RADIO
Joe Nicely's Masters Bible, providing DraftKings PGA DFS lineup picks and value plays for The Masters. His extensive look at every golfer participating in 2025.
Hello, PGA DFS fans, and welcome to the 2025 Masters DFS Bible! I'm not presumptuous enough to lump this piece of content in with all the amazing annual traditions surrounding the year's first major championship, but this is the eighth (!) edition of the Masters Bible I've put together here at RotoBaller, which means it has undoubtedly become an annual ritual for me.
Before we dive into the players, let me take a second to say thanks for all of your support, not only for this article, but for our golf content throughout the season. RotoBaller PGA has simply exploded in recent years, and 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.
I also want to thank all of you who subscribe to our PGA Premium package here at RotoBaller and would like to encourage you to share how much you love the product with your friends! If you've followed Premium tips from my good friends and colleagues like Spencer Aguiar or Joe Idone, then 2025 has likely already been a very profitable year for you. If you aren't already on the RB PGA Premium team, this week only, we'll be offering a very special 30% (!!!) discount when you sign up using Promo Code: MASTERS at checkout. I recommend the PGA Platinum package!
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 $10, $100, & $3,333.
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 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 with this write-up always remains the same...to create a piece that will be helpful to those of you who might be making your first PGA DFS lineup, while also being interesting to those who grind PGA DFS week in and week out. Ok, enough with all the formalities, let's get to the golfers for the Masters!
High-Priced PGA DFS Plays
Scottie Scheffler - $12,400
While not striking the ball at the historic, Tiger-like levels we've seen over the past two years, Scheffler currently stands third on the PGA Tour in SG: T2G and remains the prohibitive favorite to win the 2025 Masters. The Texan has slid on the green jacket in two of the past three years (with a T10 sandwiched in between victories) and there's little reason to doubt that he'll once again be in serious contention come Sunday afternoon.
From a DFS perspective, Scheffler offers the highest combination of floor and ceiling on the slate. While he's yet to win in 2025, we know that upside is there. It's also difficult to envision a "bad" outing, as a T19 in his 2020 Masters debut stands as his worst finish at Augusta National.
Rory McIlroy - $11,100
Wondering if Rory McIlroy can complete the career grand slam at Augusta National has become an annual ritual that rivals many of the other numerous traditions surrounding the Masters. If we're evaluating things objectively, using criteria such as recent form, course history, and statistics, then the outlook for McIlroy is resoundingly positive.
Will Rory McIlroy complete the career Grand Slam this year at Augusta? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/9LTvDJ3HtP
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) April 6, 2025
He comes in playing arguably the best golf of his illustrious career, form that's led to a pair of victories (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am & The PLAYERS) on the PGA Tour this year. It's no surprise that he's leading the Tour in SG: OTT this year, but McIlroy's most encouraging work this season has been his progression with both wedges and the putter.
Physically, his game is ready, but how he's able to cope with the mental pressures associated with the proverbial Masters monkey on his back will be the ultimate determining factor of his success.
Ludvig Aberg - $10,800
A can't-miss prospect that feels like a surefire bet to win multiple major championships, Ludvig Aberg will look to get on the board with his first major title at Augusta National. This is an event that's notoriously tough on first-timers, though the cool-as-ice Swede bucked that trend with a sterling runner-up finish in his Masters debut last year.
The 25-year-old is arguably the best driver of the ball that we've seen come along since Rory McIlroy. That combination of distance and accuracy off the tee puts Aberg firmly in consideration this week (and every other), though he is prone to short game lapses on and around the green of the sort that could be his undoing on a tricky layout such as Augusta National. Those concerns will likely have me a bit underweight on the pricey Aberg in relation to the field.
Collin Morikawa - $10,500
The two-time major winner heads to Augusta in top form, having fully regained his world-class iron play prowess this year. Morikawa has gained strokes on Approach in every one of his 2025 starts. He leads the PGA Tour in SG: APP and Birdie Average this season.
Morikawa hasn't won since the ZOZO Championship in October of 2023, but that winless streak is deceiving, as he's consistently put himself in contention and has a ridiculous nine top-five finishes since his last victory. Those top-end finishes have also been a regular occurrence at the Masters in recent years, as Morikawa has gone T3-T10-5th across the last three years at ANGC (Augusta National Golf Club). His form and Masters history will likely lead to him being a very popular DFS option, which is certainly justified.
Jon Rahm - $10,400
The Spaniard is the first of many LIV players that must be accounted for at Augusta National. His spectacular Masters track record culminated in Rahm slipping on the green jacket two years ago. He had logged four top-10s in six career Masters appearances prior to winning in 2023.
To say he's been the same player since making the jump to LIV would be inauthentic. Without making any judgements about Rahm's decision to abandon the PGA Tour ship, his collective 2024 results in major championships were arguably the most disappointing since he turned professional, as a career-worst T45 at Augusta was followed by missed cut at the PGA Championship and a WD at the U.S. Open with a backdoor T7 at Royal Troon being the only positive.
Rahm has been on cruise control in 2025, recording T6 or better finishes in all four LIV events of the year. The problem is that we still don't know what that means or the true state of his game. I imagine his DFS ownership will be lower than we'd normally expect, which puts him squarely on my GPP radar in tournaments such as the Milly Maker.
Bryson DeChambeau - $9,900
Another LIV soldier, DeChambeau, reminded golf fans just how much he brings to the game last year. The 36-hole leader of the Masters, he ultimately notched a career-best T6 at Augusta National in 2024, an act which he followed in spectacular fashion by narrowly missing a playoff at the PGA Championship and then defeating Rory McIlroy in the U.S. Open.
