{"id":237164,"date":"2026-04-06T19:36:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T19:36:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/06\/masters-2026-expert-picks-strategy-form-and-more\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T19:36:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T19:36:23","slug":"masters-2026-expert-picks-strategy-form-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/06\/masters-2026-expert-picks-strategy-form-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Masters 2026 expert picks: Strategy, form and more"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"5149982\" data-slug-id=\"2763419\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The PGA Tour&#8217;s golfers are currently on their way to Augusta National for this year&#8217;s first major, the Masters. A total of 91 golfers are gearing up to face off for one of the most prestigious trophies in the golf industry. With the tournament right around the corner, all eyes are on some huge names who are in terrific shape and may perhaps win the title. Here are five of the top expert picks for this year&#8217;s winner of the Masters.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><template id=\"template__newsletter-inline-banner-form-combo-widget\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<p><img id=\"subscribe-img\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\nThanks for the submission!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<h2>5 expert picks for the 2026 Masters<\/h2>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>#5 Ludvig Aberg<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"image\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sk-app-thumbnail\" alt=\"Valero Texas Open 2026 - Final Round - Source: Getty\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/e57c7-17754982893670-1920.jpg\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy-img\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" data-img=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/e57c7-17754982893670-1920.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/e57c7-17754982893670-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/e57c7-17754982893670-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/e57c7-17754982893670-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/e57c7-17754982893670-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/e57c7-17754982893670-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/e57c7-17754982893670-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/e57c7-17754982893670-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/e57c7-17754982893670-1920.jpg 1920w\" alt=\"Valero Texas Open 2026 - Final Round - Source: Getty\" data-img-low=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/e57c7-17754982893670-1920.jpg?w=640\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,&lt;svg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201920%201280%22&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;\"\/><figcaption>Valero Texas Open 2026 &#8211; Final Round &#8211; Source: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/player\/ludvig-aberg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Ludvig Aberg<\/a> has been a serious threat in every tournament he&#8217;s played in this season. Aberg is no doubt a fantastic precision-based golfer, and he has the potential to play a significant role at Augusta National this year. He will walk into the tournament following three consecutive top-five finishes at the 2026 Valero Texas Open (T5), the 2026 Players Championship (T5), and the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational (T3).<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>Aberg has finished only a few shots behind the leader in each tournament, implying that he might cover this distance in the Masters and finally secure that big win he has been chasing.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>#4 Jon Rahm <\/h3>\n<figure class=\"image\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sk-app-thumbnail\" alt=\"LIV Golf South Africa - Day Four - Source: Getty\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/3ebc2-17754983923520-1920.jpg\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy-img\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" data-img=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/3ebc2-17754983923520-1920.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/3ebc2-17754983923520-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/3ebc2-17754983923520-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/3ebc2-17754983923520-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/3ebc2-17754983923520-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/3ebc2-17754983923520-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/3ebc2-17754983923520-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/3ebc2-17754983923520-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/3ebc2-17754983923520-1920.jpg 1920w\" alt=\"LIV Golf South Africa - Day Four - Source: Getty\" data-img-low=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/3ebc2-17754983923520-1920.jpg?w=640\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,&lt;svg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201920%201280%22&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;\"\/><figcaption>LIV Golf South Africa &#8211; Day Four &#8211; Source: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One of the best LIV golfers and Legion XIII captain, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/player\/jon-rahm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Jon Rahm<\/a>, has been in great form so far this season. Rahm has been performing admirably on the LIV circuit, and in his five starts in the Saudi-backed league, he has consistently finished in the top five. The Spanish golfer has been runner-up three times and even managed to win the LIV Golf Hong Kong.<\/p>\n<p>Rahm is a major danger to everyone at the 2026 Masters, especially now that all LIV tournaments have become 72-hole formats, allowing him to prepare effectively for Augusta National.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>#3 Bryson DeChambeau<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"image\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sk-app-thumbnail\" alt=\"LIV Golf South Africa - Day Two - Source: Getty\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/20992-17754985309702-1920.jpg\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy-img\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" data-img=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/20992-17754985309702-1920.