Masters Sleeper Picks and Predictions: Slap a Bet on Jake Knapp

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The 2026 Masters is here to open the major championship season, and all eyes will be on Augusta National this week.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the betting favorite in the Masters odds, with Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Rory McIlroy right behind him to form a star-studded tier at the top.

Still, there are plenty of players in excellent form carrying long odds to target when filling out your betting card with Masters picks this week.

Additionally, because the Masters hasn’t seen a true longshot win in several years, I’ve complemented each of my outright bets on the following sleepers with a secondary Top 20 bet at plus-money odds.

Masters sleeper picks

Picks were made on 4-7 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

Masters sleeper predictions

Sleeper pick to win: Chris Gotterup
+6000 at bet365

Beginning with the elephant in the room, Chris Gotterup is playing the Masters for the first time, and a debutant hasn’t won at Augusta National since 1979.

With that in mind, it’s also the reason we’re landing such a long number on the trending four-time PGA Tour winner.

After all, Gotterup has won three of his past 16 events while gaining true strokes across the board, including ranking eighth in this field in true strokes gained off-the-tee and 16th in tee-to-green play.

It’s also translated to ranking eighth in adjusted scoring average and 23rd in birdie-or-better percentage on Tour this year.

Sleeper pick to win: Jake Knapp
+7000 at bet365

The uber-talented Jake Knapp has five Top 10 finishes in seven events in 2026 and will be playing Augusta National for the second time after a ho-hum T55 debut in 2024.

His work on the greens has improved tremendously since his first Masters, as he’s second in this field in true strokes gained putting in 2026, which makes him a dangerous player given his distance off the tee.

Of course, Knapp is also pacing the PGA Tour in adjusted scoring average and Par-5 scoring average while ranking second in bogey avoidance this season.

Sleeper pick to win: Nicolai Hojgaard
+8500 at bet365

There are no current holes in Nicolai Hojgaard’s game, and he’ll be visiting Augusta National for the third time. He flashed on the leaderboard following an opening-round 67 in his 2024 debut, too.

Hojgaard enters this year’s event at the peak of his powers and with three Top 5s across his past eight events while gaining true strokes across the board.

I particularly value him ranking 20th in this field in true strokes gained tee-to-green and 14th in putting during the eight-event stretch, while also ranking fourth in adjusted scoring average on the PGA Tour.

Sleeper pick to win: Maverick McNealy
+9000 at bet365

Simply put, this is too long a number, and while obviously a lot will need to go right for Maverick McNealy to don the green jacket, I still value his well-rounded game. 

He finished T32 in his debut last year despite ranking fifth last in true strokes gained putting, so right out of the gate, I’m anticipating improved work on the greens, considering he ranks 11th in this field in the metric across his past three events.

McNealy has also gained true strokes across the board in 2026, in addition to ranking seventh in Par-5 scoring average and 23rd in birdie-or-better percentage on the PGA Tour, so he’s one of the most mispriced players on the board.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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