Bryson DeChambeau carried and moved a big sign at the Masters, and social media loved it https://t.co/pIalLaou5r pic.twitter.com/VRP6PErLZS
— Golfweek (@golfweek) April 13, 2024
As mentioned when discussing Rahm, attempting to decipher LIV form feels like something of a fool's errand. For what it's worth, DeChambeau has been solid, if unspectacular, in his 2025 starts. Conversely to Rahm, I could see DeChambeau gaining ownership steam as we get closer to the Masters, especially with him playing well at LIV Miami as of this writing, which is something to consider when taking into account that last year's result was his only top-20 finish at ANGC in eight career Masters starts.
Xander Schauffele - $9,700
The X-Man slammed the door shut on any "can't win the big one" narratives last year, capturing both the PGA and Open Championship titles. It feels strange to say that a player that won two majors the previous year heads to Augusta as something of a forgotten man, but that's where if feels like we are with Schauffele, as his current form is surrounded by uncertainty thanks to the extended time he's missed in 2025 due to injury issues.
If we're looking for reasons to be optimistic about the Californian, his most recent start - a T12 at the Valspar Championship - was also his best of the year. His Masters track record is impeccable - four top-10s in seven appearances - and with the major-championship monkey off his back, Xander slipping on a green jacket feels somewhat inevitable.
He's consistently one of the most popular DFS plays on major championship slates, though I could see that changing a bit in this situation. I'll be eager to hop on if everyone has lost faith.
Justin Thomas - $9,600
Has firmly put the struggles of 2024 behind him this year. JT has repeatedly knocked on victory's door in 2025, only to settle for a pair of runner-up finishes among four top-10s this year.
Last year's issues aside, I can't figure out why he hasn't played better in this event, as Augusta National would seem to be tailor-made for his creativity and old-school shot-making ability. That his best career finish (4th) came in the 2020 fall Masters puzzles me even further. With those concerns noted, I'll still say that Thomas has the ingredients needed to win this thing, though from a pure DFS perspective, I might ultimately be underweight if his ownership gets out of hand.
Hideki Matsuyama - $9,500
The 2021 Masters champion has cooled a bit since closing 2024 with a win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship and opening 2025 with another at The Sentry. Such as it goes for the Japanese superstar, a player whose wins always seem to come at random and often in spurts.
Even during his winless streaks, Matsuyama has always carried a high floor. That's especially been true at Augusta, where he's made 10 consecutive cuts with seven top-25s among those outings. If there is one red flag to point out, he'd lost strokes on Approach in each of his last three starts before the Valero Texas Open.
Brooks Koepka - $9,400
Golf's top big-game hunter has had the Masters in his sights on multiple occasions, only to let this coveted title slip away. The five-time major champion obviously wants to mount this trophy to his wall badly, and it's fair to wonder if that desire contributed to his final-round debacle against Jon Rahm two years ago.
Koepka is famously indifferent to "regular" events, though he's traditionally ratcheted things up before major championships, which makes his runner-up finish at LIV Singapore last month extremely interesting.
Joaquin Niemann - $9,300
One of golf's brightest young stars, Niemann has been a winning machine since jumping to LIV - including two victories already this year - but has failed to find any traction in major championships. Now feels like a good time to remind folks that Niemann has exactly zero career top-10 finishes in the majors.
Ahead of this week, the pro-Niemann crowd will say he's still just 26 and that the Masters has been his best major. That's a fair enough argument - and I certainly respect the kid's talent - but still not one compelling enough to convince me to have high DFS exposure to a low-ball hitter at Augusta National, especially one who has routinely failed golf's toughest examinations.
Viktor Hovland - $9,200
Sweet, sweet Viktor. Our alien-loving, swing-changing prince. The lovable but now-unpredictable Hovland recently followed up three consecutive missed cuts with a victory at the Valspar Championship - a win that he admits was something of a fluke.
A T7 at the Masters in 2023 kicked off the best season of his career, but his journey down the swing theory rabbit hole has undoubtedly delayed a march to a major championship win that once felt inevitable. Even if Viktor's ball-striking shows up, can we really trust him around Augusta's greens this week?
Tommy Fleetwood - $9,100
I've been banging the Tommy Fleetwood drum for so long that I'm almost sick of hearing myself say it, so I won't go into a lengthy soliloquy about why the Englishman is capable of actually winning one of these things. Instead, I'll just say that the most likely scenario is that the dependable Fleetwood plays well and logs a top-25, something he's done in half of his eight career Masters starts.
Jordan Spieth - $9,000
Just when I'm out, he pulls me back in. I seem to talk myself into Spieth's chances the week before the Masters on an annual basis, and after swearing off the Texan for the entirety of 2025, he has to go and gain 7.6 strokes on Approach at Valspar and show signs of life at Valero.
Ten years after his Masters win, golf continues to get Jordan Spieth—who he was, what he is, what he can be—all wrong.
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) April 5, 2025
I've long maintained that no matter how much the talent pool has improved around him, Spieth will win at least one more major, either at Augusta or in The Open. So yeah, I'll have some exposure and just take my medicine when he pulls hooks one 100 yards left off the tee on 18 again.
Shane Lowry - $8,800
The Irishman was a big Masters investment for me last year, a move that ended with a thud and Lowry sitting in a tie for 43rd place. Despite last year's struggles, I'm ready to get hurt again, as the big guy's game has been firing nicely this year.
A runner-up at Pebble Beach paved the way for four top-20 finishes across the Florida Swing. With Royal Portrush on the major calendar later this year, I believe Lowry is laser-focused on his game at the moment, which might not have always been the case in the past.
