Pamela Maldonado advises a strategic live-betting approach on Rory McIlroy rather than backing him pre-tournament. Despite McIlroy’s status as a heavy Masters favorite (+625 outright), she acknowledges the significant pressure McIlroy faces in pursuit of a career Grand Slam and a complicated history at Augusta. Maldonado's strategy is to wait until after an unspectacular first round to secure better value, especially considering Friday's expected rain conditions, softening the course significantly. McIlroy ranks third in the field for ballstriking, which will be amplified when wet conditions make Augusta more receptive. A blended bet—half pre-tournament and half live—could offer an average ticket around +725 or better, optimizing the opportunity to back McIlroy while minimizing risk exposure with a delayed entry.

The anonymous swing coach believes strongly in Rory McIlroy at Augusta, referencing his successful prediction of Rory's recent play at The Players Championship. The coach highlighted McIlroy's remarkable consistency, with no finishes worse than 17th this entire season, viewing this trend as strong justification to dismiss Brandel Chamblee's notion that Rory can never win at Augusta. With McIlroy maintaining excellent form all season, the swing coach confidently endorses McIlroy as a prime choice to contend and potentially capture the Masters title this year.

Derek Farnsworth is strongly backing Rory McIlroy to win this year's Masters. Farnsworth emphasized Rory's exceptional current form and significant victories at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship, highlighting them as two of the golfer's biggest wins heading into Augusta. Farnsworth notes that McIlroy is mentally and strategically well-positioned this year, driving the ball better than anyone in the world, excelling with his long irons, and demonstrating a vastly improved short game. He additionally referenced Rory's strong previous Masters performances with multiple top-five finishes as a sign that Rory is prepared to break through this year.

Neil Parker said Rory McIlroy is clearly his favorite betting pick to win the 2025 Masters, highlighting several compelling reasons. Rory has amassed three worldwide wins plus five additional top-five finishes across his last 11 events since the conclusion of the 2024 PGA season. He's currently leading the tour in adjusted scoring average, and historically he's had exceptional performance at Augusta with seven top-10 finishes. Neil addressed Rory's narrative of major near-misses, countering that Rory consistently contends while others receive praise for similar finishes. Given his phenomenal current form, Augusta track record, and leading metrics, Neil confidently predicts Rory finally completing his career Grand Slam at Augusta this year at +675 odds on Bet365.

Rick Gehman expressed reservations about Rory McIlroy’s chances at Augusta, despite Rory entering his 17th Masters in exceptional form. Gehman acknowledged Rory's impressive 2025 start, including two victories and winning The Players Championship without his best game. Rory has diversified his play style, now showcasing controlled flighted approach shots and better course management tactics that mimic Scottie Scheffler’s strengths. However, Gehman identified a persistent mental barrier at Augusta National as the primary concern. Despite acknowledging Rory’s talent, consistency, and skill improvements, Gehman admitted worrying more about Rory's mindset and mental approach at Augusta, suggesting lingering doubts on whether Rory can finally overcome this psychological hurdle.

Rick Gehman highlighted Rory McIlroy's exceptional recent play and well-rounded performances, notably at The Players Championship. Differing from past years, Rory has improved significantly on and around the greens, gaining more than double his strokes from putting compared to last year. Despite improvements, Gehman emphasized Rory's mental game as the central barrier to success at Augusta. He referenced McIlroy repeatedly faltering mentally in big situations, including recent major disappointments at St. Andrews and the U.S. Open, and emphasized Rory's remarkable yet unsuccessful streak of 21 top-10 finishes in majors in the last decade without capturing another win. Gehman considers McIlroy's psychological barriers between the ears as the primary reason Rory may again fail to secure a green jacket despite peak form.

Derek Farnsworth strongly endorsed Rory McIlroy as his pick to win the 2025 Masters. Farnsworth pointed to McIlroy's current form, highlighted by recent high-profile victories at tournaments like Pebble Beach and The Players Championship. Farnsworth emphasized McIlroy's exceptional skill off the tee, describing him as arguably the best driver in the field. Despite previous struggles and meltdowns in key moments on the back nine at Augusta, Derek believes this year feels different and that Rory's improved mindset and recent momentum set him up perfectly for contention at the Masters.

