Steve Palmer's Masters predictions & free golf betting tips

Steve Palmer's golf tips, best bets & player analysis for The Masters, which starts on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 2pm on Thursday

Best bets

Dustin Johnson
4pts each-way 18-1 Hills

Scottie Scheffler
4pts each-way 16-1 Hills

Thomas Pieters
1pt each-way 125-1 bet365

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Tiger Woods, as so often is the case in Masters week, has managed to steal the show again at Augusta National. The world has been on tenterhooks wondering whether the five-time champion will be making his comeback.

Woods insisted on Sunday it was a "game-time decision", updating on Tuesday to "as of right now, I'm going to play", so the betting public have been left on edge. Even if Woods tees up, though, the idea that the slow-moving 46-year-old can overcome a 17-month absence from competition to topple the elite seems fanciful to say the least.

Rory McIlroy will appreciate Woods hogging the spotlight as the Northern Irishman again bids to complete a career Grand Slam of Majors, but McIlroy got nothing out of the Texas Open last week, missing the cut after a ragged performance. Slam hopes may be dashed again.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Dustin Johnson 18-1

Horton Smith, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson are an illustrious sextet who claimed a second Masters title two years after winning their first Green Jacket - and Dustin Johnson could be set to continue the trend by enjoying Masters glory on Sunday.

It was not long ago that golf pundits spent much of their time discussing how long Johnson's dominance of the sport would last. Three victories in 2016, including the US Open, were followed by four in 2017, three in 2018, two in 2019, then four in 2020, culminating in a five-shot Masters triumph with a record-breaking 20-under-par total.

As Johnson enjoyed Christmas lunch in his Green Jacket, the media debated whether anyone in the game could get close to threatening DJ's world number one ranking, then he further cemented his status by winning the Saudi International in February last year.

For whatever reason - perhaps complacency, a lack of focus or drive, or equipment changes - Johnson dropped his standards for seven months. He relinquished top spot in the rankings after the US Open and it was not until the Ryder Cup at the end of September that the old master returned.

Johnson relished his role as the senior man on a young American side and became only the fifth player in history to win five matches in a Ryder Cup.

Slowly but surely, Johnson has worked his way back to something close to his best this year, and he looks set to build on an excellent Masters record by contending again. Although his victory came in the one-off November Masters, his April results from 2015 onwards are 6-4-10-2-MC. Defending champions often flop at Augusta - much better can be expected this time.

Ninth place from the wrong side of a significant draw bias at Sawgrass a month ago was a magnificent Players Championship effort and fourth place in the WGC-Match Play last time out was another hugely positive sign for DJ fans. Johnson is cheerful and soon-to-be-married - and he could complete his nuptials as a three-time Major champion.

Next best bet

Scottie Scheffler 16-1

Two laid-back giants could be slugging it out for the Masters title on Sunday evening - world number one Scottie Scheffler, with dual Masters-winning caddie Ted Scott alongside him, can provide the main challenge for Johnson.

Scheffler has demonstrated the temperament of a champion this year and will surely become a Major winner at some stage. Comments from the man himself since his latest victory are greatly encouraging for his Masters backers. He has explained how world number one status has not changed his life at all - and that it would also be the case should he acquire a Green Jacket. This is a happy, contented soul, whose only aim was to be a Tour golfer, and there is a nonchalance about the way he is going about his professional business.

Scheffler fully expected to become a PGA Tour champion, so was surprisingly cool soon after defeating Patrick Cantlay in a Phoenix Open playoff in the middle of February. Seventh place at Riviera the following week was a solid effort, then he had too much mental fortitude for the likes of Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Sam Burns, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm as he won a high-class Arnold Palmer Invitational at a brutal Bay Hill.

There was certainly no disgrace in a share of 55th place from the wrong side of the draw at Sawgrass, then Scheffler again exhibited his steel, calmness and courage by winning the WGC-Match Play last time out. Having had a week off prior to the Match Play - and a week off after - there is no obvious reason why the world's most in-form player should not be a leading light at Augusta.

This is Scheffler's third Masters start (19-18) and the fearless 25-year-old should perform with freedom throughout. Whatever happens from here, 2022 is already ticked off as a joyous one. He has no statistical weakness and his form from his last six Majors (4-19-18-8-7-8) shows how comfortable he has become in the biggest arenas. He was unbeaten on his Ryder Cup debut in September, crushing Rahm in the singles.