Patrick Cantlay - $8,700
An enigma wrapped in a riddle, Cantlay is one of the game's toughest guys to figure out. Few ball-knowers would argue that he doesn't possess the tools needed to win majors, which is why I believe it's very fair to characterize his overall career performances in golf's biggest tournaments as disappointing.
A career-best T9 Masters finish camouflages the fact that Cantlay's flown close to the sun a couple of times at Augusta National, yet at the same time, you are who your record says you are. He enters this year's edition in unsurprisingly rock-solid form and will undoubtedly have his fair share of backers, though I'm still straddling the fence as to if I'll be one.
Tyrrell Hatton - $8,600
Equal parts hilarious and childish, Hatton has been one of the few brave souls to publicly voice any displeasure with Augusta National. It's understandable, as the fiery Englishman failed to break 70 in his first four Masters appearances. However, he's since settled in a bit, making four straight cuts at ANGC and logging a career-high T9 last year.
Going against the grain is unsurprising for Hatton, and he's one of the few players who has arguably improved since making the move to LIV, though his ability to jump through the mental hoops required to win a green jacket is still very debatable.
Min Woo Lee - $8,500
Fresh off cooking up his first career victory on the PGA Tour in Houston, Lee will look to keep the burners lit at Augusta National, a layout where he's flashed upside by bookending a missed cut with a T14 and a T22 in his three career Masters appearances. The Augusta-Australia connection has been a very real narrative to consider over the years, and the Perth-born Lee has both the distance and the short game to find his way into contention if he can keep his sometimes-unruly irons under control.
Mid-Priced PGA DFS Plays
Russell Henley - $8,400
The unassuming Henley has been one of my favorite under-the-radar Masters plays for the last half-dozen years, but I'm afraid the secret is out on my Augusta secret weapon after he scored the biggest win of his career at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month. Henley has quietly recorded top-25 finishes in five of the last eight major championships. His price tag, Masters history, and consistent form will make him an ownership magnet in all DFS formats.
Will Zalatoris - $8,300
After starting his Masters career with a runner-up finish and a T6, the question wasn't if Will Zalatoris would win a green jacket, it was when. A major back injury and two years later, the book on the 28-year-old's career remains far from fully written, though we're not seeing the elite consistency that we saw from Zalatoris when he first burst on the scene.
Will Zalatoris put on 20 pounds this offseason to prepare for the PGA Tour. 💪@heykayadams | @WillZalatoris pic.twitter.com/t2MxN0k1qs
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 27, 2025
While his 2025 results won't blow you away, there have been some signs that the irons are firing, as he's gained strokes on Approach in each of his last six starts. I'm diving headfirst into the Willie Z waters, especially if his DFS ownership is projected to be low to moderate.
Cameron Smith - $8,200
There was a brief moment in time when Cam Smith was arguably the best golfer in the world. That 2022 campaign that saw the Aussie capture both the PLAYERS and Open Championships feels far away, but Smith's game clicked on at the tail end of 2024.
He's been a dog at Augusta National, scoring top-10 finishes in half of his eight career Masters appearances. While the LIV results have been ho-hum this season, it feels as though it would be a mistake to count him out on this golf course.
Akshay Bhatia- $8,100
One of the game's most notable young guns, Bhatia, is a reminder that this generation of pros grows up really fast. Already a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, the 23-year-old logged an admirable T35 in his Masters debut last season. Bhatia's game continues to evolve at a rapid pace, as a recent T3 at TPC Sawgrass indicates. It wouldn't be shocking to see this quick study in contention this week.
Robert MacIntyre - $8,000
Though the 28-year-old Scot has recorded four wins across the PGA and DP World Tours since 2020, and played in a Ryder Cup, he still somehow feels underrated and overlooked. It would be a mistake to sleep on Bobby Mac this week, as he's been sneaky good in both the Masters (T12-T23 in two career appearances) and the majors as a whole. The big lefty has been impressive to this point in 2025, most recently scoring back-to-back T9s at The PLAYERS and the Porsche Singapore Classic.
Corey Conners - $7,900
The sharp-shooting Canadian brings plenty of ball-striking bona fides to Augusta National. Elite from tee-to-green, Conners reeled off three consecutive top-10 finishes in the Masters between 2020-2022. Ahead of the Valero Texas Open, he's been on a ball-striking tear that resulted in top-10 finishes at the API, PLAYERS, and Valspar. He'll be a popular mid-priced DFS option with good reason.
Tony Finau - $7,800
Finau announced his presence with authority by both dislocating his ankle and recording a T10 finish in his 2018 Masters debut. He followed that unforgettable opening act with a T5 in 2019 and later another T10 in 2021. However, Finau's Augusta National magic has faded a bit in recent years, as he's recorded just one sub-70 round over his last 12 at the Masters.
A T5 at the Genesis Invitational highlights what's been a very uneven 2025 to this point, as he's struggled to find consistency with his irons. I suspect a lot of people will flock to Finau at this sub-$8k price point, which means there's leverage to be had in GPPs if you think this value is fool's gold.
Wyndham Clark - $7,700
I've found myself on the wrong side of Clark fades a few times in recent years, but I'll again be off the former U.S. Open champion this week, even at what feels like a great price. I don't want to downplay his talent, but Clark's U.S. Open win still stands as his only top-25 finish in a major championship for his career, a stat that's perhaps a bit more telling than some want to admit. The old saying that you can't win at Augusta National playing a fade is a pretty tired argument, but does Clark have any other shots in the bag?