Sean Fairholm believes Rory McIlroy is exceptionally positioned to finally win the Masters and achieve golf's career Grand Slam this year. McIlroy heads into Augusta on phenomenal form, having won three times—including at the prestigious Players Championship—and noticeably advancing towards reclaiming the No. 1 world ranking. Fairholm emphasized the value of McIlroy's improved putting, currently ranked 10th in Strokes Gained putting this season, signifying a crucial comfort factor for Augusta's greens. Despite the potential for early-round difficulties, Fairholm viewed Rory's recent bold mindset—including a confrontation with a fan—as the assertive attitude needed to overcome McIlroy's major drought demons.

Joe Champion expressed concern about Rory McIlroy’s chances at the Masters 2025 despite his excellent current form, including wins at Pebble Beach and The Players Championship. While McIlroy will once again be seeking the elusive career Grand Slam, Champion expressed worries about McIlroy’s emotional resilience at Augusta. He stated that whereas competitors like Scottie Scheffler remain calm after slow starts, McIlroy can unravel quickly if things don't go his way early due to his intense desire to complete the Grand Slam. Champion clearly set caution about betting heavily on McIlroy despite his impressive recent achievements because of persistent mental questions in the Masters environment.

Julio Cesar Valdera Morales strongly endorsed Rory McIlroy to win the 2025 Masters, priced at +650. Morales called attention to McIlroy's exceptional performance this season, noting two high-profile victories (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The PLAYERS Championship) and four total top-20 finishes in just six events. Morales also highlighted McIlroy's near misses at Augusta in previous years, stating that his solid form combined with experience handling significant pressure could finally allow him to claim his first Masters victory, completing his coveted career Grand Slam. Considering McIlroy's recent success and motivation, Morales felt confident enough to label this wager at +650 odds a strong value play worth considering.

Matt Bonesteel identified Rory McIlroy as a strong bet to win the Masters this year, noting he’s perfectly positioned to finally secure the career grand slam. McIlroy has won three of his last six tournaments, including iconic events like the Players Championship and Pebble Beach Pro-Am—marking the first time he's entered a Masters with two calendar-year victories. Although traditionally wild off the tee and ranking 167th in driving accuracy, this weakness matters less at Augusta due to its wide fairways and forgiving rough. Additional supporting stats include seven previous Masters top-10 finishes, ranking tied 10th in par-4 scoring, averaging 2.2 strokes gained tee to green across the past three months. Bonesteel sees this year as McIlroy’s best-ever chance to earn the highly coveted green jacket.

Will Cheney picked Rory McIlroy to finally capture his elusive career grand slam at the 2025 Masters Tournament, highlighting McIlroy's exceptional recent form, including a victory at the Players Championship. Cheney believes McIlroy is entering Augusta playing some of the best golf of his career, perfectly positioning him to overcome past setbacks—especially the infamous Masters meltdown in 2011.

According to Chris Gregory, Rory McIlroy is attracting significant betting attention for the 2025 Masters as his odds hover around +650 after recent stellar performances. McIlroy's betting price tightened considerably following victories at prestigious tournaments like the AT&T Pebble Beach and THE PLAYERS Championship. Gregory noted McIlroy has consistently put himself in contention, tallying three worldwide wins along with five additional Top-5 finishes across 11 events post-2024 PGA season. Gregory emphasized that Rory's impressive statistical profile and form, including a T5 at the recent Houston Open, continued pushing his odds downward and could even shorten further given his high handle in betting markets.

The Independent strongly backs Rory McIlroy as Europe's most likely standout at the Masters. While acknowledging a minor elbow concern, the analysis underscores McIlroy's outstanding early-season form on the PGA Tour, including top-20 finishes in all six starts and notable victories at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Players Championship. Furthermore, McIlroy is especially driven to finally claim the elusive Masters title and complete his career grand slam. Even if he comes up short of winning outright, the piece expects McIlroy to find himself among the leaders by tournament's end.

Dave Tindall recommends Rory McIlroy as a reliable top-5 or top-10 option at Augusta for 2025, despite his history of failing to secure an elusive green jacket. McIlroy's recent form includes two prestigious PGA Tour victories this year at Pebble Beach and Sawgrass, along with strong statistical performance (ranking 1st for strokes gained tee-to-green and 10th for putting in 2025) and a fifth-place finish at Houston in his most recent start. His historically frustrating Masters results nonetheless include seven top-10 finishes from 16 career Augusta appearances, making McIlroy attractive from a betting perspective in these markets despite persistent doubts on his winning upside.

