2026 Masters picks: Best bet to win before Sunday’s final round at Augusta

Nypost · Apr 12, 2026 · 571 words · By Michael Leboff

Sports Betting The Masters Tournament

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What to know about Sports Betting

Prepare for bedlam at Augusta National on Sunday.

Claims checked 13

Techniques found 2

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

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Center0%

Right100%

1 source compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Prepare for bedlam at Augusta National on Sunday.

Why it matters

Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young are the co-leaders at 11-under par after three rounds, but there are six golfers within four shots of the pace-setters.

Common ground

And it’s not just the number of players within touching distance of the lead, but the quality.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Sports Betting story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young are the co-leaders at 11-under par after three rounds?
How does this story connect Sports Betting with The Masters Tournament over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/12/betting/2026-masters-picks-best-bet-to-win-before-…

psychologyDetected Techniques

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Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

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Exaggeration / Hyperbole 70% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

13 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 5

info Single Source 3

schedule Pending 3

help Insufficient Evidence 2

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“Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young are the co-leaders at 11-under par after three rounds”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources confirm Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young were co-leaders at 11-under par. Yahoo Sports explicitly mentions co-leaders McIlroy and Young (-11), and a Masters Final Round Tee Times source confirms both were at 11-under-par.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 45th Ryder Cup Matches was a golf tournament in 2025 for the Ryder Cup, a biennial competition between Europe and the United States. It was held in the United States from September 26–28 on the B…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Ryder_Cup

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 Masters Tournament was the 90th edition of the Masters Tournament and the first of the four men's major golf championships held in 2026. The tournament was played April 9–12 at Augusta Nation…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Masters_Tournament

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Cameron David Young (born May 7, 1997) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour, where he has won three titles. After playing collegiately for Wake Forest University, Young turned …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_Young

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“Five-time PGA Tour winner Sam Burns is one shot back.”

CORROBORATED

Yahoo Sports reports that Sam Burns was 'one back' from the co-leaders (McIlroy and Young).

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web search NEUTRAL — Sam Burns shot the best round of his life with “RTR” shaved into the side of his head.First-round co-leader Alex Noren of Sweden holed a long birdie putt on the 18th on the Nicklaus course to shoot 68…
https://www.aol.com/news/sam-burns-shoots-61-leads-001121605…

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web search NEUTRAL — Sam Burns' sterling score of 65 highlighted Round 2 of the 2025 U.S. Open at Pennsylvania’s Oakmont Country Club. Burns shot a second-round 65, and at 3 under, he has a one-shot lead over first-round …
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/us-open-2025-liv…

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web search NEUTRAL — At the end of this wild Saturday, we were left with co-leaders in the shape of McIlroy and Young (-11), with Sam Burns one back, Shane Lowry a further shot behind him and then Jason Day and Justin Ros…
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/rory-mcilroy-dazzles-holds…

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“Shane Lowry, a former Open Champion, is two back at 9-under.”

CORROBORATED

Yahoo Sports reports Shane Lowry was 'a further shot behind' Sam Burns (who was one back), placing Lowry two shots behind the leaders. This aligns with the claim that he was two back at 9-under.

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web search NEUTRAL — Shane Lowry, who climbed into contention and fell back, is back on top again at Oakmont. The Irishman sandwiched three birdies around a bogey to close out his front nine at 33 and 4 under. The footing…
https://www.wtae.com/article/us-open-day-3-shane-lowry-on-to…

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web search NEUTRAL — Shane Lowry is well positioned after the opneing round of the Farmers Insurance Open. Shane Lowry hit sparkling form on the front nine at Torrey Pines to card an opening round 66 at the Farmers Insura…
https://www.rte.ie/sport/golf/2024/0124/1428479-shane-lowry-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Lowry was penalized two shots when his ball moved a fraction of an inch — the label on his golf is seen to dip ever so slightly — while he was taking a practice swing next to the ball in the rain-soak…
https://www.aol.com/shane-lowry-docked-2-shots-211116438.htm…

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“Justin Rose and Jason Day at 8-under.”

CORROBORATED

Nypost explicitly states Jason Day and Justin Rose were 'three off the lead at 8-under'. Yahoo Sports also lists them as 'lurking on -8'.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jason Anthony Day (born 12 November 1987) is an Australian professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour, were he has won 13 times including the Players Championship in 2016 and the 2015 PGA Champions…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Day

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Justin Peter Rose (born 30 July 1980) is an English professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and the European Tour. He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking. He has won …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Rose

+ 4 more evidence sources

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“Right behind them at 7-under is some guy named Scottie Scheffler and Haotong Li.”

