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The first major of 2025 will be decided when the world’s top players head to Augusta National Golf Club for the 2025 Masters Tournament. Golf’s grandest stage, which gets underway on Thursday, April 10, will feature a star-studded 2025 Masters field packed with household names like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Jordan Spieth chasing a coveted green jacket. Scheffler can become the first golfer to win the green jacket in consecutive years for the first time since Tiger Woods in 2001-02. Scheffler also won the Masters in 2022, one of his 13 PGA Tour victories, and bested the field last year as a +325 favorite by four strokes.

Scheffler, the No. 1-ranked player in the world, is +470 to repeat according to the latest 2025 Masters odds at FanDuel, up from +450 in recent days. He’s followed by McIlroy (8-1), Genesis Invitational winner Ludvig Aberg (12-1), Rahm (13-1), Xander Schauffele (13-1), Collin Morikawa (17-1), DeChambeau (22-1), Hideki Matsuyama (23-1), Justin Thomas (30-1), Brooks Koepka (31-1), Jordan Spieth (+3200), Patrick Cantlay (+3200), Tyrell Hatton (+3300), Joaquin Niemann (+3300), Shane Lowry (+3800), Tommy Fleetwood (+3900), and Will Zalatoris (+4900) on the PGA odds board. Morikawa’s 2025 Masters odds to win have been steadily improving. Woods, a five-time Masters champion, likely won’t play due to a ruptured Achilles. Before locking in any 2025 Masters picks of your own, be sure to see the early golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, has been red-hot since the PGA Tour resumed in June 2020. In fact, the model is up nearly $9,500 on its best bets since the restart, nailing tournament after tournament.

This same model has also nailed a whopping 13 majors entering the weekend, including the 2024 Masters (its third Masters in a row) and last year’s PGA Championship and U.S. Open. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting apps like FanDuel, DraftKings and Fanatics.

Now that the 2025 Masters field is taking shape, SportsLine simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard.

2025 Masters predictions
One major surprise the model is calling for at the Masters 2025: Rory McIlroy, a 27-time PGA Tour champion and one of the top favorites, fails to finish on top of the leaderboard and doesn’t even crack the top five. McIlroy can become just the sixth golfer to complete the career grand slam with a victory at Augusta National.

However, the 35-year-old has been unable to get the job done at the Masters finishing T22 or worse in three of his past four starts at Augusta, which includes missing the cut twice during that span. McIlroy has failed to break 70 in 11 of his past 12 rounds at Augusta, which doesn’t bode well for his chances to finish on top of the leaderboard at the first major of the year. The model has found better values among the top 2025 Masters contenders. See who else to fade here.

Another surprise: Justin Thomas, a 30-1 longshot, makes a strong run at the title. He has a much better chance to win it all than his odds imply, so he’s a target for anyone looking for a huge payday.

Thomas is a two-time major champion and has recorded 15 career victories on the PGA Tour. He’s a seasoned veteran who has all the tools needed to be in the mix at Augusta National. Thomas has finished T-12 or better in three of his past six starts at the Masters and has been playing well early in the 2025 PGA Tour season. He secured a runner-up finish at The American Express in January and a T6 finish at the WM Phoenix Open in February. He was 17th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Thomas also ranks among the best putters on the PGA Tour, making him a strong value pick for your 2025 Masters bets. See who else to pick here.

How to make 2025 Masters picks
The model is also targeting three other golfers with odds of 30-1 or longer who will make a strong run at the title. Anyone who backs these longshots could hit it big. You can only see the model’s picks here.

Who will win the 2025 Masters Tournament, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Check out the 2025 Masters odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected leaderboard, all from the model that’s nailed 13 golf majors, including the last three Masters and three majors in 2024.