Byron Lindeque picked Rory McIlroy as a compelling first-round leader bet at 16-1 odds. Byron sees Rory's historical trend of strong starts at majors coupled with his recent big-event form—such as wins at The Players Championship—creating valuable betting opportunity on Rory early. Recognizing McIlroy's issues closing at Augusta, Lindeque recommended targeting him specifically as first round leader to capture upside without risk related to his weekend struggles.

Pat Mayo recommended Rory McIlroy as the safer pick to outperform Scottie Scheffler or Jon Rahm at Augusta when asked purely in terms of pool selections, disregarding gambling prices. Despite noting a narrative-heavy market already backing McIlroy, Mayo pointed to Rory's recent big-event victories at The Players Championship and Pebble Beach as empirical evidence of hotter form compared to recent years. Even though strokes gained per round in early year months have historically correlated poorly with Masters finishes for Rory, Mayo strongly contended win-quality this season positions Rory as the smartest play among the elite trio.

Jordan Kaye highlighted Rory McIlroy as a strong betting candidate, currently second favorite at 6.5-1 odds. Rory enters Augusta in superb form, already winning two events this season including a noteworthy victory at The Players Championship. The betting lines suggest the Masters is effectively a two-man betting competition between Scheffler and McIlroy, with Kaye implying bettors should lean towards McIlroy given his sharp form and recent victories.

Adam Levitan is cautious about Rory McIlroy's profile at Augusta, emphasizing his significant volatility compared to Scottie Scheffler. Levitan noted Rory has previously missed cuts at The Masters, illuminating an unpredictability in his outcomes. He anticipates their proprietary volatility metric will confirm a higher volatility score for Rory versus Scheffler, making McIlroy a more uncertain DFS investment despite similar raw ceiling outcomes.

Skylar Hoke expressed concerns over betting Rory McIlroy to win The Masters at around +650 odds, attributing past failures primarily to mental hurdles rather than skill. Rory, despite frequent elite-level play and excellent statistical profiles that fit Augusta, has never clinched the green jacket in his 16 prior attempts (recently placing 22nd, cut, 2nd, cut, and 5th). Skylar believes McIlroy's recent strategy shift—playing multiple events right before Augusta—is an attempt to relieve the mental pressure of seeking his elusive Masters win. Although Rory is in excellent form this season with two wins (Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship) and a recent 5th-place finish at the Houston Open, Hoke remains wary of investing at odds that short considering Rory's tendency to falter mentally down the stretch at Augusta.

Derek Farnsworth identified Rory McIlroy as an ideal bet to win the 2025 Masters, noting multiple factors in his favor. McIlroy recently won THE PLAYERS Championship and has three wins in his last seven worldwide starts, indicating elite current form. Farnsworth also highlighted how well McIlroy's game fits Augusta National's profile and conditions, pointing to him as arguably the best on-paper fit (especially alongside Scottie Scheffler) for Augusta. Additionally, the tout emphasized McIlroy's strong mental state, though he acknowledged past struggles with crucial back-nine mistakes in majors. Given all these positives, Farnsworth believes this could be the year McIlroy completes the career grand slam with a first green jacket.

Pat Fitzmaurice voiced skepticism about backing Rory McIlroy at Augusta this year despite acknowledging Rory's impressive form including recent wins at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship. He emphasized Rory's troubled history at Augusta National since dramatically losing a five-shot Sunday lead back in 2011. Pat pointed out Rory's uneven Masters results in recent years, noting specifically he missed two cuts in the last four events and finished outside the top 20 last year. Even though he recognized Rory's talent, Fitzmaurice argued that odds of +650 don't reflect Rory's Augusta struggles and cautioned bettors against placing a wager on him at this price.

Bo McBrayer made a strong case against betting on Rory McIlroy despite his two wins earlier this year at Pebble Beach and the Players Championship. McBrayer argued that Rory has been effectively cursed at Augusta National since losing a substantial lead on Sunday during the 2011 Masters. Although Rory is the only multiple winner on tour this season, McBrayer viewed Rory's odds of +650 as significantly overvalued and driven primarily by public sentiment rather than justified performance or course fit. He cited Rory's inferior course history compared to rivals like Xander Schauffele, who has consistently placed in the top 10, as evidence of Rory's misalignment with Augusta's demands. McBrayer urged caution, labeling Rory a bad bet at current odds and suggesting bettors avoid the temptation to back him at Augusta.