Sahith Theegala - $7,700
One of golf's most electric young performers, Theegala's game feels built for the spotlight. He certainly impressed when scoring a ninth-place finish in his Masters debut two years ago. While many felt the Pepperdine product was primed to take the next step in his career this season, Theegala has been on a milk carton in 2025 thanks to some downright ugly iron play. I love his long-term fit at Augusta, and I do believe he's a gamer on the big stage, but the form simply isn't there at the moment.
Jason Day - $7,600
Day's career trajectory in the Masters is a nice reminder that a green jacket is never a given. The Aussie seemed like a lock to someday win the Masters after recording a T2 and a solo 3rd in two of his first three trips to Augusta. However, injuries and an up-and-coming generation of bombers have transformed Day's Masters chances from a sure thing to a long shot.
Still, Augusta is notoriously kind to older, sorry, experienced players, and Day has flashed some very real form in 2025, so I don't hate taking a flyer here. Just don't send me nasty messages if he withdraws.
Sepp Straka - $7,600
The burly Austrian doesn't necessarily fit most people's physical idea of a major champion, but a pair of top-10 finishes in majors over the last two years can't be laughed off. Straka won the American Express earlier this year, his third victory on the PGA Tour since 2022. Now officially a Georgia boy, the former Bulldog has made the cut in all three of his Masters starts and posted a career-best T16 in last year's edition. He makes for a fine value option among the many sexier names in this price range.
Tom Kim - $7,500
I'd like Tom Kim's chances a lot more if he were playing a simulated Augusta National on the big screen at SoFi Center, as his TGL performances have been much better than his real-life results so far this year. I think it's become cool to rag on Kim, but let's give the kid his due, he has three PGA Tour wins at 22 and has been pretty damn solid in majors, including going T16-T30 in his two career Masters appearances.
Digging into the numbers, Kim's iron play has actually been sneaky good in 2025, his putting has just been disastrous. It's also worth noting that his game didn't truly kick on last year until the Masters rolled around. Call me crazy, but I think he's worthy of some GPP dart throws.
Dustin Johnson - $7,500
I've always been a "DJ guy" and don't try to hide the fact that the laid back South Carolina native was my favorite golfer for many years. I've literally smashed TV sets during some of Johnson's epic major failures and cried tears of joy when he slipped on the green jacket in the fall of 2020.
So...I think my recorded history of riding with DJ in good times and bad entitles me to speak my truth, which is that our boy got the LIV bag and said, "Peace out". He is now content chilling on his boat with family instead of grinding at the range. There's no shame in it, it's just the way it is.
Dustin Johnson's ex-coach on eve of The Masters: "I'm not sure he's 100% committed anymore…" 🫨😳🫣https://t.co/nl7IQ8pCsI
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) April 4, 2025
Johnson has never been shy about the fact that he would step away from the game sooner rather than later; it just turned out that sooner is kinda now. Johnson's natural talent and Augusta National's tendency to reward those with loads of Masters experience means there's a path to DJ making a one-last-hurrah, feel-good type of run at contention this week. I just wouldn't bet on it.
Value-Priced PGA DFS Plays
Sam Burns - $7,400
Burns is very high on my list of "guys I just can't seem to accurately predict". The one exception to that rule is in major championships, where I always fade him (see Rule No. 1) and have never been burned. I'm not stupid enough or cocky enough to believe that streak will last forever, but I feel that the Masters is perhaps the major where Burns is the least likely to break out, especially with his iron play currently in abysmal form.
Matt Fitzpatrick - $7,400
Some guys win a major championship, and the floodgates open up. Some guys win a major championship and regress. Even when taking his 2023 win at Hilton Head into account, Fitzy's game has been in long-term decline following his 2022 U.S. Open triumph. His recent decision to part ways with long-time caddie Billy Foster can't be a great sign, and neither is the fact that he's lost strokes on Approach in five of his six 2025 starts.
Patrick Reed - $7,300
P-Reed was kinda the perfect guy to go to LIV. Already a legit villain before he bolted, seeing the former Masters champion four times a year feels like just the right amount. Despite my personal dislike of Reed, I'm willing to tip my cap to his competitiveness, as well as his consistently high-end performances in the Masters. Since winning at Augusta in 2018, Reed has finished T12 or better in four of his subsequent six Masters starts.
You can toss recent form out the window with Reed, but his is positive. He closed 2024 with a win in Hong Kong and opened 2025 with a pair of top-10s in DP World Tour events. He'll have his fair share of backers this week, and I might have to count myself among them at this price point.
Sungjae Im - $7,200
It's been feast or famine for the young South Korean at Augusta National. In five career Masters appearances, Im has finished T2-T8-T16 and missed the cut twice. His ball-striking output of the last two months indicates this could be a lean year, as he's lost strokes with the irons in six of his last seven starts.
Justin Rose - $7,200
Though well past his prime, the veteran Englishman appears still driven for a swan song major win to close his career. While he's been erratic over the last few years, Rose has been in the mix more than anyone could have predicted, logging three top-10 finishes in majors since 2023.
He's shown some fight in 2025 already, recording a T3 at Pebble Beach and a T9 at Bay Hill against Signature Event competition. Would anybody be shocked if he's within striking distance by the time Sunday afternoon rolls around?
Adam Scott - $7,200
Sweet-swinging past Masters champion who is still very active on the PGA Tour. Scotty can still move the ball, though 2025 hasn't been very kind to him, as his last top-25 result came back in January. A T22 in last year's edition was his best Masters finish since 2019, and his made-cut streak at Augusta National is 15 years and counting.