2025 Masters odds, favorites
Get full 2025 Masters picks, best bets and predictions here.

Scottie Scheffler +470
Rory McIlroy +800
Ludvig Aberg +1200
Jon Rahm +1300
Xander Schauffele +1300
Collin Morikawa +1700
Bryson DeChambeau +2200
Hideki Matsuyama +2300
Justin Thomas +3000
Tyrrell Hatton +3100
Brooks Koepka +3100
Patrick Cantlay +3200
Cameron Smith +3600
Shane Lowry +3600
Will Zalatoris +3800
Jordan Spieth +3800
Viktor Hovland +4400
Tommy Fleetwood +4800
Joaquin Niemann +5000
Dustin Johnson +5500
Matt Fitzpatrick +5500
Russell Henley +6000
Cameron Young +6000
Tony Finau +6500
Sahith Theegala +7000
Tom Kim +7000
Wyndham Clark +7500
Sungjae Im +7500
Corey Conners +7500
Max Homa +7500
Sam Burns +7500
Jason Day +7500
Robert MacIntyre +7500
Rickie Fowler +9000
Patrick Reed +9000
Min Woo Lee +10000
Max Greyserman +10000
Akshay Bhatia +11000
Sepp Straka +12000
Nicolai Hojgaard +12000
Justin Rose +12000
Davis Thompson +12000
Maverick McNealy +12000
Rasmus Hojgaard +12000
Adam Scott +13000
Si Woo Kim +13000
Brian Harman +13000
Billy Horschel +15000
Thomas Detry +15000
Nick Dunlap +16000
Thriston Lawrence +16000
Keegan Bradley +18000
Byeong Hun An +18000
Taylor Pendrith +18000
Cameron Davis +19000
Harris English +21000
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +21000
Thorbjorn Olesen +22000
Ryan Fox +22000
Kurt Kitayama +22000
Sergio Garcia +22000
Erik van Rooyen +28000
Nick Taylor +28000
J.T. Poston +28000
Eric Cole +28000
Austin Eckroat +28000
Phil Mickelson +28000
Chris Kirk +28000
Alex Noren +28000
Lucas Glover +28000
Adrian Meronk +28000
Seamus Power +28000
Denny McCarthy +28000
Matthieu Pavon +28000
Jhonattan Vegas +28000
Nico Echavarria +28000

There was nothing ho-hum about Jordan Spieth’s opening round of 2-under 70 at the 2025 Players Championship. Well, except if you put it into the context of Spieth’s entire career. The three-time major champion hit for the cycle Thursday at TPC Sawgrass, and in the process, shot his way into contention in the PGA Tour’s flagship event.

Spieth started his tournament in ideal fashion by kicking in a birdie on his first hole, the par-4 10th, before flashing brilliance from the greenside bunker on the par-5 11th by holing out for eagle. In a blink of an eye, Spieth was 3 under through two holes, and his name stood atop the leaderboard.

However, one must remember that Spieth is Spieth. The good does not come without some bad, and vice versa. Nothing is ever as it seems. It can never be that easy.

Following a pair of pars, Spieth lost his tee shot left into the water on the difficult par-4 14th. As the ball barely crossed any land, Spieth had to play his third from just in front of the tee box; he ultimately landed a double bogey. A bogey followed on the next with all of Spieth’s early magic vanishing.

However, his opening act was not finished. Greenside in two on the par-5 16th, Spieth summoned another trick by flipping his third onto the green and watching as it tumbled towards the hole before disappearing. Back to red figures he went pulling another eagle out of his hat.

Make that TWO eagle hole-outs for @JordanSpieth! ✌️

📺 @PGATOURLIVE pic.twitter.com/MhtOLJdb9h

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 13, 2025
A 3-putt bogey on the island green was offset by a conventional birdie on the par-4 18th.

In total, Spieth’s opening nine featured two eagles, two birdies, two pars, two bogeys and a double bogey. All that added up to a 2-under 34.

screenshot-2025-03-13-at-2-19-11-pm.png
His second-nine 36 may have appeared more mundane on paper, but that would be far from the truth. Exchanging a birdie on the par-5 2nd — he played the par 5s in 5 under on the round — with a bogey on the par-4 7th, Spieth’s inward half saw him put seven pars on the scorecard. They were all hard-earned.

He hit only one fairway on his second nine, the par-5 9th, and two greens in regulation. Leaning on his short game, which has held him back at times during his comeback from injury, Spieth looked like his old self. He was hitting tee shots into the trees and pine straws, getting up-and-down from greenside bunkers and jail alike.

