Scottie Scheffler is the best player in the world, but Augusta has a way of making even the best look human. Sports Illustrated captured the moment that may define his 2026 Masters — a devastating lip-out on the 17th hole that had the crowd gasping and Scheffler staring into the cup in disbelief.
The miss came at a critical moment when Scheffler was still in contention, and it effectively ended any realistic path to the green jacket. It’s the kind of putt that a player of his caliber makes nine times out of ten — which is exactly what makes it sting so much.
Scheffler has been the dominant force in golf for the better part of two years. He’ll be back at Augusta with something to prove, and you can bet that putt on 17 will be playing on a loop in his head between now and next April.
The New York Post didn’t mince words after the 2026 Masters: LIV Golf has softened its players. The argument isn’t new, but Augusta provided the latest — and perhaps most compelling — evidence yet.
Several of the biggest LIV names arrived at Augusta with fanfare and left quietly, unable to contend on a course that demands the kind of sharpness that only comes from consistently competing against the world’s best. The limited schedule, the team format, the lack of cuts in many events — it all adds up, and Augusta exposed it.
The piece stops short of calling LIV a career killer, but the implication is clear: the competitive edge that made these players household names is eroding. Whether that’s reversible — and whether anyone in the LIV ecosystem is willing to admit it — remains to be seen.
Sergio Garcia has never been shy about wearing his emotions on his sleeve, but his Sunday at Augusta took things to a new level. After a rough final round at the 2026 Masters, Garcia reportedly damaged a tee box and snapped his driver in a fit of frustration — earning himself a formal reprimand from tournament officials in the process.
According to Golf Digest, Garcia’s outburst came during the back nine as his Masters hopes slipped away. The incident drew attention not just for the equipment damage, but for the optics of a former major champion unraveling on one of golf’s most hallowed grounds. It’s the kind of moment that tends to follow a player for a while.
Garcia has had a complicated relationship with Augusta over the years — a Masters win in 2017, plenty of heartbreak before that, and now this. Whether it’s a one-off frustration or a sign of deeper struggles since joining LIV Golf, it’s worth watching how the tour and his peers respond.
Preview & Picks: The Masters
The 90th Masters is here, and it’s going to be a special one.
To start, it’s the first Masters since 1994 that features neither Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson, as you may have heard.
Next, the weather looks to be immaculate. It’s been relatively dry in Augusta the last few weeks, the temps will be in the high 70’s and low 80’s for the tournament, and there’s no rain to speak of on the weekend forecast.
We are going to get a firm and fast Augusta National.
That’s a pretty rare thing – according to the Weather Channel, the last time there was 4 straight rain-free days was back in 2011, when Charl Schwartzel won. We will try to not read into that fact too much.
There are 91 players in one of the best fields in golf, which includes past champions, seasoned veterans, and 22 first-timers.
A first timer hasn’t won since Fuzzy Zoeller did it way back in 1979.
You can find the full list of tee times here.
Field Notes
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Approach play is everything – SG: Approach has the highest correlation to scoring (0.641), by a wide margin. If you’re picking outrights or DFS plays, prioritize elite iron players over bombers.
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Short game + putting still matter late – SG: Putting (0.578) and Around the Green (0.466) both show strong correlation. Augusta turns into a scrambling + putting contest on the weekend.
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Distance helps, but accuracy isn’t critical – Driving distance has a mild edge (0.121), while accuracy is slightly more relevant (0.203), but neither is close to approach. You don’t need straight drivers—you need guys who can recover and attack greens.
The Details
Previous Winners
How To Watch
Featured Groups:
The Masters has announced featured groups for Thursday. See them all here.
Weekly Bets: The Masters
We’ve partnered with Keith Stewart at Read The Line to share his weekly golf betting picks with the Caddyshanks crew. If you’re the type who enjoys breaking down matchups, spotting trends, and hunting for value, you’ll feel right at home in the RTL community. Join Here.
Keith Stewart’s Picks
Xander Schauffele (+1800 DraftKings)
Xander Schauffele has five top 10 finishes at The Masters in eight starts. That’s a 63% conversion rate for getting involved on Sunday afternoon. Add in three top 7s in his last four starts in 2026, and the form matches the course history. Let’s not overthink it. One of the best players in the world, who is playing exceptionally well, will win. Schauffele sure does check all of the most important boxes!
Hideki Matsuyama (+4000 FanDuel)
The best time to bet Hideki Matsuyama is when all of the attention is on other Masters contenders. The bread crumbs are there… Matsuyama is gaining strokes with his driver in three of his last four starts. The iron game has been impeccable all year, and the flatstick has been strong in five of his last six events. Hideki lost strokes ARG in San Antonio to help his odds climb. A true value play who has proven he can win at Augusta National, I love everything about this 2026 lead-in.
Caddyshanks Picks
Matt Fitzpatrick (+2300 Draftkings)
There’s a few guys; Matt Fitzpatrick, Cam Young, Chris Gotterup, and Ludvig Aberg, who you could slot in for this pick. They have all played well in the lead up to the Masters, all of them except for Aberg have won at least once. Of them, only Gotterup is making his debut, which I count against him. Of the others, only Fitzpatrick has proven he can win a major (although I have no doubt the others will eventually) and for that reason, he gets the nod.
Jordan Spieth (+4200 Draftkings)
Has he proven that he can consistently keep the ball in between the wickets? No, but his play has been solid this year (two top 11’s and a 12th place finish) and he’s a previous Masters champion, which always seems to help. Okay, I can’t really justify this pick statistically, this is more of a spiritual thing.
Patrick Reed (+4200 Draftkings)
C’mon, don’t pretend it’s not fun to cheer for the villain every now and then. Not to mention, he’s won twice this year, and has also won the Masters before. Plus, that short game will come in handy when things are firm and fast.
Scottie Scheffler (+510 Draftkings)
It’s true – Scottie hasn’t played in a month. When he last played, his iron play wasn’t at it’s typical level. Don’t care. Auto-bet.