Maverick McNealy - $7,100
When considering his highly decorated amateur career, it's mind-blowing that McNealy has never made a Masters start. Better late than never, I suppose. It had been fair to call McNealy's pro career disappointing, though a win in the RSM Classic to close 2024 is a great start toward changing that narrative. Mav played well on the West Coast to start the year, but his game suffered in two Florida starts. The speed he's added over the past year will be helpful at Augusta National.
Daniel Berger - $7,100
Many have been ready to leave the often-injured Berger for dead over the past few years, but the four-time PGA Tour winner has battled his way back into the OWGR Top 50 thanks to his sterling play to open 2025. It's not a back-handed compliment to say that, when healthy, Berger is simply one of the best in the world at getting the ball in the hole.
More from Daniel Berger after second-round 68 (t5, -6 total at @valerotxopen) on what’s changed in the second stretch of his career.
Five straight top-25s rolling into San Antonio.
Called wind in first two trips to TPC San Antonio “traumatizing” in ‘15 & ‘19 (MC’s), but noted… pic.twitter.com/Mt9QvlNLtH
— Will Doctor (@DrMedia59) April 4, 2025
The scrappy Florida native impressed with a T10 in his Masters debut back in 2016 with a best of T27 in his four subsequent trips to Augusta, the last of which was in 2022.
Sergio Garcia - $7,100
To say Garcia's Masters track record has been bad since he won the green jacket in 2017 would be a massive understatement. Following his breakthrough in '17, the Spaniard has played the weekend just once in six tries and has failed to break 70 in any of those trips to Augusta National.
Recent LIV form, which includes a win in Hong Kong in early March, coupled with his name recognition among casual golf fans building Masters lineups, will probably push his ownership higher than it should be.
Davis Thompson - $7,000
A three-time All-American at Georgia, the talented Thompson had a breakout 2024, winning the John Deere Classic and recording a top-10 result at the U.S. Open. Recently, he's posted a T13 at the Genesis Invitational and a T10 at The PLAYERS. He'll be making his Masters debut, and while Augusta National is historically tough on first-timers, Thompson has enough talent to buck the trend and play well.
Cameron Young - $7,000
I don't want to be the idiot that underestimates a player that's logged five top-10 finishes in majors in the past three years - two of those in the Masters - but boy, Cameron Young sure seems to be lost in the weeds at the moment. One of the game's most exciting ball-strikers in recent years, Young has lost strokes on Approach in eight of nine 2025 starts and lost strokes T2G in each of his last five.
Keegan Bradley - $7,000
Bradley is regularly a comfortable click on many DFS slates, due to his sustained excellence from T2G. Unfortunately, the veteran has never seemed to fully grasp the nuances of Augusta National's legendary greens, which has negatively impacted his upside in the Masters.
The U.S. Ryder Cup captain has made the cut in six of his seven career Masters starts - with top-25s in each of the last two years - but he has never recorded a finish inside the top 20 in the year's first major. I could see Bradley's ownership getting inflated due to his excellent long-term play and statistical output.
Thomas Detry - $6,900
A major talent, Detry finally overcame his closing issues to score a big win in Phoenix earlier this year. The Belgian has been dazzling in recent major appearances, recording top-15 finishes in each of 2024's last three majors. Quiet since his WM win, though he's found some form with the irons in his last two outings. Detry will be making his Masters debut and is an interesting value option.
Billy Horschel - $6,900
TGL champion and heart & soul of the Atlanta Drive, Billy Boy will look to add another championship to his trophy case this week at Augusta National. However, Horschel's upside has been extremely limited in the Masters, as he's managed just one top-25 result in nine career appearances. He's the streaky type who can click on for one hot week (see last year's Open Championship), but I expect another middling-at-best result here.
Nicolai Hojgaard - $6,900
Dazzling in his 2024 Masters debut, the powerful Hojgaard fired an opening-round 67 before faltering down the stretch and settling for a share of 16th place. It feels as though his chances of topping last year's result aren't great, as he's struggled to find any consistency from T2G in 2025.
J.J. Spaun - $6,800
Your favorite ball-striker's favorite ball-striker, Spaun has played some of the best golf of his career over the past nine months, most recently losing to Rory McIlroy in a playoff at The PLAYERS.
Yes, I had Rory McIlroy to win on my betting card and am glad I hit it
But JJ Spaun has earned a ton of respect from me... he is all class all the time
He will get his big moment soon... maybe in a few weeks at some famous course called Augustapic.twitter.com/anefzvjKvO
— Phil Stiefel (@Beardaknowledge) March 17, 2025
It might be surprising to some that Spaun leads this Masters field in SG: APP over the last 50 rounds - a skill that's pretty important at Augusta National. Recorded a T23 in his 2022 Masters debut, and it wouldn't be surprising to see another strong effort this time around. A value option worth circling in your player pool.
Aaron Rai - $6,800
Constantly flying under the radar, even after a sterling 2024 campaign, Rai is something of a poor man's Xander Schauffele in that he's solid in every facet of the game, but not the best in the world at anything. However, there are two areas of concern when it comes to Augusta: his lack of length off the tee and his spotty work around the greens.
He's cooled a bit statistically since last season, but has still managed impressive results in Mexico (T4), API (T11), and PLAYERS (T14) in 2025. Despite his multiple worldwide wins, the Englishman is a bit light on major championship experience, and this will be his Masters debut.
Brian Harman - $6,800
The diminutive lefty possesses plenty of grit, as evidenced by his Open Championship triumph two years ago. Unfortunately, that mental toughness hasn't been enough in his previous Masters appearances. Harman has qualified for the weekend just twice in six Masters starts and has failed to break 72 in his last three trips to Augusta National.
