Masters picks: Five sleepers to consider for the Green Jacket in 2025

The Masters is usually won by one of the more significant favorites, but it’s always worth considering sleepers and longshots. Scott Phillips takes a look at some of those golfers with a chance at Augusta this year.

The Masters has generally been an event for legends and superstars. That said, it’s hard to overlook some of the talented players further down the board, as plenty of competitors in the field possess strong track records at Augusta National.

In 2021, Hideki Matsuyama (+4500) was the only winner in the last six Masters with odds longer than +1600. Going back further to 2010, only Danny Willett in 2016 and Charl Schwartzel in 2011 won with odds greater than +6000.

With a field size (95) smaller than the other majors and the course being mostly the same each year, stars who get to play the Masters annually build experience at Augusta National and gain a veteran’s advantage over time.

A debutant hasn’t won the Masters since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 — making it tough to pick among the newcomers playing this year. None of the 21 newcomers are as talented as Ludvig Aberg was when he was runner-up as a Masters rookie last spring.

Taking a look down the board, here are some underdog picks using FanDuel Sportsbook odds. Heading into Thursday’s start, FanDuel is offering two big pre-tournament promotions. You can place a no-sweat bet on the 1st round leader and get a 30% Daily Profit Boost Token on top-10 and top-20 finishers. Once the tournament starts, you can get that same 30% boost on any Masters wager, once per day. Even if none of these names takes home the Green Jacket on Sunday, consider them for round leader wagering.

In considering underdogs for this list, only players +5500 or lower were used.

Cameron Smith (+5500)

With five top-ten finishes in seven years, Smith regularly finds himself among the top of the leaderboard on Sunday. Despite erratic play in 2025 with LIV Golf, Smith tends to bring his best for Augusta National, a place where his creativity shines. If the driver and irons improve, Smith’s stellar around-the-green numbers are still outstanding while the putter has gained strokes in four out of five events. Not many players at this number on the odds board won a recent major championship and possess the kind of track record at Augusta like Smith does. If you believe his irons can heat up this week, Smith is worth a hard look.

Robert MacIntyre (+5500)

After a two-year hiatus, MacIntyre returns to the Masters after two top-23 finishes. Augusta National traditionally plays nicely for lefties. MacIntyre took a natural liking to the course, finishing T12 as a debutant in 2021 and following that up with a T23 in 2022. MacIntyre acclimated quickly to Augusta’s treacherous greens by gaining strokes both around the green and putting in both trips. Since his last visit, MacIntyre is a two-time PGA Tour winner, claiming the Canadian Open and his native Scottish Open in a six-week span. There’s also solid recent form with four top-11 finishes in the last five starts — including THE PLAYERS Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational. With three previous top tens in majors, MacIntyre possesses a penchant for making clutch shots.

Corey Conners (+6000)

Since last year’s T38 finish at the Masters, the Canadian is playing outstanding golf. Conners is hoping strong current form — No. 13 in Data Golf’s rankings and No. 21 in the OWGR — takes him back to the three straight top tens he had at Augusta to start the decade. Accurate off the tee and consistent with his irons, Conners is more reliable with his putter than year’s past. A recent third-place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a T6 at THE PLAYERS means Conners is competitive on championship-caliber courses against strong fields leading up the the Masters. If Conners can hole some putts and avoid trouble he could find himself near the top of the leaderboard on Sunday.

Sergio Garcia (+8000)

The 2017 Masters champion appears extra motivated to make a push for the European Ryder Cup team this season. The results of Garcia’s 2025 season to date are stellar. Garcia has a win, and two other top-four finishes in his last four starts. With ball-striking numbers trending in a positive direction, including a big week at Doral, Garcia is playing his best golf in years. Although Garcia missed the cut at the Masters five out of six years since winning the green jacket, he’s stayed competitive in other recent major championship golf with a T27 and T12 at the U.S. Open the last two summers.

Patrick Reed (+9000)

Consistency at Augusta is key for Reed’s chances. The 2018 winner finished T36 or better for the last seven years — including a T4 two years ago and a T12 in 2024. A wizard around the greens and with the putter at Augusta, Reed generally gains strokes in both categories during the Masters. After a positive putting performance at Doral leading up to this week, Reed should be feeling confident. When Reed finished near the top in 2023 it was in large part due to his best approach week at Augusta since his win in 2018. One of Augusta’s favorite villains over the years, it would be a lot of fun to have Reed in contention once again.