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/20992-17754985309702-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/20992-17754985309702-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/20992-17754985309702-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/20992-17754985309702-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/20992-17754985309702-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/20992-17754985309702-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/20992-17754985309702-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/20992-17754985309702-1920.jpg 1920w\" alt=\"LIV Golf South Africa - Day Two - Source: Getty\" data-img-low=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/20992-17754985309702-1920.jpg?w=640\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,&lt;svg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201920%201280%22&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;\"\/><figcaption>LIV Golf South Africa &#8211; Day Two &#8211; Source: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/player\/bryson-dechambeau\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Bryson DeChambeau<\/a> is the man in red-hot form, and he has pulled off the unthinkable in recent weeks. The golfer first won big at the LIV Golf Singapore, and then he won again in the LIV Golf South Africa, where he was playing for the first time in his career.<\/p>\n<p>DeChambeau has always been a massive name in golf, but he has yet to win the green jacket for the first time in his career. Given the golfer&#8217;s excellent form entering the competition, it&#8217;s possible that it will happen this season.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>#2 Rory McIlroy<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"image\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sk-app-thumbnail\" alt=\"THE PLAYERS Championship 2026 - Final Round - Source: Getty\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/afe27-17754986163014-1920.jpg\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy-img\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" data-img=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/afe27-17754986163014-1920.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/afe27-17754986163014-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/afe27-17754986163014-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/afe27-17754986163014-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/afe27-17754986163014-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/afe27-17754986163014-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/afe27-17754986163014-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/afe27-17754986163014-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/afe27-17754986163014-1920.jpg 1920w\" alt=\"THE PLAYERS Championship 2026 - Final Round - Source: Getty\" data-img-low=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/afe27-17754986163014-1920.jpg?w=640\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,&lt;svg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201920%201280%22&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;\"\/><figcaption>THE PLAYERS Championship 2026 &#8211; Final Round &#8211; Source: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/player\/rory-mcllroy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Rory McIlroy<\/a>, the defending Masters champion, is invariably included on the expert lists of any tournament in which he competes. McIlroy developed back problems about three weeks ago, but in order to heal, he withdrew from every tournament since then and has been preparing at home for his first championship defence at the Augusta National.<\/p>\n<p>McIlroy has only had one strong finish this season, in the 2026 Genesis Invitational, where he finished tied for second place with a total score of 17 under par. Given that he has been practicing at home for the previous few weeks, fans have high expectations for him.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>#1 Scottie Scheffler<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"image\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sk-app-thumbnail\" alt=\"The Masters - Preview Day One - Source: Getty\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/a59ed-17754986949042-1920.jpg\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy-img\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" data-img=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/a59ed-17754986949042-1920.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/a59ed-17754986949042-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/a59ed-17754986949042-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/a59ed-17754986949042-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/a59ed-17754986949042-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/a59ed-17754986949042-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/a59ed-17754986949042-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/a59ed-17754986949042-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/a59ed-17754986949042-1920.jpg 1920w\" alt=\"The Masters - Preview Day One - Source: Getty\" data-img-low=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/04\/a59ed-17754986949042-1920.jpg?w=640\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,&lt;svg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201920%201280%22&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;\"\/><figcaption>The Masters &#8211; Preview Day One &#8211; Source: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/player\/scottie-scheffler\/news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Scottie Scheffler<\/a>, the World Number One since May 2023, has been one of the most dominant golfers on the PGA Tour in recent years. He is only the second golfer in history to hold the World No. 1 ranking for 100 consecutive weeks. Scheffler is clearly a frontrunner for the 2026 Masters, as he has been in good form this season, having already secured his first win this season at the American Express.<\/p>\n<p>Scheffler has won the green jacket twice in his career, and he hopes to make history again this year by earning it for the third time.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\" title=\"like article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\" title=\"dislike article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by Anurag Bhardwaj<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/golf\/news-masters-2026-expert-picks-strategy-form\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The PGA Tour&#8217;s golfers are currently on their way to Augusta National for this year&#8217;s first major, the Masters. A total of 91 golfers are gearing up to face off for one of the most prestigious trophies in the golf industry. With the tournament right around the corner, all eyes are on some huge names [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":237165,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6806],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-237164","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gossip"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=237164"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237164\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/237165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=237164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=237164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=237164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}