2026 Masters Betting Picks: David Bearman’s Best Bets
- The event features a $21 million purse and will be played on a par-72 course measuring 7,555 yards.
- SportsLine golf expert David Bearman has released his best bets and predictions for the field.
- Rory McIlroy enters the 2026 Masters as the defending champion, having won his first Masters in 2025 to complete the career grand slam.
The 2026 Masters tournament is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. ET on April 9, 2026, at Augusta National Golf Club. The event features a $21 million purse and will be played on a par-72 course measuring 7,555 yards.
SportsLine golf expert David Bearman has released his best bets and predictions for the field. A central component of Bearman’s analysis is his decision to fade Rory McIlroy, avoiding the defending champion in both outright and head-to-head betting options.
The Case Against the Defending Champion
Rory McIlroy enters the 2026 Masters as the defending champion, having won his first Masters in 2025 to complete the career grand slam. Prior to that victory, McIlroy had come close to winning at Augusta National 11 times.
Despite his status as the defending champion and his history of eight top-10 finishes at the venue, Bearman cites both physical and performance-based reasons for his pessimistic outlook on McIlroy’s chances this year.
According to Bearman, McIlroy suffered a back injury that forced him to withdraw while tied for 9th place at the Arnold Palmer Invitational three weeks prior to the Masters. While McIlroy did return to compete in The Players Championship, Bearman notes that he finished tied for 46th and failed to record a single round under par.
Fading Rory McIlroy is not an easy thing to do. We are talking about the defending champion with eight top-10s and many narrow misses here. But a few things are working against him here.
David Bearman
Betting Odds and Favorites
McIlroy is seeking his second consecutive Masters title, which would mark his sixth major championship and 30th PGA Tour event victory. However, he is not the betting favorite for the 2026 tournament.
Current odds place McIlroy at +1100. He trails several other top contenders in the betting market:
- Scottie Scheffler: +550
- Bryson DeChambeau: +1000
- Jon Rahm: +1000
Expert Analysis Background
David Bearman’s predictions are informed by a career in golf research and analysis. He previously served as the golf researcher for ESPN from 2008 to 2011 and held the position of Deputy Editor of ESPN Chalk from 2019 to 2023, where he wrote a weekly golf betting column.
In the current 2026 season, Bearman has recorded 28 successful placement bets, covering top 5, 10, and 20 finishes across the first 11 tournaments. He also correctly predicted Cam Young to win The Players Championship outright.