Masters 2026 Predictions: SportsLine Model Simulates Final Rounds

The 2026 Masters is entering its second round at Augusta National Golf Club with defending champion Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns sharing the lead. Following the completion of the first round on April 9, 2026, both players sit at 5-under-par.

The current leaderboard features a tight group of contenders. Trailing the co-leaders by two strokes are Kurt Kitayama, Jason Day and 2018 champion Patrick Reed, all of whom are at 3-under-par.

Betting Odds and Favorites

Current betting odds reflect McIlroy’s strong position as the defending champion. He is the +270 favorite to win the tournament, which would make him the fourth person to win back-to-back green jackets.

Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 and a two-time Masters champion, remains a primary contender despite being three shots back at 2-under-par. Scheffler is currently priced at +350.

Other notable odds for the field include:

• Xander Schauffele (-2): +1000
• Sam Burns (-5): +1300
• Justin Rose: +1500
• Patrick Reed (-3): +1800

SportsLine Simulation Predictions

A proprietary golf model developed by DFS professional Mike McClure at SportsLine has simulated the final three rounds of the 2026 Masters 10,000 times. The model, which has previously correctly predicted 16 majors including the 2025 Masters, suggests potential upsets for the remainder of the tournament.

One significant prediction from the simulations is that co-leader Sam Burns will struggle during the final stretch of the event. The model projects that Burns will stumble and barely finish within the top 10.

Conversely, the model identifies Tommy Fleetwood as a potential dark horse. Fleetwood currently sits at 1-under-par, four strokes behind the leaders, and is considered a +2000 longshot. However, the simulations indicate that Fleetwood could make a strong run at the title.

Tournament Context and Field

The 2026 Masters field is composed of several major champions. Prior to the start of play on April 9, 2026, the odds board included Jon Rahm at +950, Bryson DeChambeau at +1000, and Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka both at +4500.

Scottie Scheffler entered the event as the clear-cut favorite at +550. His recent form included finishing T-4 or better in three of his six starts on the PGA Tour during the 2026 season.

The second round of play is scheduled to begin at 7:40 a.m. ET on Friday, April 10, 2026, as players compete to make the cut at Augusta National.