The best golfers in the world will be in Augusta, Georgia, this week for the first major of the year, The Masters. We’re going to share our top 2026 Masters picks and predictions.
Augusta National Golf Club is simultaneously a feast for the eyes and a stern test of golfing acumen. The Georgia pines and blooming azaleas highlight Augusta's beauty, but this world-renowned course demands precise ballstriking and short-game excellence.
Rory McIlroy had an epic victory at last year's Masters to earn his first Green Jacket. Can he successfully defend his title, or will the No. 1 player in the world, Scottie Scheffler, win at Augusta for the third time in five years? PGA Tour stars Ludvig Aberg and Xander Schauffele are looking for a career-altering victory, and big-hitting LIV Tour stalwarts Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau will be in the hunt.
Welcome to the fifth annual BettingPros Guide to The Masters. We'll take a deep dive into the field, taking a closer look at the players contending for the coveted Green Jacket. Which players provide betting value and which are bad bets? Read on.
2026 Masters Picks & Predictions: Nicolai Hojgaard
Stats to Know
- Odds to Win: +8400
- World Ranking: 36
- Best Masters finish: 16 (2024)
- Last two Masters finishes: 16, MC
- Last four tournament finishes: 24, 27, 55, 2
Course History
Hojgaard shot a 67 in his first Masters round two years ago and briefly held the lead. He was a collective seven over the next three days and finished 16th. Last year, Hojgaard bogeyed four of his first five holes on Thursday and wound up missing the cut at +6.
Recent Form
The streaky Hojgaard has produced three top-10 finishes in nine 2026 starts (four if you include the Dubai Classic on the DP World Tour). He finished second in his most recent event, the Houston Open, where he had a nice week but was unable to keep pace with runaway winner Gary Woodland in the final round.
Check out all of our Masters golfer profiles and full betting guide >>
2026 Masters Outlook & Predictions
Statistically, Hojgaard ranks 13th in driving distance, 13th in strokes gained on approach, 13th in scrambling, and 23rd in strokes gained putting. Although he’s been over par in five of his six rounds at The Masters, the 25-year-old Dane may be in the midst of a breakthrough season. A good showing at Augusta could validate his arrival.
Betting Outlook: 2026 Masters Picks
Although his Masters track record is sparse, Hojgaard has my attention. He’s recorded top 10s on a variety of course types this year, and his game seems like a good fit for Augusta National. I’m making a small bet on Hojgaard to win outright and also plan to bet him for a top 20 (ties included) at +186.
More Individual Golfer Previews, 2026 Masters Picks & Predictions
- Scottie Scheffler
- Rory McIlroy
- Jon Rahm
- Bryson DeChambeau
- Ludvig Aberg
- Xander Schauffele
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Collin Morikawa
- Cameron Young
- Patrick Reed
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Justin Rose
- Chris Gotterup
- Hideki Matsuyama
- Viktor Hovland
- Brooks Koepka
- Justin Thomas
- Robert MacIntyre
- Jordan Spieth
- Tyrrell Hatton
- Shane Lowry
- Patrick Cantlay
- Nicolai Hojgaard
- Harris English
- Gary Woodland
- Si Woo Kim
- Corey Conners
- Akshay Bhatia
- Russell Henley
- Min Woo Lee
- Jason Day
- Jake Knapp
- Cameron Smith
- Adam Scott
- Sepp Straka
- Sam Burns
- Daniel Berger
- Sungjae Im
- JJ Spaun
- Jacob Bridgeman
