KSR Golf: The Masters

The best week in professional golf has arrived. The game’s best players will make the drive down Magnolia Lane to participate in the 87th edition of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club to begin major championship season this weekend.

Green jackets, pimento cheese sandwiches, peach ice cream sandwiches, Hogan Bridge, Amen Corner, the greenest grass in the world, piped-in bird noises, and the first tournament featuring LIV vs. PGA Tour active players. This tournament will have it all.

The fun begins on Wednesday with the Par 3 tournament before things officially kickoff on Thursday. Jim Nantz has made the quick flight over from Houston while Scott Van Pelt will be leading ESPN’s coverage. KSR Golf is here to help you find some winners.

Let’s get prepared for the most popular weekend in golf.

Broadcast schedule

To consume the event, viewers will need a combination of streaming services and traditional broadcast television. Or feel free to just download the Masters app to consume the coverage.

ESPN+ will get the show started on Wednesday with coverage switching to traditional television later in the day before Nantz and the crew at CBS take over on the weekend.

Wednesday
Masters On the Range: 9-11 a.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Masters Par 3 Contest: 12-5 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App); 12-3 p.m. ET (ESPN+), 3-5 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Thursday
Honorary Starters: 7:45-8 a.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Round One: 3-7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Featured Groups: 9:15 a.m.-7:30 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Featured Holes (4, 5, and 6): 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Featured Holes (Amen Corner, 11, 12 and 13): 10:45 a.m.-6 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Featured Holes (15 and 16): 11:45 a.m.-7 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)

Friday

Round One: 3-7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Featured Groups: 9:15 a.m.-7:30 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Featured Holes (4, 5, and 6): 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Featured Holes (Amen Corner, 11, 12 and 13): 10:45 a.m.-6 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Featured Holes (15 and 16): 11:45 a.m.-7 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)

Saturday

Round 3 CBS Telecast: 3-7 p.m. (CBS)
Featured Groups: 10:15 a.m.-7 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Featured Holes (4, 5 and 6): 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Featured Holes (Amen Corner, 11, 12 and 13): 11:45 a.m.-6 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Featured Holes (15 and 16): 12:30-6:30 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)

Sunday

Round 4 CBS Telecast: 2-7 p.m. (CBS)
Featured Groups: 10:15 a.m.-7 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Featured Holes (4, 5 and 6): 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Featured Holes (Amen Corner, 11, 12 and 13): 11:45 a.m.-6 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)
Featured Holes (15 and 16): 12:30-6:30 p.m. (Masters.com, Masters App)

Course layout

The Masters is played at Augusta National Golf Club on a 7,545-yard Par 72 course that will feature bentgrass greens and 88 players in the field. However, a rare change has been made the the course this year.

The par 5 at No. 13 has been lengthened to provide a bigger tee shot challenge for the players. Players will now have a tougher approach shot often which should force some longer irons to come into play at this pivotal hole. Augusta is looking to toughen what has been one of the easiest holes on the golf course.

The 7,545-yard length is the longest in this tournament’s history as the Masters attempts to evolve with the current players that are able to bomb off the tee. However, Augusta National still does not allow green books so players with experience playing this tournament and those who are good both on and around the green could find a distinct advantage this week.

Advanced stat of the week

Despite the layout adding distance continually since Tiger Woods obliterated Augusta National in 1997, the tournament has remained an event that rewards golfers for strong second shots. Due to a bunch of fast greens with heavy slopes and run offs, hitting your strike zone on second shots is critical.

Driving distance won’t matter much unless players are locked in with their short irons and wedges. I’ll be focused on the players who have excelled to this point in the year in strokes gained approach.

Collin Morikawa enters this weekend ranked No. 2 in strokes gained approach with four top-10 finishes in 10 events played this season. The 26-year-old ball-striking phenom owns two major championship titles (2020 PGA Championship and 2021 Open Championship) fitting the mold for Augusta. It’s only a matter of time before Morikawa claims a green jacket.

The No. 12 ranked player in the OWGR enters this week with 28/1 odds to win at Draft Kings. That is worth some consideration. Morikawa is our pick to bring home a third major championship this weekend.

Luckett’s Locks

Winning wagers are quite often a shot in the dark in professional golf. Let’s find some other picks that should have a much better shot to get to the window.

Tony Finau is slated to play in his his sixth consecutive Masters Tournament. The 33-year-old has a pattern. Finau has logged a top-10 finish every odd year and it’s time for another after logging a T-35 last season. The No. 13 ranked player is No. 3 in strokes gained approach and has claimed three top-10 finishes in 10 events this season. We’re locking in a top-10 finish (+180) for Finau.

Shane Lowry has five top-15 major championship finishes since 2019 including three consecutive top-25 finishes at Augusta National. The 2019 Open Championship winner ranks No. 24 in strokes gained approach and No. 26 in strokes gained off the tee. Let’s lock in a top-20 finish (+165).

Billy Horschel has made four consecutive cuts at Augusta but has never finished better than T-38. Ranking No. 81 in strokes gained approach, the 36-year-old is on the outside looking in of our key metric. A missed cut play (+115) appears to have some value.

Major championship season is here. Let’s have some fun.