Model That Hit 16 Majors Reveals 2026 Masters Surprises
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- SportsLine's model simulated the 2026 Masters 10,000 times and has correctly called 16 majors entering the weekend, including the 2025 Masters — its fourth consecutive.
- Scottie Scheffler enters as the +550 favorite, a two-time Masters champion and world No. 1 with 20 career PGA Tour victories and three top-4 finishes in six 2026 starts.
- The model delivers a contrarian fade of Ludvig Aberg (+1700), projecting him well outside the top 5 despite a solo-second and solo-seventh in two prior Augusta appearances; a tough tee-time draw is cited as a factor.
- Tommy Fleetwood (+2200) is flagged as a value longshot, with the model backing a title run based on five top-25 finishes in his last eight Masters starts and four top-10s already in 2026.
- Two additional longshots at +4000 or higher, including one around +8000, are also being targeted by the model for potentially massive payouts.
- First-round play begins Thursday, April 9 at 7:40 a.m. ET at Augusta National, with Scheffler teeing off in the afternoon at 1:44 p.m. ET.
Why it matters: With a track record of 16 correct major calls including four straight Masters, the model's contrarian fade of a top-5 finisher like Aberg and endorsement of mid-tier longshots gives bettors an actionable contrarian blueprint — if any of its projected longshots (+2200 Fleetwood, +8000 mystery pick) hit, the payout multiples far exceed backing Scheffler at +550.
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