The 2022 Masters is here, and the tournament usually means talk of azaleas, Amen Corner and Tiger Woods. This year is no different as Thursday's start at Augusta National Golf Club approaches. The 46-year-old, five-time Masters champion is intent on teeing it up at the Masters 2022 in his first competitive tournament in more than a year. Major injuries suffered in a car crash last February meant Woods opened as a 60-1 long shot in the 2022 Masters odds at Caesars Sportsbook, but he's improved to 40-1. The list of 2022 Masters favorites is loaded with star power, from world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth.
Caesars lists Jon Rahm as the 10-1 favorite in its latest 2022 Masters odds, with Justin Thomas right on his heels at 12-1. Scheffler (16-1) Cameron Smith (16-1), 2020 Masters winner Dustin Johnson (18-1), McIlroy (20-1) and Koepka (20-1) are among the crowded list of 2022 Masters contenders. Before you make any 2022 Masters picks or PGA Tour predictions, you need to see what proven golf insider Sal Johnson has to say, considering his history at the Masters.
The esteemed golf insider has been around the game for many years and knows what it takes to win on the PGA Tour. He also knows the keys at Augusta National and when a player's momentum can carry him to greatness.
Johnson has nailed two of the past three winners of the Masters, including Tiger Woods' unlikely victory in 2019 for his most recent major title. He also called Johnson's 2020 win when he shot a tournament-record 20-under 268 to win by five strokes.
"His tee-to-green game is almost as sharp as in his prime," Johnson said of Woods before the 2019 event. "This will be the reason for him winning. It would be great for the game, him winning another Masters." Woods wasn't far removed from back surgery and hadn't won a major in more than 10 years, but he rallied from a two-shot deficit in the final round to win by one. It was his fifth Masters title and his 15th major championship.
Now, Johnson, the first producer of "Inside the PGA Tour" and longtime ABC Sports golf producer who worked with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, has released his highly confident 2022 Masters picks. The picks from the founder of GOLFstats.com, the world's top golf statistics database, will definitely surprise you. You can see them here.
Top 2022 Masters expert picks
One shocking choice from Johnson: The expert is fading Collin Morikawa (20-1), even though he's in the mix of top favorites. The world's No. 2 golfer doesn't have a strong track record at Augusta, tying for 18th last year and finishing 44th in 2020. His tee-to-green game is almost unmatched, but his putting has been inconsistent. He gets off the green in one putt less than 41% of the time (78th on tour) and is 112th inside 10 feet (88%).
On the other hand, Johnson is well aware of Spieth's history at Augusta, which trumps his inconsistency in this young season. The resurgent phenom has blitzed Augusta National almost every time out, finishing in the top three five times in eight trips. That includes a win in 2015, one of his three major championships. The 28-year-old has 12 top-10 finishes in majors, including a tie for third at Augusta and a runner-up finish at the Open Championship last year.
Johnson also is well aware of the roller coaster McIlroy has been on, but knows he has the skills necessary to win at Augusta. He missed the cut last year, but was in the middle of a period of trial and error. He went back to the drawing board and won the Wells Fargo a month later. The four-time major champ has finished in the top 10 in six of his eight Masters starts, including fifth-place in 2020. He can still go very low, as he showed with a 62 on his way to the CJ Cup title in October, and was seventh in total strokes gained last season.
How to make 2022 Masters picks, bets
Johnson also is high on a massive long shot at Augusta who comes in north of 200-1. This player has had success at Augusta National before and comes in on fire. You can only see who it is at SportsLine.
Who wins the 2022 Masters at Augusta National? Where do Spieth and McIlroy finish? And which epic long shot is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Sal Johnson's full leaderboard, picks and analysis for the 2022 Masters, all from the insider who has nailed the winner two of the last three years.
