Masters champions are won in those gripping final shots of the competition - but they can be lost as early as Thursday early morning.

A tremendous 11 of the previous 16 Masters champs sat inside the top 5 after Round 1, and can we truly be all that amazed? You require to bank those Thursday birdies while you can, as things get significantly more daunting over the final 54 holes.

Here's a take a look at my first-round leader Masters choices, where I avoid the chalkiest plays on the board in favor of three gamers who have prospered early in 2026 events and have the abilities to prosper at the tamer Thursday edition of Augusta National.

Masters first-round leader selects

Matt Fitzpatrick, 0.25 systems (+2800 at BetMGM).
Min Woo Lee, 0.25 units (+4000 at BetMGM).
Russell Henley, 0.1 units (+5000 at BetMGM)

Picks were made on 4-8 at 7 a.m. ET.

Masters first-round leader predictions

FRL choice: Matt Fitzpatrick (0.25 units).
+2800 at BetMGM

Granted, Fitzpatrick will practically definitely need to better his all-time greatest Masters round (67) to cash this play. But he's currently among Augusta's many constant recent entertainers with 10 made cuts in 11 starts, and is coming off an absolute March heating system in which he placed 2nd at THE PLAYERS Championship and won the Valspar Championship in back-to-back weeks.

Fitzpatrick ranks inside the top seven in SG: Total, GIR rate, and birdie average this season, with maybe the strongest current type of any gamer in the field. And he ranks ninth in Round 1 Scoring Average, so he's no stranger to early birdie opportunities. I'm delighted to take him where he's priced, and strongly think he's the very best "top-tier" FRL choice on the board.

FRL pick: Min Woo Lee (0.25 systems).
+4000 at BetMGM

Lee's cumulative 5-over displaying in four opening rounds at Augusta doesn't instil me with much confidence, but his play in 2026 sure does. Lee gets in the week ranked 5th in SG: Total on the strength of a great all-around video game that extends from the chauffeur (13th in range) to the putter (28th in strokes acquired).

Lee has parlayed his early-season success into the tour's No. 2 ranking in birdie or better percentage, and that's a form-reliant trend I'm delighted to purchase this price. Take the sample with a grain of salt, however Lee's 68.29 Round 1 scoring average (fifth-best in 2026) is clearly well-earned and makes him a great worth play for FRL honors.

FRL choice: Russell Henley (0.1 systems).
+5000 at BetMGM

We won't speak about in 2015.

Disregard that opening-round 79 Henley spat out in 2025 and focus on the reality that the Georgia native has six top-40 finishes in his last seven check outs to Augusta. And the Masters hasn't been almost as "bomber-friendly" in recent years, so Henley's disadvantage off the tee (142nd in distance) is less of an element.

Henley's putting has been superb (18th in SG), and he's the sixth-most precise chauffeur on tour in 2026. Those will play well here. Add in his No. 13 ranking in Round 1 scoring average, and you could definitely do worse in this odds vary. I'm more skittish about investing a quarter unit (so I'm not), however Henley has corresponded enough in the things that matter to call for a lottery play.