Masters First Round Leader Picks: Expect Akshay Bhatia, Bryson DeChambeau to Start Hot at Augusta
The 2026 Masters will tee off on Thursday morning, and one of the best betting events is the first round leader odds. Can Akshay Bhatia or Bryson DeChambeau lead after the first 18 holes? Peter Alexis analyzes some of the popular First Round Leader Picks at the 2026 Masters.
Peter Alexis - April 8, 2026, 10:00 PM EDT
4 Minute Read2026 Masters First Round Leader Odds: Can Bhatia, DeChambeau Steal Lead After 18 Holes on Thursday?
The first-round leader market at the Masters is always one of the most volatile betting boards of the week. A player does not have to survive four days to cash this ticket, only one hot lap at Augusta, and that makes it a great place to target aggressive starters, elite ball-strikers, and golfers who have shown they can get comfortable on this course right away. This year’s Thursday setup could be especially demanding with firm, fast conditions and wind expected to put pressure on every tee shot and approach.
That is part of why this market opens the door for players outside the very top of the outright board. A golfer can get out early, make a few birdies before the course fully firms up, and suddenly own the clubhouse lead even if he is not the most likely player to win the Green Jacket by Sunday. Akshay Bhatia (+4500), Bryson DeChambeau (+2000), and Ludvig Aberg (+2500) all fit that mold for different reasons entering Thursday.
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2026 Masters First Round Leader Odds
2026 Masters Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Thursday, April 9th - Sunday, April 12th, 2026
- Time: 7:25 AM ET
- Where to Watch: ESPN, CBS, Masters App, Prime Video
Click here for complete 2026 Masters Odds
2026 Masters First Round Leader Picks
Akshay Bhatia (+4500) Check out the best odds at Caesars Sportsbook
Bhatia stands out as the longer-shot first-round leader play because his 2026 form has been strong enough to suggest a spike round is very realistic. He already owns a win this season at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and he also posted top finishes at Pebble Beach and Phoenix, showing he can get hot against strong fields. His rise has been built on sharper all-around play rather than just one hot week, and that is exactly what you want for a Thursday-only ticket.
He is also the type of player who can take advantage of early rhythm if the irons show up immediately. Augusta can punish inexperience over four days, but for one round, a confident young player with momentum can absolutely jump the board. At this price, Bhatia makes sense as a boom-type opening-round target who does not need to be the best player in the field, only the sharpest for 18 holes.
Bryson DeChambeau (+2000) Check out the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
DeChambeau is one of the strongest first-round leader candidates in the entire field because he comes in red hot. He has won back-to-back LIV events, including the most recent stop after beating Jon Rahm in a playoff, and his game looks far more controlled entering Augusta than it did during some of his earlier high-variance Masters attempts. He also tied for fifth here last year, which matters because it showed his current Augusta formula can actually work.
The first-round leader angle is particularly appealing because Bryson’s power can create immediate birdie chances before the weekend pressure fully sets in. If he is driving it the way he has over the last few weeks and manages the greens conservatively in these firmer conditions, he has all the tools to post something low on Thursday. He is one of the most dangerous early-round scorers on this board.
Ludvig Aberg (+2500) Check out the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Aberg is the high-upside rising-star pick because he has already shown he can play Augusta at a very high level and he enters with enough respect in the market to be taken seriously. He was one of the headline names entering the week, and his profile as a long, composed ball-striker gives him the kind of game that can translate immediately to a fast start at the Masters. He is not priced like a longshot outright, but in the first-round leader market, +2500 is a fair number for a player with this much shot-making ability.
The appeal with Aberg is that he does not need to force anything to go low. If the weather makes Augusta play tougher than usual, a player who can stay patient and still create birdie chances on the par 5s becomes even more dangerous. He is one of the cleaner fits for a Thursday leaderboard run, especially if the biggest names around him are just trying to avoid mistakes early.
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