Jim Sannes emphasized Rory McIlroy as a particularly appealing DFS selection in tournaments where contrarian roster construction is vital. Expecting McIlroy's ownership to be somewhat suppressed due to bettors focusing heavily on Scottie Scheffler, Sannes marked Rory as a strong play in single-entry DFS formats, highlighting his tournament-winning upside and strong overall fit despite recent mixed history at Augusta.

Jim Sannes highlighted Rory McIlroy as an appealing betting choice in a head-to-head market versus Scottie Scheffler, citing Rory's plus-money odds (approximately +120 to +125) as a key factor. Although Scheffler ranks slightly better in true strokes gained over recent months—2.53 compared to Rory's 2.84—Jim stressed that the gap was not negligible enough to justify Scheffler's shorter odds. Therefore, he considered betting Rory as the prudent value-based decision. Jim noted potential mental pressure on both players but liked Rory's recent aggressive ('scorched earth') competitive mentality, further increasing his appeal at plus odds.

Brandon Gdula views Rory McIlroy as capable of finally claiming the elusive Masters title to complete his career Grand Slam. Rory has a mixed Augusta history but still boasts seven career top-10s and 13 cuts made out of 16 starts. His current form is superb, ranking first in stabilized strokes-gained over the last 24 to 50 rounds according to data from Data Golf. While he isn't betting Rory outright at current odds (+650), Gdula strongly considers McIlroy as a solid value in head-to-head matchups and DFS formats due to his impressive recent iron play, off-the-tee strength, and overall sustained positive form.

Steve Bamford offered Rory McIlroy as his sentimental pick to finally achieve the career grand slam by winning the Masters, though he openly admitted reservations regarding Rory's short odds around 6/1-7/1. Reflecting on his successful solo-bullet strategy with Scheffler at The Players previously, Bamford mused over adopting a similar tactic with McIlroy despite short odds constraints. He expressed comfort pairing Rory as a pure win-only bet alongside mid-tier speculative selections around 30/1 or longer shots like Robert Macintyre, highlighting the romantic storyline of Rory completing the slam at Augusta despite recognizing clear risks involved betting at such short odds.

Andy Lack expressed skepticism toward Rory McIlroy's potential to win this year's Masters based on a key historical trend surrounding experience levels. He explained that 9 of the last 11 Masters winners had between three and ten prior appearances, a "sweet spot" for fully adjusting to Augusta's unique pressures and quirks. Now, with significantly more than ten Masters, Rory sits well outside this optimal window, experiencing a statistical drop-off in win probability historically correlated to Masters success. Andy explicitly stated he's personally avoiding Rory at current betting odds, arguing historical patterns strongly limit McIlroy's chances of finally capturing Augusta victory.

David Barnett strongly recommended betting Rory McIlroy as a favorite, highlighting Rory's extraordinary form combined with fewer distractions compared to previous years. He emphasized that Rory's mental state, personal life stability, and reduced LIV Golf drama provide an ideal backdrop for peak performance at this year's Masters. Additionally, Barnett discussed that other contenders, including Xander Schauffele coming off an injury and Scottie Scheffler lacking the momentum he previously had, are not in their best shape, further positioning Rory favorably to win. Barnett even suggested creating a boosted parlay incorporating Rory's outright win paired with Scottie Scheffler's top-10 finish to enhance payout odds.

Neil Parker recommends betting Rory McIlroy to win the Masters outright, highlighting that his game is incredibly strong right now. Rory boasts three worldwide victories and five additional Top-5 finishes across his last 11 tournaments, along with the best adjusted scoring average on the PGA Tour. Combining his recent form with a proven track record of seven Top-10 finishes at Augusta National, Parker sees this as the year McIlroy finally captures the elusive career grand slam.

Jim Mackay outlined Rory McIlroy's strengths at Augusta National, highlighting that he's the best driver of the ball on tour, an elite advantage given the importance of distance and par-five scoring at Augusta. Mackay advises if he were McIlroy's caddie, he'd remind Rory of his previous major victories and that perfection isn't required to contend. Instead, McIlroy should dominate par-fives and avoid double bogeys and three-putts, which would significantly boost his chances of finally completing the career Grand Slam.