Other selection

Thomas Pieters 125-1

The pick of the Masters outsiders is an enormous talent who may be about to realise his true potential. When Thomas Pieters starred in the 2016 Ryder Cup after winning three European Tour titles, it seemed almost inevitable the sweet-swinging giant would go on to become one of the elite.

The Belgian turned 30 in January having doubled his victory total to six on his home circuit, but Stateside success has been elusive. Maybe Augusta, where he finished fourth on his debut in 2017, is where Pieters will prove what his peers know - that he is capable of winning anything.

Pieters started this year with success in a DP World Tour Rolex Series event - the Abu Dhabi Championship. There was no shame in a missed cut from the wrong side of the draw at Sawgrass, and he was unfortunate not to progress from his WGC-Match Play group last time out. He was a total of 15 under par for his three matches, but Min Woo Lee and Billy Horschel also excelled to take points off the Antwerp man.

Augusta is longer this year, the greens are larger and flatter, and Johnson, Scheffler and Pieters are a trio of aggressive powerhouses who can make merry.

Click here to visit Pickswise and read Steve Palmer's player-by-player guide to the Augusta National field

Augusta National course guide

Course Augusta National, Augusta, Georgia
Prize money $11.5m ($2.070m to the winner)
Length 7,510 yards
Par 72 - four par-fives; ten par-fours; four par-threes
Field 91
The cut The top 50 players (plus ties) qualify for the final 36 holes

Highest-ranked players taking part (world ranking in brackets) Scottie Scheffler (1), Jon Rahm (2), Collin Morikawa (3), Viktor Hovland (4), Patrick Cantlay (5)

Course records - 72 holes 268 Dustin Johnson (2020) 18 holes 63 Nick Price (1986), Greg Norman (1996)

Course winners taking part Bernhard Langer (twice), Larry Mize, Sandy Lyle, Fred Couples, Jose Maria Olazabal (twice), Tiger Woods (five times), Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Zach Johnson, Charl Schwartzel, Bubba Watson (twice), Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth, Danny Willett, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama

When to bet By 1pm on Thursday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 2pm on Thursday

Time difference Georgia is five hours behind the UK and Ireland

Last week - Texas Open 1 JJ Spaun (175-1), T2 M Jones (125-1), M Kuchar (90-1), T4 A Hadwin (40-1), T Merritt (125-1), C Howell (110-1), B Hossler (140-1)

Course type Parkland

Course overview Home of the Masters since 1934, Augusta is the only Major venue which is used every season, typically in the spring. The yardage increased in the early noughties in an attempt to combat technological advances. In 2001, the course measured 6,925 yards from the championship tees, but that had been extended to 7,270 yards by 2002, reaching 7,445 yards by 2006. In 2020, the Masters was staged in November for the first time, delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. Generous fairways and token rough (known only as the 'second cut' by Augusta officials) encourage aggressive driving, but the course demands accurate iron-shots to the fastest greens in golf. Avoiding three-putts on the dancefloors is hugely challenging given the pace and severity of the undulations. Sound course management is required to find the easiest spots from which to putt. The two short par-fives on the back-nine, the 13th and 15th, are classic risk-reward holes where the Masters is often won or lost. Eagles are achievable, but greenside water-hazards are lurking to punish mishit approaches. The par-four 11th and the par-five 15th have been lengthened since last year. All the greens have been slightly flattened, softened and made larger.

Story of last year Returning to an April slot in the calendar, the Masters played firm and fast, Justin Rose leading for two rounds before Hideki Matsuyama raced four shots clear on the Saturday, eventually falling over the line by a one-shot margin over Will Zalatoris, becoming Japan's first Major champion.

Weather forecast Sunny and pleasant on day one (highs of 23C), before cooling Friday and Saturday (highs of 17C). Sunshine and highs of 19C on Sunday. No rain expected all week and hardly any significant wind, with peaks of 11 mph on Thursday and Friday.

Type of player suited to the challenge Length off the tee is traditionally a significant advantage, with long, rolling terrain and relatively wide fairways flanked by thin trees. Only two of the last 21 Masters have been won by a short hitter (Mike Weir in 2003 and Zach Johnson in 2007). Powerhouses are able to attack the small targets with loft in hand. Accurate approaches are the key to success. Windless skies and softened greens should encourage aggressive golfers.

Key attribute Accuracy

Spotlight insight The last 12 Masters winners were inside the top 30 of the world rankings at the time of their victory

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