Currently ranked just 167th on the PGA Tour in Driving Distance, the Georgia native is at a distinct disadvantage on this massive layout, though he is leading at Valero as of this writing.
Ben An - $6,800
His volatility makes him impossible to depend on, but his highs are extremely high, such as a T16 effort in last year's Masters. Missed cuts in three of his four other trips to Augusta paint a good picture of just how hot and cold An's game can be. If you're looking for a cheap made cut, keep scrolling, but if you're willing to gamble on upside, he's your guy.
Rasmus Hojgaard - $6,700
Nicolai's twin brother, Rasmus, was a golfing prodigy who became the third-youngest winner in DP World Tour history with a victory in December of 2019. Hojgaard has gone on to pile four additional worldwide wins in subsequent years, including a one-shot victory over Rory McIlroy in last year's Irish Open. Rasmus has finally decided to make a go of it in the States in 2025 with a T12 in Phoenix standing as the highlight. Set to make his Masters debut, and it's disappointing his game isn't in better form.
Michael Kim - $6,700
A late qualifier who put in iron man duties by playing eight consecutive weeks in order to earn entry into this year's Masters. Kim's game has improved by leaps and bounds since he bottomed out and lost his Tour card back in 2021.
Next stop…
Let’s goooooo pic.twitter.com/ZgBxR5yH2k
— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) March 30, 2025
He's improved tremendously OTT, and his short game has also made huge strides since he started working with Viktor Hovland's former coach Joe Mayo earlier this year. Missed the cut in his 2019 Masters debut, but recent form indicates he has a serious chance of playing the weekend this go 'round.
Taylor Pendrith - $6,700
The 33-year-old will be making his Masters debut this week, thanks to a win at last year's CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Pendrith's play remained sharp for the remainder of 2024 and the start of 2025, before hitting a snag during the Florida Swing. A T5 in Houston weeks ago is cause for optimism.
The Canadian has loads of firepower off the tee and stripes the irons, though there's a very real chance that his underwhelming short game malfunctions at Augusta. Those concerns aside, he's an intriguing punt option in GPPs.
Phil Mickelson - $6,700
Making his 32nd Masters start, Mickelson is just two years removed from an unfathomable T2 result at the 2023 edition and four years out from being the oldest player to ever win a major at the 2021 PGA Championship. Augusta National is notoriously kind to older, experienced competitors - at least the ones who can still get it out there off the tee, which Mickelson can still do.
The three-time Masters winner has recently flashed a bit of life in LIV events. It wouldn't be a shock if he's playing on the weekend, but seriously contending is perhaps a bridge too far.
Cameron Davis - $6,700
An inarguable talent, Davis flirted with the top of the Masters leaderboard nearly all week in the 2024 edition, ultimately settling for a T12 in his second trip to Augusta National. To say the Aussie has the tools needed to play well is one thing, but Davis putting everything together is another, as he's settled into my "unpredictable" bucket over the past couple of PGA Tour seasons.
Laurie Canter - $6,600
It's sort of strange that Laurie Canter isn't a bigger story, as the Englishman went to LIV for a spell and has now won twice on the DP World Tour since departing the PIF party. Either way, Canter isn't well known to American golf fans. He's excellent OTT and ranks eighth on the DP World Tour in GIR% this year. Making his Masters debut and lack of experience will be a challenge.
Max Greyserman - $6,600
If the PGA Tour handed out a FedEx Fall MVP, it would've probably gone to Greyserman, who threatened to win seemingly every week down the stretch in 2024. After a solid start to 2025, Greyserman has hit a serious road block with his ball striking in the past month, losing strokes both OTT and on APP in each of his last three starts. I would've been higher on him a month ago.
Lucas Glover - $6,600
A pro's pro who can still ball strike his way to strong finishes and even the odd win if the putter cooperates. Glover grades out 12th in this Masters field in SG: Ball Striking over the last 50 rounds, which almost puts him in value consideration by default. However, a T20 in last year's Masters - a week that he gained +3 strokes putting - feels like a ceiling performance for him on this layout when considering his short game issues.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout - $6,600
His lack of distance off the tee puts a natural cap on his Masters upside, though C-Bez has navigated his way to the weekend all three times he's teed it up at Augusta National. He's normally heavily reliant on his elite short game, but even that hasn't been firing consistently in 2025, as he's lost strokes putting in each of his last two starts and bled off shots around the greens in two of his last four.
Chris Kirk - $6,600
A winner on the PGA Tour in each of the last two years, Kirk is yet to find his groove in 2025. The Georgia alum has mustered just a lone top-25 finish in eight starts this year. It's a shame he's not in better form, as he's actually been a strong Masters performer. Kirk posted a T16 result last year for what was his third top-25 finish in five career Masters appearances.
Max Homa - $6,500
Life comes at you fast, and Max Homa's career trajectory has certainly shifted over the past 12 months. A T3 in last year's Masters must be considered near the top of his career achievements, but it's been all downhill for Homa ever since.
“Joe and I made memories for a lifetime and can’t be more thankful for all the hard work. We have parted ways and it will be sad to see him go. I’ll always be grateful to have walked the fairways with one of my best friends.” – Max Homa pic.twitter.com/NkYfrec8YF
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 3, 2025
He left Augusta last year ranked ninth in the world and returns this year standing 79th in the OWGR. The Californian has changed clubs, coaches, and caddies to no avail. I'm pulling for Max to regain his form, but I just don't see it happening in this pressure-packed environment.
