Although it feels like just yesterday that Dustin Johnson was crowned the US Masters champion, we are already heading back to Augusta for the first of golf’s four major championships to be held in 2021 and the 85th edition of the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
With just over two weeks until the historic event, we wanted to look at who the favourites are to win the fabled green jacket and be named champion at Augusta in 2021. So have a look below at the favorites to win the US Masters.
Dustin Johnson
US Masters Odds: +800
2020 Finish: 1st
Unsurprisingly, less than six months after his record breaking victory at the 2020 Masters, Dustin Johnson is your +800 favorite to become just the fourth back to back champion at Augusta.
Given the short turnaround between events at Augusta National, Johnson is impossible not to like in the first major of 2021. Especially after winning last year’s tournament with a final score of 268 (-20), the lowest score to par in the history of the Masters and equal lowest score at any major championship.
Since claiming his maiden green jacket in November of 2020, Johnson started the new year of golf in great form, finishing T11th at the Tournament of Champions, 1st at the Saudi International and T8th at the Genesis Open. However, Johnson shot five over par at the WGC Mexico Championship last month, finishing T54th, as well as a recent T48th finish at the The Players Championship last week, finishing a combined 36 shots out of the lead in his two most recent events .
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson didn’t get any help from the flagstick here on 17. 🤦♂️pic.twitter.com/fH1hUuM2Wj
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) March 13, 2021
Although Johnson will enter the 2021 US Masters as the reigning champion and No. 1 ranked golfer in the world, it is fair to say his recent form isn’t ideal for someone about to embark on a major tournament title defense.
Having already withdrawn from the upcoming Holden Classic, Johnson is headed to Augusta with just over two weeks to develop some momentum on the course and rediscover his championship form.
Bryson DeChambeau
US Masters Odds: +900
2020 Finish: T34th
2020’s pre tournament favorite, Byrson DeChambeau is once again one of the top three favorites heading into the 2021 tournament at Augusta National.
In November of 2020, DeChambeau barely made the cut at Augusta thanks to Rafa Cabrera Bello’s missed chip on the ninth hole. The 27 year old finished the tournament with a 2-under par 286, 18 shots behind winner Dustin Johnson.
As he did in 2020, DeChambeau will enter the upcoming Masters in solid form finishing T7th at the Tournament of Champions, T18th at the Saundi International, Cut at the Genesis Open, T22nd at the WGC Mexico Championship, 1st at the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this month and T3rd at The Players Championship just last week.
However, DeChambeau’s form leading into the Masters has never been an issue. Having never finished inside the top 20 at the Augusta, the question surrounding DeChambeau is whether his heavy hitting style of play is suited to the course at Augusta National.
.@b_dechambeau with a MONSTROUS 370-yard drive on Bay Hill’s par-5 sixth. 😳
He’s tied for the lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. pic.twitter.com/ud9bMc7zeF
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) March 6, 2021
An ultimately stubborn golfer, DeChambeau plans to take the same approach at Augusta National as he did last year, swing hard, hit it far and get the ball as close to the green as possible.
Having recently claimed his eighth PGA Tour victory earlier this month, the difference in seasonal conditions at Augusta (from November to April) may suit his game. And given his current form, DeChambeau may be poised for the best Masters result of his career, potentially even good enough to see him in the conversation to win his second major tournament.
Jon Rahm / Justin Thomas
US Masters Odds: +1100
2020 Finish: T7th / 4th
Both top 10 finishers at the 2020 Masters in November, Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas currently share third favoritism to win the 2021 US Masters, with odds of +1100.
Since finishing in a tie for seventh at Augusta in November, Rahm has participated in six PGA tournament events, with four top 10 finishes to go along with a T13th at the Phoenix Open and a T32nd at the WGC Mexico Championship.
After debuting at Augusta in 2017, where he finished T27th, Rahm has since been a top 10 finisher at the last three Masters tournaments, finishing 4th in 2018, T9th in 2019 and T7th in 2020.
With a proven ability to perform on the course combined with the hunger to win his first major championship, Rahm has to be taken seriously as a contender to win it all at Augusta next month.
🚨 HOLE-IN-ONE 🚨
Jon Rahm skips it in on No. 16! #TheMasters
(via @TheMasters) pic.twitter.com/aN7mASkhOk
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 10, 2020
As for Justin Thomas, he will enter Augusta fresh off a victory at The Players Championship earlier in March.
After finishing 12-under par and in standalone 4th at the 2020 Master, Thomas has participated in seven PGA tour events. In his first six, Thomas failed to make the cut twice and finished in the top 20 on four occasions, before most recently winning at The Players Championship earlier this month, where he shot four under par in the final round to secure the victory.
Unlike Rahm, 2020 was Thomas’ first time finishing in the top 10 at Augusta, having finished T39th in 2016, T22nd in 2017, T17th in 2018 and T12th in 2019.
Now with 14 PGA tour wins under his belt (including one major), Thomas’ best golf is clearly good enough to compete with the best players in the world. Given his year by year improvements at Augusta combined with his current form, Thomas is undeniably in the mix to win his second major championship at the 2021 Masters.
Justin Thomas captures his first @THEPLAYERSChamp win 🏆 pic.twitter.com/DhxAFP8F9d
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 14, 2021
Take a look at the top 10 favorites to win the 2021 Masters:
Dustin Johnson (+800)
Bryson DeChambeau (+900)
Jon Rahm (+1100)
Justin Thomas (+1100)
Rory McIlroy (+1200)
Brooks Koepka (+1200)
Jordan Spieth (+1400)
Xander Schauffele (+1800)
Patrick Cantlay (+2200)
Collin Morikawa (+2500)
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of Bet365
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Image by: Jacob Gralton