The 31-year-old showed off his entire bag of tricks at TPC Sawgrass.

A rousing applause and place inside the top 10 as he entered the clubhouse were Spieth’s reward. The golden child put his best and most Spieth-ian foot forward Thursday towards raising the golden boy on Sunday.

The stars are out bright and early Thursday morning for the first round of the 2025 Players Championship. Featuring a full field of 144 players, the PGA Tour’s flagship event has many of those big names playing alongside one another across the first two days at TPC Sawgrass. Follow Players Championship live leaderboard coverage during Round 1.

Starting on No. 10, Arnold Palmer Invitational winner Russell Henley will begin his quest to win back-to-back tournaments alongside Shane Lowry and Viktor Hovland. This trio follows the group of Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama and Ludvig Aberg and precedes the tee time of Jordan Spieth, Wyndham Clark and Jason Day.

As the day progresses and more players take to the golf course, the marquee group of Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler (seeking a three-peat at TPC Sawgrass) will headline the afternoon wave. The top three players in the world — owners of three out of the last five Players Championships — begin their tournaments at 1:29 p.m. ET on No. 1.

Other notable groups include Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott and Tommy Fleetwood immediately behind that star-studded trio as well as Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler and Patrick Cantlay shortly afterward.

Check out a full slate of Players Championship picks and predictions along with Patrick McDonald’s list of the nine golfers who can actually win at TPC Sawgrass. Take a look at the complete list of tee times for Round 1 at TPC Sawgrass below along with a comprehensive Players Championship TV schedule and coverage guide.

2025 Players Championship: Rounds 1 tee times, pairings
All times Eastern

No. 1

7:40 a.m. — Chad Ramey, C.T. Pan, Vince Whaley
7:51 a.m. — Joel Dahmen, Patrick Rodgers, Chan Kim
8:02 a.m. — Beau Hossler, Mark Hubbard, Ben Silverman
8:13 a.m. — Rafael Campos, Davis Riley, Gary Woodland
8:24 a.m. — Joe Highsmith, Matt McCarty, Brian Campbell
8:35 a.m. — Patton Kizzire, Lucas Glover, Corey Conners
8:46 a.m. — Sahith Theegala, Matt Fitzpatrick, Will Zalatoris
8:57 a.m. — Davis Thompson, Stephan Jaeger, Tom Hoge
9:08 a.m. — Aaron Rai, Cam Davis, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
9:19 a.m. — Robert MacIntyre, Max Homa, Sungjae Im
9:30 a.m. — Nate Lashley, Will Gordon, Rico Hoey
9:41 a.m. — Alejandro Tosti, Isaiah Salinda, Aldrich Potgieter
12:45 p.m. — Doug Ghim, Ryan Fox, Sami Valimaki
12:56 p.m. — Andrew Putnam, Charley Hoffman, Denny McCarthy
1:07 p.m. — Daniel Berger, Min Woo Lee, Rasmus Højgaard
1:18 p.m. — Harris English, Billy Horschel, Justin Rose
1:29 p.m. — Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele
1:40 p.m. — Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott, Tommy Fleetwood
1:51 p.m. — Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Cantlay
2:02 p.m. — Nick Dunlap, Akshay Bhatia, Tom Kim
2:13 p.m. — Harry Hall, Chris Gotterup, Si Woo Kim
2:24 p.m. — Jhonattan Vegas, Matt Kuchar, Adam Hadwin
2:35 p.m. — Sam Ryder, Greyson Sigg, Mac Meissner
2:46 p.m. — Max McGreevy, Frankie Capan III, Ryan Gerard
No. 10

