Now that March Madness is done – it’s tie for the Masters. The azaleas are in bloom, the golf course is set to perfection. The worlds best golfers vie for the most coveted title in the sport, the Green Jacket.
That’s all fine. What you really care about is how to make money on the tournament. A favorite way for me is to enter a pool. Now I like pools with tiers, similar to the NASCAR pool I’m in. You pick one golfer from Tier 1, one from Tier 2 and 6 from the remaining entrants. The score is based on the total winnings by your combined golfers.
Similar to the annual how to pick your March Madness bracket - here are some tips for picking your Master Pool. The goal is to win. Coming in 5th is the same as coming in last.
You got to be different from the crowd, you need to zig when everyone else is zagging.- your score only matters relative to everyone else's. If 50% of entries select the favorite, Scottie Scheffler, and he plays well, then everyone rises together. You haven't gained much of an edge. But what happens when you select a different golfer with similar winning potential who's only in 10% of lineups? If that golfer outperforms Scheffler, you've just jumped ahead of 50% of your pool with a single selection. That's leverage—the real key to winning Masters pools.
That’s all fine. What you really care about is how to make money on the tournament. A favorite way for me is to enter a pool. Now I like pools with tiers, similar to the NASCAR pool I’m in. You pick one golfer from Tier 1, one from Tier 2 and 6 from the remaining entrants. The score is based on the total winnings by your combined golfers.
Similar to the annual how to pick your March Madness bracket - here are some tips for picking your Master Pool. The goal is to win. Coming in 5th is the same as coming in last.
You got to be different from the crowd, you need to zig when everyone else is zagging.- your score only matters relative to everyone else's. If 50% of entries select the favorite, Scottie Scheffler, and he plays well, then everyone rises together. You haven't gained much of an edge. But what happens when you select a different golfer with similar winning potential who's only in 10% of lineups? If that golfer outperforms Scheffler, you've just jumped ahead of 50% of your pool with a single selection. That's leverage—the real key to winning Masters pools.
Your defending Champ and 2025 favorite - Scottie Scheffler Depending on your scoring system and pool size (more on that shortly), fading one of the top golfers like Scottie Scheffler might be unnecessarily risky. Instead, some of the best leverage opportunities can show up in the lower tiers, where selections are wider and the drop-off in win probability is smaller. By waiting until the bottom tiers to make your contrarian plays, you can still separate from the field without taking on too much risk. It's all about picking your spots to take your chance depending on the structure of your specific pool.
Which brings in the final factor – the size of the pool. In smaller pools (up to 30), you don’t have to make as many risky picks.
Medium size pools (30-100) You will need a bit more strategic differentiation. Look at tiers 2-3 to make your zigs.
Which brings in the final factor – the size of the pool. In smaller pools (up to 30), you don’t have to make as many risky picks.
Medium size pools (30-100) You will need a bit more strategic differentiation. Look at tiers 2-3 to make your zigs.
Jack was the first player to win back to back Masters titles in 1966 Large Pools (100+) No sense going with the conventional. Your going to have to grip it an rip it if you want to have a chance. Go unconventional and hope they land on the green. Next consider where to make your contrarian pick. You don’t have to make your your boldest move in Tier 1—in fact, it often doesn’t make sense to do so.
I’m in a smaller pool this year so I’ll go with leveraging my bottom tier picks.
Here are some interesting facts to consider for the your 2025 Masters picks
Scottie Scheffler is the favorite to win the Masters at entering the tournament at 5-1 odds and the only player listed under 10-1. Favorites have only won the tournament 6 times in the last 32 years: 2024 - Scottie Scheffler; 2005 - Tiger Woods; 2002- Tiger Woods; 2001- Tiger Woods; 1997- Tiger Woods; 1992- Fred Couples. Four of the six times it was Tiger
Scheffler won The Masters last year, Tiger Woods is the last golfer to win The Masters in consecutive years, doing so in 2001 and 2002. In fact back to back wins have only happened three times - Jack Nicklaus – 1965 & 1966 Nick Faldo – 1989 & 1990 and Tiger Woods – 2001 & 2002
Second in odds at +650 is McIlroy, The last piece to McIlroy's trophy case is the Masters to complete the career grand slam. Only six players have a career Grand Slam: Nicklaus, Woods, Hogan, Player, Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones.
Rory is playing his 17th Masters this week. Only one player has won their first Masters title in their 17th start or later – Sergio Garcia, who did it in his 19th start at 30-1 odds in 2017.
I’m in a smaller pool this year so I’ll go with leveraging my bottom tier picks.
Here are some interesting facts to consider for the your 2025 Masters picks
Scottie Scheffler is the favorite to win the Masters at entering the tournament at 5-1 odds and the only player listed under 10-1. Favorites have only won the tournament 6 times in the last 32 years: 2024 - Scottie Scheffler; 2005 - Tiger Woods; 2002- Tiger Woods; 2001- Tiger Woods; 1997- Tiger Woods; 1992- Fred Couples. Four of the six times it was Tiger
Scheffler won The Masters last year, Tiger Woods is the last golfer to win The Masters in consecutive years, doing so in 2001 and 2002. In fact back to back wins have only happened three times - Jack Nicklaus – 1965 & 1966 Nick Faldo – 1989 & 1990 and Tiger Woods – 2001 & 2002
Second in odds at +650 is McIlroy, The last piece to McIlroy's trophy case is the Masters to complete the career grand slam. Only six players have a career Grand Slam: Nicklaus, Woods, Hogan, Player, Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones.