Barry Plummer sees 2025 as Rory McIlroy's year to finally capture his first Masters green jacket and complete the career Grand Slam. Backing this prediction, McIlroy has been electric recently, winning three times and finishing top-five two more times across his last seven starts. Ranking second in Strokes Gained: Total over the past three months (only trailing Collin Morikawa), he comes to Augusta in prime condition. Additionally, McIlroy's sustained historical excellence at Augusta—with seven prior top-10 finishes—cements Plummer’s confidence he'll finish atop the leaderboard, making McIlroy a favored selection even at +650 odds.

Robby Kalland spotlighted Rory McIlroy as a strong contender for capturing his first Masters and completing the elusive career grand slam. McIlroy's form heading into Augusta is exceptional, having secured two victories in just five starts to kick off 2025. This is arguably the best shape he's been in during his career-long quest for a green jacket. The analyst believes McIlroy's current form presents a prime opportunity to finally break through at Augusta National after over a decade of pursuit.

Cam DaSilva sees Rory McIlroy as a strong contender for the Masters, highlighting his two significant victories already this season at prestigious events at Pebble Beach and the Players Championship. DaSilva points out Rory's noticeable improvements in his wedge game, his enhanced ability to play flighted shots, and better spin control on his approaches as critical elements that will help him finally achieve success at Augusta. Rory also possesses the requisite distance with his irons, and if he can manage the psychological hurdles that have plagued him in past Masters tournaments, DaSilva believes he can deliver one of his career-best performances.

Jack Hirsh indicates Rory McIlroy is an attractive betting choice heading into the 2025 Masters due to his strong early-season performances. McIlroy won two major tournaments already this season: the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Players Championship, two of the biggest events in the first three months. Hirsh emphasizes McIlroy's potential narrative at Augusta as he seeks to complete the highly coveted Career Grand Slam—his first major title since 2014. With odds at +650, slightly behind Scheffler, McIlroy is considered a strong candidate by many to win the Masters this year due to his recent form and competitive momentum.

Alex Myers considered Rory McIlroy the best bet to finally capture a Masters—and complete his career Grand Slam—given his ideal form entering Augusta. Myers specifically pointed to McIlroy's hot start in 2025, with notable victories already at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship, drawing a potential parallel to Scottie Scheffler's strong run prior to winning the 2024 Masters. Myers saw these successes and overall positive vibes around McIlroy providing him the best opportunity yet to break through his personal Augusta struggles in previous years.

Brandel Chamblee downplayed Rory McIlroy's chances of finally getting his elusive Masters win, pointing out Rory's repeated historical disappointments at Augusta. Chamblee said the Masters brings out the worst golf annually in McIlroy, noting Rory's struggles over multiple years: he missed the cut in 2023, finished tied for 22nd in 2024, and has consistently underperformed compared to his other major performances. With Rory riding an early hot streak coming into 2025 Masters, highlighted by victories at Pebble Beach and The Players Championship, Chamblee cautioned against expecting this positive momentum to translate at a venue he considers challenging for McIlroy each year.

Geoff Ulrich strongly endorses Rory McIlroy in DFS cash games for the 2025 Masters Tournament, suggesting his recent elite level of play makes him a superior value over the more expensive Scottie Scheffler. McIlroy recently won THE PLAYERS Championship and has delivered consistently excellent results throughout the season. Given McIlroy's current discounted salary relative to Scheffler on DraftKings, Ulrich sees McIlroy affording more lineup flexibility without sacrificing elite upside. He argues that for McIlroy not to deliver DFS value, Scheffler would likely need an outright win. Ulrich views McIlroy’s combination of peak form and more affordable cost as optimal for structuring a successful DFS cash lineup.

Gabby Herzig is confident that although Rory McIlroy enters the 2025 Masters as a hot topic and popular pick, he will ultimately fall short. While acknowledging McIlroy is producing some of the most disciplined golf of his career—demonstrated by victories at both Pebble Beach and a Players Championship this season—Herzig argues Augusta National has consistently produced unpredictable outcomes from McIlroy. Despite McIlroy’s newfound versatility and exceptional form, including mastery of low bulletproof iron shots perfect for windy conditions, Herzig forecasted either a surprising missed cut or painful near-miss on Sunday. She believes it's destined to be another agonizing close call rather than a coveted green jacket for McIlroy this year.