CORROBORATED

Nypost confirms Scottie Scheffler and Haotong Li were both 7-under par.

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web search NEUTRAL — Scott Alexander Scheffler is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He is currently ranked world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking, a position he has held for over 175 …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottie_Scheffler

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web search NEUTRAL — Li Haotong’s 69 means he is the closest to Scheffler’s 14 under par. Li will play in the final group of a major for the first time in an up-and-down career. Scheffler; 68, 64, 67.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jul/19/air-of-inevita…

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web search NEUTRAL — The pair are both at 11-under-par after McIlroy shot 73 (+1) on Saturday and Young carded a 65 (-7) to equal the low round of the week.1.52pm: Scottie Scheffler, Haotong Li. 2.03pm: Jason Day, Justin …
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/masters-final-round…

+ 1 more evidence source

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“McIlroy, the defending champion, is the clear favorite at +135”

SINGLE SOURCE

The Mirror refers to McIlroy as the 'defending Masters champion', but there is no evidence in the provided search results to verify the specific betting odds of +135.

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web search NEUTRAL — Rory McIlroy looking at his club. Rory McIlroy was the world No. 1 for 95 weeks in the 2010s, the most of any golfer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_world_number_one_male_…

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web search NEUTRAL — In recent years, the European Tour’s “Chase the Ace” series has tested – and tormented – some of the world’s best golfers. But a pair of players who have actually been World No.1, Rory McIlroy and Jus…
https://www.australiangolfdigest.com.au/rory-mcilroy-and-jus…

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web search NEUTRAL — Rory McIlroy's six-shot overnight lead was totally eroded at Augusta National as Cameron Young raced to 11 under while the defending Masters champion unravelled. Comments.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/golf/rory-milroy-masters-lead…

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“Young, who surged up the board with a 65 in Round 3, is the second choice at +240.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Multiple sources (The Masters day three, Cameron Young Is Ready for 2026 Masters Moment) confirm Cameron Young shot a 65 in Round 3. However, the betting odds of +240 are not corroborated by the provided evidence.

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web search NEUTRAL — Cameron Young shoots 65. Par for the leader at the last, and this is a brilliant day’s work from the current Players Champion. Par too for Jason Day and that’s a fine 68.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/apr/11/the-maste…

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web search NEUTRAL — Young shot 65 on Saturday to storm into a tie for the lead, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt more envy watching a professional athlete go about his day. He looked like he had the resting pulse of an e…
https://www.thefriedegg.com/articles/2026-masters-cameron-yo…

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web search NEUTRAL — Furthermore, join us as we delve into various fitness journeys, including stories of individuals who have embarked on workouts and health changes at 240 lbs. One inspiring story detailed in the video,…
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/what-my-body-looks-like-240l…

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“Burns, who has never finished better than T29 in his previous four starts at the Masters, is +700”

SINGLE SOURCE

While sources confirm Sam Burns is a contender and has not won a major, there is no evidence provided regarding his specific past finishes (T29) or his betting odds (+700).

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web search NEUTRAL — Augusta National saw unusually low scores, shaking up the Masters leaderboard. Rory McIlroy lost his lead but tied Cameron Young at -11 heading into Sunday. Sam Burns is also a contender; neither Youn…
https://thespun.com/golf/the-masters-leaderboard-has-changed…

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web search NEUTRAL — (Reuters) - Sam Burns used a fast start and steady finish to grab the second-round lead at the Houston Open on Friday, while Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson were on track to miss the cut in the final…
https://m.blog.naver.com/PostView.naver?blogId=rosemam1004&l…

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web search NEUTRAL — Sam Burns tees off on the ninth hole during the second round of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.
https://www.oaoa.com/sports/great-start-and-a-better-finish-…

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“Scheffler is lurking at 10/1.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results regarding Scottie Scheffler's odds of 10/1.

help

“Justin Rose came into the Masters as a trendy pick at 30/1”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results regarding Justin Rose's odds of 30/1.

schedule

“He shot 2-under on Thursday and followed that up by flying 3-under par in each of the next two rounds.”

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“He’s proven it time and again in his first 20 trips to Augusta National.”

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schedule

“Although Rose has never won a Green Jacket, and will be feeling the pressure if he’s in contention on Sunday evening, his experience chasing down leaders at Augusta makes him a viable threat to pull off the stunner and win his first Masters a year after finishing runner-up for the third time in his illustrious career.”

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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.