2025 Masters 3-Ball Picks and Predictions: Bet on MacIntyre, Johnson in Round 1
2025 Masters 3-Ball Picks and Predictions: Bet on MacIntyre, Johnson in Round 1
The Masters is the most unique major in that it returns to the same course every year, and therefore lends itself to a number of course veterans. It also presents an opportunity to take on amateurs, over-the-hill seniors, and out-of-form players, who may have qualified a number of months ago. With this in mind, 3-ball betting in rounds 1 and 2 always proves incredibly popular at The Masters, and there are a number of angles and opportunities to take advantage of.
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2025 MASTERS DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: Thursday, April 10 - Sunday, April 13, 2025
- Time: 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM ET
- How to Watch: Masters.com, Masters app, Paramount+, CBS
Click here for complete 2025 Masters Odds
2025 Masters 3-Ball Picks
I have taken the chance to back an Augusta veteran, a standout Masters player who continues to improve on the PGA Tour, while also taking on some heavily out-of-form players. Here are my four 3-ball selections for Round 1 of the 2025 Masters.
- Robert MacIntyre to beat Billy Horschel and Nick Dunlap
- Dustin Johnson to beat Nick Taylor and Justin Hastings
- Patrick Cantlay to beat Matt Fitzpatrick and Rasmus Hojgaard
Robert MacIntyre (+110) to beat Billy Horschel (+190) and Nick Dunlap (+280)
Nick Dunlap is out of sorts, and Billy Horschel has played 32 rounds at Augusta without breaking 70. With this in mind, I think Robert MacIntyre, who now arrives at Augusta as a two-time PGA Tour winner, can continue his good Masters form.
In two Masters starts, MacIntyre has finished 12th and 23rd, and there is no doubt that he is a better player now than he was three years ago in his last appearance. Now someone who looks capable of winning a major, MacIntyre can improve on his record again.
MacIntyre signed off with a final round 69 on Sunday back in 2022, and given it took just eight rounds for him to break 70, he is certainly favored here.
Horschel has been solid without setting the world alight here, and there's nothing in his game to suggest he's suddenly going to break 70 at the 33rd time of asking.
I believe MacIntyre can break 70 on day 1 and put himself in the mix to have a really good week, and a sub-70 good enough to win this 3-ball.
Dustin Johnson (+120) to beat Nick Taylor (+140) and Justin Hastings (+350)
Dustin Johnson has a history of leading here after the first round, going wire-to-wire in 2020, and while I think a win might be beyond him this week, I do think he's more than capable of a fast start. Four times in his Masters career, Johnson has opened with a sub-70 round at Augusta, and given he has sat 1st, 2nd, and 4th after round 1 in three recent LIV events, he is clearly in the mood and, more importantly, the form to start fast.
Nick Taylor should be respected, but he is ultimately out of form. While on debut, he was solid; 12 months ago, he started his week 77-81 to miss the cut and ensure a short weekend. Taylor did break 70 in round 3 back in 2020, but that was on a particularly low-scoring day in general. He shot level-par in the other three rounds, but given the winning score was -20 that week, I am not sure Taylor is up to the task of starting fast again in tougher conditions, especially when out of form.
Justin Hastings is an amateur, and that in itself is enough to oppose him, even if the odd one does go on to have a good week here.
Patrick Cantlay (+120) to beat Matt Fitzpatrick (+200) and Rasmus Hojgaard (+250)
Matt Fitzpatrick is woefully out of form, failing to post a single top 10 since a 5th place finish at The Memorial last June. He was 10th in the world 12 months ago, and is now 70th, to highlight the regression in his game.
Rasmus Hojgaard started the season well, but his iron play has deserted him in recent weeks, and that has led to three missed cuts in his last five starts. Add that to the fact that he's making his Masters debut, and I think he can be taken on.
That leaves Patrick Cantlay, who, without his very best stuff, is still plodding along in 2025, and has already posted two top 5 finishes. The fact that we are not shouting about that this week shows how highly he is rated, as that is just expected rather than applauded.
His Masters form is typically solid, and he has broken par in five of his eight opening rounds here at Augusta. Making that six in nine should be good enough to beat both Fitzpatrick and Hojgaard this week, even if both offer high upside at their best.
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Article Author
Tom Jacobs is the host of the Lost Fore Words golf podcast and has been writing betting articles on golf for the past decade. Tom also co-hosts the DP World Tour Picks & Bets show on the Mayo Media Network, so has his finger on the pulse on all the major Tours. A long-suffering Nottingham Forest fan, Tom also enjoys watching Soccer at the weekend, and was delighted to see his Forest team win promotion this season!