Rory is playing his 17th Masters this week. Only one player has won their first Masters title in their 17th start or later – Sergio Garcia, who did it in his 19th start at 30-1 odds in 2017.
Sorry Rory - No player has completed the Grand Slam at the Masters Rory has 7 Top 10 finishes without a win. Only 4 players in Masters history have more Tom Kite – 12; Lloyd Mangrum – 12; Greg Norman – 9; Gene Littler,
And no players has completed the Grand Slam at the Masters – Sorry Rory
Only four players have won the green jacket with 100-1 odds or higher and it all happened in a 5-year span between 2007 and 2011. 2008- Trevor Immelman, 150-1; 2009 - Angel Cabrera, 125-1 2007 - Zach Johnson, 125-1; 2011- Charl Schwartzel, 100-1
The Official World Golf Rankings have been a decent indicator of Masters success and wearing the green jacket. Every Masters winner since 2010- the last 15 has been T-30 in OWGR entering the week.
And no players has completed the Grand Slam at the Masters – Sorry Rory
Only four players have won the green jacket with 100-1 odds or higher and it all happened in a 5-year span between 2007 and 2011. 2008- Trevor Immelman, 150-1; 2009 - Angel Cabrera, 125-1 2007 - Zach Johnson, 125-1; 2011- Charl Schwartzel, 100-1
The Official World Golf Rankings have been a decent indicator of Masters success and wearing the green jacket. Every Masters winner since 2010- the last 15 has been T-30 in OWGR entering the week.
| Since the winner is likely to come from the Top 35 OWGR – here’s the list and the odds: 2024 was a glorious year for Bryson DeChambeau at majors. He finished top-6 in three of the four majors including the Masters after finishing top-6 in just 4 of his career 29 major starts before 2024. Go with the flow - Top 10 Finish Streaks at Masters Last 5 Years - Scottie Scheffler (3), Collin Morikawa (3), Will Zalatoris (3, incl. DNP), Cam Young (2), Xander Schauffele (2) Top-20 streaks: Scottie Scheffler (5), Collin Morikawa (4), Patrick Reed (2), Xander Schauffele (2), Cam Young (2) Since Tiger Woods won the Masters in 1997, every winner since, including Woods himself had at least a top-20 finish at a major before winning at Augusta. Making the cut at the Masters is an accomplishment all in itself. Doing it 15 straight times is on another level. The active leader for consecutive cuts made at Augusta belongs to Adam Scott, who has made the cut in 15 straight Masters between 2010 and 2024. If Scott makes the cut this year, he would move into a tie for the 8th-longest streak of cuts made at Augusta, tying Phil Mickelson on the list. Factoring it all in here are my picks for the 2025 Masters Pool: Tier 1 Rory McIlroy Jon Rahm Scottie Scheffler I’ll play it safe and go with Scottie Tier 2 Bryson DeChambeau Collin Morikawa Xander Schauffele Collin Morikawa - McIlroy is playing great golf. He hasn’t finished lower than T17 in a tournament this season. Which is why he is in tier 1. The exact thing can be said for Morikawa, who leads the PGA Tour in true strokes gained (2.93) |  |
Fear the Stache! I'll put Keegan Bradley on my team The rest of the pack: Where I will try to differentiate
Russell Henley - Henley has finished in the top 10 in the past two major championships and was T4 in the 2023 Masters.
Maverick McNealy – Call the ball Maverick. McNealy has four top-10 finishes this season, including a T3 in last week’s Valero Texas Open.
Keegan Bradley – Fear the Stache. Bradley has been very good with his approach shots this year. He’s finished outside the top 20 in only two starts this year
Min Woo Lee - His putting has been terrific with .96 true strokes gained, the second most of any player on the PGA Tour
Tommy Fleetwood - is coming off a T3 in last year’s Masters, He finished 62 last week but otherwise has been in the Top 25 in every other tournament this year.
Sepp Straka – Sepp is 2nd in this year’s FedExCup standings after a win at The American Express and top 10s in two Signature Events (T7, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am; T5, Arnold Palmer Invitational).
I'll take a side bet on Adam Scott to make the cut too
Remember the 2025 Go Jumbo trip is Nov 15th at the Westgate SuperBook
Russell Henley - Henley has finished in the top 10 in the past two major championships and was T4 in the 2023 Masters.
Maverick McNealy – Call the ball Maverick. McNealy has four top-10 finishes this season, including a T3 in last week’s Valero Texas Open.
Keegan Bradley – Fear the Stache. Bradley has been very good with his approach shots this year. He’s finished outside the top 20 in only two starts this year
Min Woo Lee - His putting has been terrific with .96 true strokes gained, the second most of any player on the PGA Tour
Tommy Fleetwood - is coming off a T3 in last year’s Masters, He finished 62 last week but otherwise has been in the Top 25 in every other tournament this year.
Sepp Straka – Sepp is 2nd in this year’s FedExCup standings after a win at The American Express and top 10s in two Signature Events (T7, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am; T5, Arnold Palmer Invitational).
I'll take a side bet on Adam Scott to make the cut too
Remember the 2025 Go Jumbo trip is Nov 15th at the Westgate SuperBook
