Spencer Schultz (@ravens4dummies on Twitter/X) has joined PressBox to share his favorite plays each day.
The most glorious day in golf is upon us. The Masters 2024. Augusta is so fun because it highlights what weekend golfers love about golf: hitting bombs. Those who can’t corral the 7,500-yard course into short approaches simply can’t win. With that in mind, let’s look at some heavy hitters and fun lines.
Four unit hammer play: Brooks Koepka to finish top-20.
Ladder Koepka to top-10 and “to win outside of Scheffler and” any combinations offered.
Not only does Koepka bring his A-game to majors, he absolutely smokes the ball and has performed well at Augusta, where previous play is more consistent than many other tournaments. While LIV Golf isn’t exactly a one-to-one comparison, many have cited Koepka’s poor play in his last tournament prior to this week. However, he was trying out a new driver and reverted back to the older one where he had consistent scores under 70.
For a healthy Koepka, the most prolific major performer of this generation, who has three top-10 finishes and two runner-ups, to be 15/1 and 20/1 is downright disrespectful. Reports are saying that his putting has been outstanding in practice rounds and while he’s not the most creative shot-maker, Koepka has the distance, experience and consistency at both Augusta and in major play where top-20 being -125 is worth as many units as you feel good about.
Aside from Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris and Hideki Matsuyama have consistently performed well at Augusta, and both have flashed confident tournament play in 2024. Zalatoris is one of only three participants over the last five Masters to be above average in strokes gained of each category. Laddering this duo from top-20 to winners should yield profit.
Add the three mentioned together into parlays of top-20 finishes and Round Robin’s by 2’s.
A debutant, Wyndham Clark fits the exact profile of someone ready to make a splash in their first outing. He’s elite off the tee, on par-5’s, is a courageous putter and possesses a calmness over the last year that has elevated him to be mentioned among the best on the planet. I won’t take Clark to win, but laddering up to top-5 makes sense.
Sahith Theegala to finish top-20.
Theegala played well last year, and his creativity will bode well in the course that requires the most of it.
Jake Knapp to make the cut.
Knapp is a certified bomber who spent time with Jack Nicklaus alone this week and possesses the calmness to navigate adversity.
Round Robin by 5’s top-20 finish:
Brooks Koepka
Will Zalatoris
Hideki Matsuyama
Wyndham Clark
Xander Schauffele
Jon Rahm
Scottie Scheffler
The players in this group have the distance, grit and consistency to push to win.
Top Oceana: Cameron Smith
Smith is No. 1 in putting strokes gained over the last five Masters and consistently performs well in Augusta. These odds are 3/1 or shorter.
Orioles Parlay of the Day: Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday to record 1+ hit each.
Henderson and Rutschman took a more disciplined approach at the plate in Boston Tuesday, flattening their bat and letting their hands do the work. They will set the tone again against a righty and Holliday will harness his adrenaline to do what he does best: rip the ball up the middle.
Photo by Soheb Zaidi on Unsplash.com
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