The Masters 2026: 3 Favorites to Avoid at Augusta National

The competitive 2026 edition of The Masters is just days away, with the world’s best set to begin their fight for the Green Jacket at Augusta National on Thursday.

One of the most competitive editions of the event in recent memory is set, with no shortage of players holding leading claims to win The Masters. But, who are 3 favorites that bettors should avoid betting at the opening major of the season in Georgia?

The Masters: Favorites to Avoid

Rory McIlroy

Latest Odds to Win The Masters: +1400

Only three previous players have successfully retained the Green Jacket at Augusta, making it extremely challenging to make a case for Rory McIlroy to go back-to-back in 2026.

McIlroy finally achieved the Career Grand Slam in 2025, but the added engagements of a defending champion typically take their toll. Furthermore, the 36-year-old doesn’t come into this weekend in the same level of form, having faded to T46 at The Players and withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

All the trends go against the reigning champion this weekend, and a bid to retain his Masters title is unlikely. Therefore, he is easily opposable at +1400 in this year’s event.

ALSO SEE: The Masters 2026: 5 Outsiders to Consider

Scottie Scheffler

Latest Odds to Win The Masters: +600

A hot take ahead of this weekend could be how cold I am about Scottie Scheffler’s chances of winning a third Masters title. The world number one has an excellent record at Augusta, but his form over the last few weeks makes him a very weak favorite.

Scheffler recently welcomed a new child, meaning that his priorities have been rightly divided away from the course, and that has been telling in his performances on the PGA Tour. Scheffler has failed to finish in the top ten in his last three starts, including a weak finish when only -5 at The Players when fading to T22.

If anyone can bounce back, then it is Scheffler, but the recent form is such an important trend when considering players at The Masters, making it easy to overlook the current favorite.

Jon Rahm

Latest Odds to Win The Masters: +1100

Jon Rahm has readily been tipped up by many experts ahead of The Masters this year, but players from LIV have typically underperformed when thrown back into four-day competition in the majors.

Rahm’s record at Augusta is excellent, making the cut in all nine appearances, and winning at the course in 2023. However, he doesn’t bring recent winning form to the table this weekend, losing in a playoff in South Africa, and finishing fifth in Singapore.

His game is perfectly suited to the course, but his odds are slightly too short to consider, but he is likely to make the cut and be a major player in terms of a top ten finish.