The dominant storyline entering the 89th Masters is a hopeful duel between Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. The two best players in the world seem to be peaking ahead of a potential all-time battle at Augusta National, but as golf fans are well aware, the biggest story is not often the one a major championship ultimately produces.
Even though much of the talk is centered around McIlroy and Scheffler, it feels like this Masters is ripe for someone to come from further down the field to win it.
McIlroy’s battles with Augusta National are well known, and no matter how well he’s played in the lead up to the Masters, he still has to prove he can conquer the course and the ghosts that chase him on it across four rounds. Scheffler, meanwhile, has appeared a bit more vulnerable than he was last year. He’s near the top of the leaderboard almost every week but hasn’t won yet. Scheffler’s game has been off just enough that other players have been able to pass him in ways he wouldn’t allow last year.
Beyond those two, the rest of the players that populate the top of the odds sheet all have significant questions to answer. Jon Rahm hasn’t been a threat at a major in over a year, Ludvig Åberg is still immensely young, Collin Morikawa hasn’t been able to finish off a win since 2023, and Xander Schauffele has yet to find his A-game since returning from injury.
While the list of Masters champions features most of the bets players in history, it also has included plenty of surprise winners as well. This year, when we’re all looking for a Sunday duel between Scheffler and McIlroy, we might get treated instead to someone few expect taking their own shot at history.
Let’s take a look at seven Masters sleeper picks who could surprise over 72 holes at Augusta National Golf Club.
Watch all four rounds of the 2025 Masters with expanded coverage from CBS Sports. It starts Thursday with Masters Live as we follow the best in the world across Featured Groups, Amen Corner and holes 15 & 16. Watch those streams live across Paramount+, CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports App with extended broadcast coverage Saturday and Sunday from 12-2 p.m. on Paramount+ and 2-7 p.m. on CBS.
2025 Masters sleeper picks
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Who will win the Masters, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Visit SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard and best bets, all from the model that’s nailed 13 golf majors, including the past three Masters, and is up nearly $9,000 since June 2020.
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