Nick Dunlap - $6,500
Promising young player who missed the cut in his Masters debut last year after winning on the PGA Tour as an amateur. Dunlap has been lost in the weeds to start 2025 and has been one of the worst statistical drivers of the ball on Tour this year.
Harris English - $6,500
A popular winner at Torrey Pines earlier this year, English has been business as usual since, recording top-25s in the Genesis and last week in Houston, while also adding a T30 at The PLAYERS.
An experienced major championship performer who has three U.S. Open top-10s on his CV, the former Bulldog has made the cut in four of five Masters starts, but has never cracked the top 20 at Augusta National. Despite his fairly perceived lack of Masters upside, it's hard not to be interested at this price.
Denny McCarthy - $6,500
The putting prodigy has put a lot of work into his ball striking, and it appears to be paying off, as he's gained strokes on APP in six of eight starts this year. Despite those marked gains - and his savant-like ability with the flatstick - McCarthy's lack of firepower off the tee (currently 124th on the PGA Tour in Driving Distance) puts him at a significant disadvantage at Augusta National. That said, he made the cut in his Masters debut last year and is good enough to hang around for the weekend again in this edition.
J.T. Poston - $6,500
Delivered the third PGA Tour win of his career at the Shriners last fall, but has been relatively quiet to this point in 2025. Poston recorded a T30 in his third career Masters start last year, but has never carded a sub-70 round at Augusta National. Standing just 145th on the PGA Tour in Driving Distance, Poston is severely hampered on this golf course by his lack of length off the tee.
Bargain-Basement PGA DFS Plays
Nick Taylor - $6,400
A cool customer under fire and proven closer, Taylor won the Sony Open to kick off 2025. The Canadian has played solid, if unspectacular, golf since, though his irons have noticeably cooled in recent outings.
Nick Taylor WINS the Sony Open in Hawaii in a playoff for his fifth PGA TOUR victory! 🏆🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/3TvC7HbRmH
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) January 13, 2025
Scored an encouraging T29 in his 2020 Masters debut, but shot 77-81 to miss the cut in his second trip to Augusta National last year. Love him when he's in contention, but can he even sniff the leaderboard this week?
Nicolas Echavarria - $6,400
Streaky 30-year-old who lives and dies by the putter. Ranks first on the PGA Tour this year in SG: Putting, but stands near the bottom of the ranks in nearly every other meaningful category. Making his Masters debut and his lack of T2G consistency is scary.
Austin Eckroat - $6,400
Rarely discussed for a player who won twice in 2024. Probably because he can go MIA for extended stretches. He's certainly been in a rut to start 2025, with his last top-25 finish coming at Pebble Beach in January. Missed the cut in his Masters debut last year. Still just 25, Eckroat has a bright career ahead of him, but his game is out of sorts at the moment.
Tom Hoge - $6,400
Flusher, who is playing well in San Antonio as of this writing. Hoge popped for a T3 at The PLAYERS and a T8 at the season-opening Sentry, but he hasn't done much in between. I'm always a sucker for his ball striking - especially now that he appears to be finding some form. I'll have some GPP exposure.
Davis Riley - $6,400
A frustratingly inconsistent 28-year-old with loads of talent, Riley has been the definition of a hot-and-cold player during his time on the PGA Tour. Outlasted Scottie Scheffler at Colonial to win last year's Charles Schwab Challenge, only to play alarmingly bad for the remainder of 2024.
Those struggles bled into 2025, but the Mississippi native has righted the ship over the past month with top-10s at Puerto Rico and Valspar, as well as a T38 at The PLAYERS. Could surprise in his Masters debut this week, and I'm tagging him as one to watch.
Matthieu Pavon - $6,400
Not sure what to make of the Frenchman, who scored an impressive T12 in his Masters debut last spring and then played beautifully at Pinehurst en route to a T5 in the U.S. Open. His decision to make a coaching change late last year is puzzling from the outside looking in, and he's failed to kick on in 2025, with a T42 in the Cognizant Classic standing as his best outing of the year.
Jhonattan Vegas - $6,300
The experienced Venezuelan punched his Masters ticket with a win at last year's 3M Open. Returning to Augusta for the first time since 2018, when he recorded a T38. Vegas has shown zero form since opening the season with a strong outing at The Sentry. He's lost strokes APP in three of his last four starts.
Stephan Jaeger - $6,300
My interest in Jaeger is certainly piqued at this price point. Missed the cut in his 2024 Masters debut on a short turnaround from winning in Houston. Speed gains off the tee have been well publicized, and will, of course, be helpful at Augusta, but it's his trending iron play that's drawing my attention. The UT-Chattanooga product has gained strokes APP in five of his last six starts.
Joe Highsmith - $6,300
Birdie machine who will be making his Masters debut after scoring his first career PGA Tour win surprisingly at the Cognizant Classic. Highsmith has held things together in the subsequent month, posting top-25 results at both The PLAYERS and Valspar. Hot putting has been a big driver of his recent success, will that translate to the legendary greens that await at Augusta National?
Matt McCarty - $6,300
The 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year, McCarty wasted little time nabbing his first PGA Tour win by taking down the Black Desert Championship in October shortly after earning his card.
He's largely struggled in 2025, but the past month has been his best stretch yet, as he impressed with a T20 at The PLAYERS and a T16 at Valspar. His putter is his biggest weapon, though we know how tricky Augusta National's greens can be for first timers.
Kevin Yu - $6,300
Yet another Masters debutant, Yu punched his ticket to Augusta with a win at the Sanderson Farms Championship last October. Twice an All-American at Arizona State, Yu has some serious ball-striking chops and ranks 23rd in this Masters field in SG: Ball Striking over the last 50 rounds.
