finishes in each of his last three Masters appearances and has made the cut in eight of 11 career starts in the year's first major.
K.H. Lee - $6,400
Unfortunately, this ain't TPC Augusta, which does ding Lee's chances a bit. "TPC Lee" has gone back to back at the Byron Nelson Classic but hasn't found consistent success elsewhere this year, though a recent T19 at Valspar was a bright spot. He missed the cut in his Masters debut last year.
Adrian Meronk - $6,400
A world-class player that won twice internationally last year, Meronk will make his Masters debut this week as the first Polish player to ever tee it up in the event. In limited U.S. action this year, he's scored a top-15 finish at the Honda Classic and showed fight in the Dell Match Play event.
Phil Mickelson - $6,400
Diving into how far his public perception has fallen is a discussion for another article. From a pure golf standpoint, Mickelson has been really bad for quite some time now. A three-time Masters champion, the legend has actually scored top-25 finishes in two of his last three Masters starts, though he didn't tee it up last year. Augusta National has a tendency to reward experienced players, but he's displayed no form to indicate a Cinderella run is on the horizon.
Charl Schwartzel - $6,400
The 2011 Masters champion has had something of an Augusta National renaissance in recent years by going T10-T25-T26 across his last three Masters starts. Schwartzel joined the retirement brigade last year and won LIV's inaugural event in London. He had been quiet this year but most recently scored a T11 in the Orlando event.
Mackenzie Hughes - $6,300
The scrappy Canadian banked his second career PGA Tour win at the Sanderson Farms Championship back in the fall, but Hughes' form has been largely non-existent in 2023 and he's failed to card a round under 70 since the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January.
Sepp Straka - $6,300
The stocky Austrian managed a sturdy T30 in his Masters debut last year. Straka runs hot and cold, and has had a couple of chances at wins since taking down the Honda Classic in 2022, but has failed to find any level of consistency. Statistical form hasn't been a good predictor of results for him, so there's a bit of GPP interest here at this dirt-cheap price tag.
Scott Stallings - $6,300
The Oak Ridge, Tennessee native rode white-hot iron play to a spot in last year's Tour Championship. Stallings hasn't been able to consistently find that groove in 2023 and he's looked out of sorts since a pair of top-25 results during the West Coast Swing. He did record a T27 in his Masters debut, but that was - checks notes - 10 years ago, and he missed the cut in his only other trip to Augusta National in 2014.
Kazuki Higa - $6,300
Playing on a special invitation, the 27-year-old won the 2022 Order of Merit on the Japan Golf Tour, winning four times. Higa has impressed in three DP World Tour starts this year, posting a T4 at the Hero Indian Open and a T11 in the Thailand Classic.
Zach Johnson - $6,300
Former Masters champion, the Iowa native is set to lead the U.S. Ryder Cup team in the upcoming battle. Johnson's lack of length has proven to be a major hindrance at Augusta National and he's failed to card an under-par round in his last two Masters starts.
Kevin Kisner - $6,200
Maybe Kiz should start dipping again? Who knows if giving up tobacco is the culprit behind Kisner's horrendous 2023, but things have inarguably gone sideways for the country boy. The South Carolina native's Masters upside is largely capped due to his lack of length off the tee, and while he has the ability to navigate this massive layout when his game is clicking, that's not the case this year.
Sam Bennett - $6,200
The 2022 U.S. Amateur Champion, Bennett plays his college golf at Texas A&M. A confident, bordering on cocky competitor, Bennett is no one-hit-wonder. He most recently won the John Burns Intercollegiate in February, which marked his fifth notable victory as an Am.
Harrison Crowe - $6,200
Striving to be the "next big thing" out of Australia, Crowe won the 2022 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship title to secure his Masters invitation. The 21-year-old has posted a pair of top-five finishes in Australian amateur competition in 2023.
Matthew McLean - $6,200
A true amateur, McLean is an optometrist (not kidding) from Northern Ireland. The 29-year-old won the 2022 U.S. Mid-Am at Erin Hills to punch his Masters ticket. In addition to competing in his first Masters in 2023, as well as the U.S. Open, McLean has his eyes set on the Walker Cup competition later this year.
Aldrich Potgieter - $6,200
Although his name sounds like he should be the villain in an old Jimmy Stewart movie, Potgieter is a legitimately-exciting golf talent. He won the Amateur Championship last year at 17-years-old - the second-youngest winner in history - and followed up with a win in the Africa Amateur to kick off 2023. Potgieter has also found success on U.S. soil, winning the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley last month, as well as taking down the Georgia Cup. The now 18-year-old is a serious threat to make the cut and fight for low am honors this week. Also...an absolute unit.
Ben Carr - $6,100
Runner-up in last year's U.S. Am, Carr is a fifth-year senior at Georgia Southern. He's logged top-15 finishes in six of his seven collegiate starts this year. Recently missed the cut while playing on a sponsor's invite at the Puerto Rico Open.
Bernhard Langer - $6,100
Continues to make his case as the greatest senior golfer of all time. Langer most recently won the Chubb Classic in February and has at least one Champions Tour win in 17 consecutive years. Set to make his 40th Masters start. Last made the cut at Augusta National when he scored a remarkable T29 in the 2020 edition at age 63!
Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira - $6,100
The Argentinian won the Latin America Amateur Championship with a record-breaking 23-under-par performance. A senior at the University of Arkansas, he's won multiple amateur titles in South America and has experience in Arnold Palmer Cup international competition.
Larry Mize - $6,100
Former Masters champion playing on lifetime exemption.
Gordon Sargent - $6,100
Won the NCAA Individual title as a freshman last year. Now a sophomore at Vanderbilt, Sargent became the No. 1 ranked amateur in the world in February. This kid is going to be special and will be playing professionally soon. A rare type of talent and the first amateur to receive this type of special Masters invitation since Aaron Baddeley 23 years ago.
Vijay Singh - $6,000
Former Masters champion playing on a lifetime exemption.
Fred Couples - $6,000
Former Masters champion playing on a lifetime exemption, Couples is actually live to make the cut.
Mike Weir - $6,000
Former Masters champion playing on a lifetime exemption.
Jose Maria Olazabal - $6,000
Former Masters champion playing on a lifetime exemption.
Sandy Lyle - $6,000
This will be the final Masters start for the 1988 green jacket winner, who is retiring from golf. Lyle was a massive talent of his generation and is often criminally overlooked when discussing the game's greatest players.
