The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. If you click links to other sites on this page, we will earn commission.
Masters 2025 Prediction & Betting Tips: Can 5/1 Scheffler Retain Green Jacket?
Follow our golf betting tips as the Masters gets underway on Thursday
Masters Winner Predictions
The most prestigious golf tournament of the season takes place this week as 96 of the world’s best take to the greens and fairways of Augusta National hoping to etch their names into the history of the Masters.
The prizes on offer are the famous green jacket, lifetime admission into the tournament, and the knowledge that in winning at Augusta you have emulated golf’s great legends in Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.
Two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler is the current green jacket holder following his four-shot win here 12 months ago and he’s aiming to achieve a feat only Woods, Nicklaus and Nick Faldo have accomplished by winning two consective Masters tournaments.
Standing in his way is a field of hungry and determined challengers from the in-form Rory McIlroy to previous champions such as Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm.
Masters Betting Preview: Scheffler Has Firm Grip on Green Jacket
Masters betting sites have Scheffler as the current favourite to win the four-day event with the reigning champion a best price of 5/1 favourite ahead of McIlroy at 15/2.
McIlroy would complete a career grand slam should he prove victorious at Augusta but previous outings here have proven costly for him.
The Northern Irishman is in decent form with wins at Pebble Beach and the Players Championship already under his belt this season, but a slight niggle to his elbow might mean he isn’t at his best this week.
That said both Scheffler and McIlroy should be considered to win the tournament outright as they are the two closest rivals on betting sites heading into the opening round on Thursday.
Watching McIlroy win the green jacket for the first time would be the more emotional outcome on Sunday, but Scheffler has finished inside the top 10 in each of the last three editions of the Masters, so we’re making him our first pick to win.
The Masters prediction 1: Scottie Scheffler to win outright - 5/1 PricedUp
Masters Betting Tips: Hovland Has a Chance
Taking Scheffler and McIlroy out of the equation sees a big leap up in terms of odds. Most golf betting sites have consistent American Collin Morikawa next in the Masters market at 16/1, the same odds as 2023 Masters champion and the 2024 LIV Golf individual player of the year Jon Rahm.
Ludvig Aberg is priced similarly to Rahm, though the 25-year-old who finished second in 2024 can be found on some betting apps at 20/1. He was four shots behind Scheffler last year and three ahead of Morikawa, Max Homa and Tommy Fleetwood, who tied for third.
Morikawa, Rahm and Aberg should all go well at Augusta, but we’re leaning in a different direction and backing Norway’s Viktor Hovland. The 27-year-old has had a torrid year so far. He’s missed the cut in four of his seven tournaments, including at the Players Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
However, Hovland has pedigree. He won the 2018 US Amateur and reached number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 2019. He has no major wins to his name but comes into the tournament having triumphed at the Valspar Championship, beating out America’s Justin Thomas. He trailed Thomas by three shots on the 13th hole in the final round but birdied the 14th, 16th and 17th to claim the win.
A seventh placed finish at Augusta in 2023 is a sign that he can strike it well around the Augusta National and Hovland cannot be discounted after rediscovering his confidence.
Hovland is a best price of 45/1 with SpreadEx, who are paying out on each-way bets at 1/5 odds on seven places.
The Masters prediction 2: Viktor Hovland to win outright - 45/1 e/w SpreadEx
Masters 2025 Long Shot Bet: Rose May Bloom Among Augusta Azaleas
It is also worth remembering that the Masters, along with any of the four golf majors, can be won by anyone. Plenty of former winners, such as Hideki Matsuyama, Trevor Immelman and Patrick Reed haven’t won another major. Colin Montgomerie famously never won a single one.
Form, age and previous results all factor into the likelihood of a golfer performing strongly at Augusta but are not necessarily the main driver of their success. Sometimes, it comes down to the right place at the right time, as with Charl Swartzel’s four consecutive birdies on the final four holes at the 2011 Masters, which saw him beat Jason Day by two strokes.
One such player who may surprise this week is Justin Rose. The 2013 US Open champion has been inconsistent at Augusta and missed the cut twice in the last five years. He also disappointed at the recent Valero Texas Open with T47 finish.
Yet, Rose finished third at Pebble Beach behind McIlroy and Shane Lowry earlier this year, then eighth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. His form has been inconsistent but his pedigree is unquestioned. At 44 he has the experience to get across the line and if he can put his game together for four rounds he could be one of the best outside picks.
The Englishman is a best-price of 100/1 at BetVictor, but they are only paying out on five places. For those seeking more places, a lot of bookmakers are offering at least seven places, while some are paying out on the top-10, albeit Rose is a shorter price with those bookies.
The Masters prediction 3: Justin Rose to win outright - 100/1 e/w BetVictor
Masters Free Bet Offers
There’s no shortage of free bet offers for the Masters, and NetBet is giving away free bets to those bettors who wager on a fast starter at Augusta.
Place a bet of £5 or more on the outright winner market for the Masters before the first tee shot on Thursday and for every shot under par in round one your selection finishes, punters will receive a £1 free bet.
For example, if a bettor had backed Bryson DeChambeau to win the Masters last year on NetBet, they’d have received £7 in free bets after the American carded a seven-under 65 in round one at Augusta.
Responsible gambling
When having a bet, it’s vital to practice responsible gambling.
Sports betting can be addictive, so bettors should take precautions to keep themselves safe when using gambling sites.
Every licensed UK betting site should offer safer gambling tools, such as deposit limits, time outs, self-assessment questionnaires and self-exclusion options.
These are free tools to help punters stay in control and they are available at various gambling sites, including online bookmakers, casino sites, slot sites, and poker sites.
These operators may offer punters free bets or casino bonuses from time to time, but it's important to treat these rewards with caution.
Read the terms and conditions before accepting any bonus as most new casino sites will require you to place a cash bet before handing out the reward.
Always remember that betting is meant to be fun. It should never be viewed as a guaranteed way to make money.
If you ever feel like you need help or advice on gambling addiction, don’t hesitate to contact one of the charities or organisations below.
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
We aim to offer every online gambler and reader of The Independent a safe and fair platform through unbiased reviews and offers from the UK’s best online gambling companies.
Gambling can be addictive, always play responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose. Gambling sites have a number of tools to assist you to stay in control, including deposit limits and time outs. If you think you have a problem, advice and support is available for you now from BeGambleAware or Gamcare.
Any offers or odds listed in this article are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change. Terms & Conditions apply to all offers.