7:40 a.m. — Lanto Griffin, Andrew Novak, David Lipsky
7:51 a.m. — Keith Mitchell, Justin Lower, Nicolai Højgaard
8:02 a.m. — Michael Kim, Alex Smalley, Sam Stevens
8:13 a.m. — Maverick McNealy, Brian Harman, Tony Finau
8:24 a.m. — Ludvig Aberg, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Thomas
8:35 a.m. — Russell Henley, Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland
8:46 a.m. — Wyndham Clark, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth
8:57 a.m. — Thomas Detry, Sepp Straka, Nick Taylor
9:08 a.m. — J.T. Poston, Seamus Power, Mackenzie Hughes
9:19 a.m. — Chris Kirk, Luke List, Adam Svensson
9:30 a.m. — Bud Cauley, Matti Schmid, David Skinns
9:41 a.m. — Hayden Springer, Jesper Svensson, Will Chandler
12:45 p.m. — Henrik Norlander, Victor Perez, Ben Kohles
12:56 p.m. — Eric Cole, Ben Griffin, Max Greyserman
1:07 p.m. — J.J. Spaun, Chandler Phillips, Jacob Bridgeman
1:18 p.m. — Emiliano Grillo, Byeong Hun An, Adam Schenk
1:29 p.m. — Taylor Pendrith, Kurt Kitayama, Peter Malnati
1:40 p.m. — Brice Garnett, Matthieu Pavon, Camilo Villegas
1:51 p.m. — Austin Eckroat, Jake Knapp, Taylor Moore
2:02 p.m. — Nico Echavarria, Kevin Yu, Erik van Rooyen
2:13 p.m. — Karl Vilips, Sam Burns, Cameron Young
2:24 p.m. — K.H. Lee, Patrick Fishburn, Carson Young
2:35 p.m. — Trey Mullinax, Ryo Hisatsune, Laurie Canter
2:46 p.m. — Kris Ventura, Kevin Roy, Jackson Suber

“Known for never shying away from sharing his thoughts, Snoop (Dogg) weighed in on Bronny James’ big-time performance during his road debut in the G-League on Thursday night with the South Bay Lakers,” Sullivan said.

“Many considered it a “breakout” performance, as it was easily his most impressive outing so far for the Lakers or during his time at USC. However, Snoop Dogg had a different take on the matter and didn’t seem as supportive as he usually is when it comes to his Lakers.”

“No such thing as a breakout in G-League.” Snoop Dogg said.

“Bronny James was selected as the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after a challenging season with the USC Trojans. He suffered a cardiac arrest during the preseason of his freshman year, which caused him to miss a significant portion of the first half of the season.”

“Despite many believing he should return to college for another year, James opted to declare for the draft. In doing so, he made history alongside his father, LeBron James, becoming the first father-son duo to ever play together on an NBA court.”

“However, despite the historic milestone, Bronny hasn’t seen much playing time with the Lakers since the opening games of the season.”

“The G-League, however, has become a prime opportunity for him to grow, showcase his skills, and prove what he’s capable of. Thursday night’s performance was a perfect example of what he can do when he has the ball in his hands and the chance to take 15-20+ shots. “

“Yet, despite the promising display, Snoop Dogg remains unsatisfied with the young Bronny James following his G-League outing.”

Do you agree with Snoop’s take on Bronny’s G League explosion?

That being said, LA might want to seriously consider adding a former Defensive Player of the Year currently playing well for the Memphis Grizzlies, as communicated by Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar on Saturday.

“Marcus Smart is an intriguing (trade target) for the Clippers, offering a blend of defensive toughness, leadership, and complementary playmaking,” Bitar said.

“Smart is averaging 9.3 points and 4.0 assists per game this season, proving he can still impact both ends of the floor at a high level. Smart’s willingness to take on the toughest defensive assignments would make him a valuable addition alongside Harden and Leonard.”

“For the Memphis Grizzlies, moving Smart for Terance Mann, Bones Hyland, and a first-round pick could be appealing if they decide to retool their roster. Hyland and Mann both have upside as young players, and the first-round pick provides additional draft capital for Memphis to build around.”

“While Smart has been a key figure for the Grizzlies, their crowded backcourt could make him expendable if the right offer comes along. For the Clippers, adding Smart would improve their two-way play and inject a championship mentality into their roster. As a more attainable target, Smart represents a practical option for the Clippers to enhance their roster without sacrificing their core pieces.”

Does this trade proposal benefit both sides?

Could Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat be that guy for San Antonio? Hoops Habit’s Zach Ciavolella outlined what a deal would look like.

