This article is part of our Yahoo PGA DFS Picks series.
The Masters
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta National Golf Club - Par 72 - 7,475 yards
Field - 92 entrants
Purse - $11.5M
The Preview
Despite all the doubt and uncertainty that has blanketed our year, a coveted green jacket will still be tailored for a 2020 Masters champion as the tradition unlike any other navigates its way from April to November on the PGA Tour's schedule. The stage for this extraordinary autumn spectacle remains the same as Augusta National Golf Club invites a captivated field of 92 entrants. Original expectations for a shift to November included fears of cooler weather accompanied by minimal sunlight, but a southeastern tropical storm is slated to bring warm-enough temperatures and a near certainty of rain as a wet Augusta National figures to play a bit longer. It'll be quite difficult to match the euphoria that surrounded Tiger's 2019 Masters victory, but there's definitely a massive sense of appreciation just to simply watch this year's edition.
Recent Champions
2019 - Tiger Woods
2018 - Patrick Reed
2017 - Sergio Garcia
2016 - Danny Willett
2015 - Jordan Spieth
2014 - Bubba Watson
2013 - Adam Scott
2012 - Bubba Watson
2011 - Charl Schwartzel
2010 - Phil Mickelson
Key Stats to Victory
SG: Approach
Proximity
Driving distance
SG: Putting
Yahoo Value Picks
Based on $200 salary cap
Cream of the Crop
Dustin Johnson - $45
In his first start since returning from a COVID-19 diagnosis, Johnson rebounded from a first-round 72 at the Vivint Houston Open by stringing together three 66s or better in Rounds 2-4 to ultimately tie for second. The world No. 1 averaged five birdies per round last week while leading the field in both SG: Off-the-Tee and GIR percentage, though he also gained nearly 3.5 strokes with the flat stick. Over his last 24 rounds, nobody in the Masters field is better than Johnson in the SG: Tee-to-Green and SG: Approach departments. Additionally, he's finished top-10 in four consecutive Augusta National appearances, including a T2 result in 2019.
Bryson DeChambeau - $44
DeChambeau's combination of brute force and putting prowess propelled him to his first major championship victory at the U.S. Open in September, allowing the SMU product to become the betting favorite this week as he attempts to overpower Augusta National in his fourth trip to the historic venue. Yet, there are still four others higher in salary as DeChambeau's lineup exposure figures to balloon with soft pricing elsewhere as well. Even with the potentially inflated rostership, it's difficult to fade someone who's gained 26 strokes from tee to green over their last two starts and ended the 2020 season 10th in SG: Putting. His distance off the tee is even more advantageous if Augusta plays longer due to rain and autumnal conditions.
Glue Guys
Matthew Wolff - $39
An Augusta National G.C. debutant hasn't won the Masters since Fuzzy Zoeller did it back in 1979, but Wolff won't have to deal with any intimidating galleries and he fared pretty well with runner-up honors in his maiden U.S. Open not long ago. Wolff might seem a little overvalued at $39 near names like Patrick Reed, Tony Finau and Patrick Reed, but he's still easy to fit into lineups and below-average play off the tee in back-to-back starts could further limit his exposure. Wolff placed just 50th in his most recent showing at the ZOZO Championship, but he managed to gain four strokes on his approaches. Having ranked ninth on Tour in driving distance last season, Wolff harnesses more than enough power to rack up par-breaker opportunities in Augusta.
Hideki Matsuyama - $36
Matsuyama posted back-to-back top-7s at the Masters in 2015 and 2016 as his ability with long irons is such a useful tool here. He's fourth in both SG: Tee-to-Green and SG: Around-the-Green over his last 24 rounds, providing a solid floor thanks to his short-game aptitude as long as the putter somewhat cooperates. Matsuyama has gained an average of 2.7 strokes on his approach shots throughout his last 20 tournaments.
Bargain Bin
Jason Day - $28
Day's discounted $28 salary is a reflection of his struggles from the Northern Trust through the ZOZO Championship, but things started to really click for the Aussie last week in Houston where he gained strokes across the board and tied for fifth in GIR percentage en route to a T7. Prior to his MC at the Northern Trust, Day was on fire with at least 6.2 strokes gained from tee to green in four consecutive starts. He owns four career top-10s at Augusta National and should be grouped in tiers higher than guys like Matthew Fitzpatrick ($28) or Kevin Kisner ($27).
Bubba Watson - $26
The two-time Masters champion is a legitimate candidate to once again rep the green jacket Sunday afternoon, this time heading to Augusta National on the heels of back-to-back top-10s at the ZOZO Championship and the CJ Cup. Watson has placed top-20 in four of five starts dating to the Northern Trust, and his length allows him to get creative off the tee. He's sixth in SG: Off-the-Tee and SG: Tee-to-Green over his last 36 measured rounds.
Cameron Smith - $20
Another Aussie resides in the Bargain Bin this week, and Smith is no stranger to success at the Masters despite making just three appearances here to this point. He tied for fifth in 2018 at Augusta when he carded the third-least amount of total bogeys out of anyone who made the cut. Smith has tallied three straight top-25s dating to the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, most recently tying for fourth at the ZOZO Championship. Over his last 12 rounds, Smith ranks 22nd in SG: Approach and ninth in SG: Putting.