However, he struggles mightily on and around the greens, which is certainly worrisome at Augusta National. If you're building a deep player pool, he's worth a look.
Adam Schenk - $6,300
Schenk logged a very impressive T12 in his 2024 Masters debut. Unfortunately, his game has regressed since, as he's logged just one top-10 finish in the past 12 months and has missed as many cuts as he's made in 2025.
Thriston Lawrence - $6,200
Just 27 years old and already a four-time winner on the DP World Tour, Lawrence is set to make his Masters debut thanks to his Cinderella T4 run in last year's Open Championship. The South African hasn't found any success this year in his first season on the PGA Tour, missing the cut in five of seven 2025 starts.
Charl Schwartzel - $6,200
The 2011 Masters champion has turned in some notable results at Augusta in subsequent appearances, but he's failed to break 73 in each of his last two Masters starts. Seems content to cash checks on the LIV circuit with his game on cruise control. It wouldn't be a shock to see him play well this week.
Patton Kizzire - $6,200
The big Auburn alum won the Procore Championship in the fall, but has been disastrous in 2025. As of this writing, Kizzire has missed seven consecutive cuts, and his game appears to be in legit shambles. On a positive note, he might have a future as a punter.
The putter punt is back online!
Patton Kizzire with the 63 yard touchback!
1. This dumb stuff is awesome for the Tour. The people want to see humans!
2. He should be penalized heavily. Have to discourage this stuff.
Oddly both of these can be true!
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) March 20, 2025
Danny Willett - $6,200
Spoiler to Jordan Spieth in the 2016 Masters, Willett has valiantly battled numerous injuries in the years since slipping on the green jacket. An opening-round 68 in last year's Masters following a long layoff was a special moment. The Englishman has been relatively active this season and recorded a sneaky top-10 finish at the Farmers in January. A made cut wouldn't be a shocker, but serious contention is likely too much to hope for.
Brian Campbell - $6,200
Shocking longshot winner in Mexico, Campbell is one of the shortest hitters in this week's Masters field. It's a disadvantage that will be difficult for him to overcome in his first trip to Augusta National.
Zach Johnson - $6,200
Whatever you do, don't call him sir. If ZJ had any fans, he's probably run them off in the last couple of years. 2007 Masters winner, Johnson has carded a sub-70 round at Augusta since 2015.
Bubba Watson - $6,100
The former Masters champion seems content to captain the RangeGoats and handle his other off-course ventures as his game has deteriorated since joining LIV. Watson opened the year with a T12 in Riyadh but has steadily returned to a bottom-field performer in subsequent LIV events. Has struggled mightily in his last two Masters starts.
Jose Luis Ballester (a) - $6,100
Perhaps the next great golfing product from Spain's superstar assembly line. Won the US Am last year to gain entry to the 2025 Masters. The 21-year-old teed it up at the WMPO earlier this year and impressed with a T17 at the Mexico Open. Will be fighting for low am honors.
Justin Hastings (a) - $6,100
Winner of the Latin America Amateur Championship and a senior at San Diego State, this will be Hastings's Masters debut. Holds the SDSU record for lowest scoring average (over Xander Schauffele) and has three collegiate wins on his CV.
Bernhard Langer - $6,100
The ageless wonder and greatest senior player in history will be teeing it up for the 41st and final time at the Masters. Langer won the Champions Tour Charles Schwab Cup last year and has been competitive in 2025 starts on the circuit. He last made the cut at Augusta in 2020.
Evan Beck (a) - $6,100
Won the U.S. Mid-Amateur to gain entry into his first Masters. The 34-year-old Beck is one of these "professional amateurs" in the same vein as Stewart Hagestad, who is content to grind up amateur competition on an annual basis.
Vijay Singh - $6,100
The former Masters champion made the cut last year for the first time since 2018. It was a herculean accomplishment, and I wouldn't expect it to be repeated.
Rafael Campos - $6,000
The master of letters wrote his way into the Arnold Palmer Invitational but earned his way into the Masters with a win in Bermuda late last year. A T34 at the Mexico Open stands as his 2025 highlight to this point.
Hiroshi Tai (a) - $6,000
The first player representing Singapore to compete in the Masters. Won the 2024 NCAA Men's Individual Championship over amateur stars Luke Clanton and Gordon Sargent.
Angel Cabrera - $6,000
Whew, that former Champion's exemption is ironclad. Set to make his first Masters start since 2019 after doing a 30-odd-month stretch in a South American prison for assaulting ex-girlfriends. See... Phil actually isn't so bad.
🚨🌺⛳️ #REGRETS — 2009 Masters Champion Angel Cabrera reflects on his time behind bars as he prepares to tee it up at Augusta (via @DailyMailUK)
“I was sleeping on some pieces of cloth on a bed that was basically cement. I was locked in with someone else, so we were two locked… pic.twitter.com/6jJsqCImMI
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) March 29, 2025
Noah Kent (a) - $6,000
Runner-up in the US Am last August, Kent was something of a Cinderella in that event.
Fred Couples - $6,000
Becoming known as much for his inaccurate reporting as for his golf. Couples was a legit Masters threat well into his 50s, but has missed the cut in five of his last six starts at Augusta National.
Mike Weir - $6,000
The 2003 Masters champion simply doesn't have the needed firepower off the tee to compete.
Jose Maria Olazabal - $6,000
Beloved two-time Masters champion who thrilled with a made cut last year at age 58, despite an opening-round 77.