“Year two of Victor Wembanyama’s career is off to a roaring start as he is already the unquestioned Defensive Player of the Year, and yet, the Spurs are a middling team, sitting in the playoff hunt rather than at the table,” Ciavolella said.

“Making a move, consolidating some young, but aging talent, could make sense for San Antonio and questions about matching timelines could be answered in part by pointing out that the team added Chris Paul this offseason. But is doubling down on aging vets really the best path forward for the Wembanyama-led squad?”

“The offer (for Butler): Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, Blake Wesley, Chicago’s top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick.”

“Keldon Johnson’s inclusion seemed like a foregone conclusion. If there’s an odd man out in San Antone, it’s likely Johnson. Where the deal begins to lose its legs is in the inclusion of Harrison Barnes.”

“Barnes has been a reliable three-point threat through the early going of the season. While his salary is borderline necessary to help a deal go through, the Spurs would be better off pursuing a star, potentially a young one at that, whose cap hit isn’t quite so high.”

“For the Heat, the pieces are fine, and they fit well enough, but it’s a far from inspiring deal. The highlight is Chicago’s 2025 first-round pick, which is top-10 protected in 2025, top-9 protected in 26 and 27, and drops off altogether in 2028. Again, the pieces are fine but far from inspiring, and with Chicago signaling an upcoming tank, it could be a while, if ever, until Miami collects on that pick.”

The problem with Bitar’s proposal is that Powell is the best player in the trade, and he’s being packaged with a first-round pick in exchange for a lesser asset: Julius Randle.

“Randle … is a versatile power forward who could provide the Clippers with scoring, rebounding, and secondary playmaking,” Bitar said.

“For the Timberwolves, moving Randle for Norman Powell, Nicolas Batum, and a 2031 first-round pick aligns with their long-term strategy. Since trading Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota has pivoted towards a more defensive and youth-oriented approach.”

“Acquiring Powell would give them a proven scorer, while the first-round pick adds value to their draft capital, allowing them to focus on building for the future. Batum’s expiring contract could also create additional financial flexibility.”

“Randle’s presence would give the Clippers a more balanced offensive attack and help alleviate the scoring load on Leonard and Harden. This trade is a realistic scenario that strengthens both teams in the short and long term, making it a win-win for both franchises.”

On the contrary, this would be a very bad trade for the Clippers!

“The Warriors, currently holding a 14-10 record and sitting fourth in the Western Conference standings, are aiming to strengthen their defensive prowess and add shooting depth,” Kumar said.

“They already boast the fourth-best defensive rating in the league, a testament to their commitment on that end of the floor. By targeting players known for their defensive capabilities and versatility, Golden State is looking to build on this foundation.”

“Donte DiVincenzo has struggled to find his rhythm with the Minnesota Timberwolves since being included in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. He is averaging just 8.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, shooting a disappointing 35.0% from the field and 32.3% from beyond the arc. A move back to Golden State, where he previously thrived, could rejuvenate his career. DiVincenzo still has three years left on his $46.8 million contract, making him a feasible long-term addition for the Warriors.”

Would DiVincenzo make a significant impact on the current Warriors?

Bitar believes the Clippers could pry LaMelo Ball away from Charlotte by offering a package of Powell, Bones Hyland, Terance Mann, Kevin Porter Jr., and a 2031 first-rounder.

“Clippers acquiring LaMelo Ball would be a blockbuster move that instantly elevates their championship hopes,” Bitar said.

“Ball is currently having the best season of his career.”

“His ability to score, facilitate, and operate as a dynamic playmaker would make him the perfect fit alongside James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. Ball’s youth and versatility would also provide the Clippers with a long-term cornerstone, a significant asset for a franchise lacking high-end young talent.”

“For the Hornets to even consider trading Ball, the Clippers would need to offer a monumental package that would mortgage their future. Norman Powell, Bones Hyland, Terance Mann, Kevin Porter Jr., and a future first-round pick are solid pieces, but it’s doubtful they’d be enough to pry LaMelo from Charlotte.”

“Even if Ball were to request a trade, the Clippers would face stiff competition from other suitors with stronger asset pools. While it’s unlikely, it’s a scenario the Clippers should keep in mind should circumstances shift in their favor.”