Dave Tindall specifically recommended backing Rory McIlroy in live betting markets rather than pre-tournament, noting McIlroy's frequent struggles in Masters first rounds. Historically, Rory often severely damages his chances on day one at Augusta, inflating his post-round odds. Tindall said he'd be far more comfortable targeting Rory midway through the first or after a mediocre opening round at improved odds like 14-1, provided McIlroy avoids disastrous early holes. He particularly noted Rory's ability to significantly improve his positioning if his Round 1 mistakes aren't overly damaging, considering this a smarter betting path than taking current short pre-tournament odds.

Pat Mayo recognized Rory McIlroy's notable struggles dealing with Masters anxiety, emphasizing it as a long-term psychological hurdle that repeatedly manifests negatively at Augusta. Mayo drew parallels with Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa, highlighting how even elite golfers can become visibly affected by Augusta's enormous expectations. Although Mayo previously endorsed McIlroy as having his best opportunity ever due to exceptional form, he now emphasizes caution, pointing out that despite ideal conditions, Rory consistently shows difficulty handling the additional psychological pressures specifically at the Masters. This ongoing mental struggle introduces significant risk, tempering Rory's outright betting attractiveness.

Pat Mayo strongly emphasized that Rory McIlroy enters the 2025 Masters with arguably his best-ever setup to finally win the tournament. Rory has already won twice in 2025, notably capturing victories at Pebble Beach and the prestigious Players Championship. Aside from his victories, Rory has consistently finished in elite positions, showcasing outstanding form across multiple events. While Mayo acknowledged the psychological hurdle Rory faces at Augusta, referring to the well-known 'demons' Rory consistently deals with at the Masters, it's precisely due to this tremendous current form and consistent recent results that Mayo describes this as Rory's best-ever chance to break through. He did acknowledge there’s risk due to Rory’s historical struggles at Augusta, but confidently supports investing in McIlroy this time around given the optimal circumstances.

David Barnett, historically a skeptic of Rory McIlroy, agreed fully with Pat Perry's strong stance, believing McIlroy's chances at Augusta this year are higher than ever. He cited Rory's recent peak form, specifically his recent win at The Players Championship and a strong playoff showing at the Houston Open, combined with no significant distractions from LIV Golf drama or personal issues this year. Barnett added that Scheffler, despite being talented, hasn't looked as unbeatable compared to prior Masters appearances, with notable concerns about his current mid and long iron play. This opens the door significantly for Rory to finally overcome past disappointments and claim his first Green Jacket.

Pat Perry stated definitively he's picking Rory McIlroy over Scottie Scheffler for DFS lineups at Augusta. Perry acknowledged Scheffler’s exceptional Masters history, including two wins, but prefers McIlroy, who is showing signs of peak form heading into the event. Rory has historically struggled with mental hurdles at Augusta, yet Perry thinks this could be his breakthrough year due to current form and fewer off-course distractions. Perry also likes the $1,300 DraftKings price savings choosing Rory provides over Scheffler, allowing greater flexibility in roster construction, despite viable options also existing in the $6k salary range.

Sia Nejad advised avoiding short-priced outright bets on Rory McIlroy for The Masters. While recognizing Rory is undeniably capable and talented, Nejad expressed reluctance due explicitly to Rory's short odds, describing them as unappealing for betting purposes. He clarified that although he wouldn't criticize other bettors who back McIlroy at the current price, Nejad himself intended to avoid making such short-priced wagers. Instead, he prefers targeting golfers in slightly longer odds ranges for better value opportunities.

Matt Gannon strongly touted Rory McIlroy as a prime candidate to secure his next major victory specifically at a U.S. Open rather than any other major championship. Gannon described the current U.S. Open setups as significantly favoring players in the top 15% for driving distance, an archetype McIlroy perfectly fits. Given Rory’s near-win at Pinehurst (U.S. Open venue) where Gannon experienced heartbreak firsthand, he acknowledged this could strongly bias him, but reinforced the U.S. Open's emphasis on driving proficiency strongly aligns with Rory's greatest skills. Despite positive sentiment toward Rory at Augusta, Gannon implied McIlroy’s best chances remain at U.S. Open events given the modern, driving-focused test of golf at these championships.

Pat Mayo cautioned listeners to avoid betting Rory McIlroy at 7-to-1 odds to win the Masters, despite Rory's elite form entering this event. He stated historically bettors have repeatedly lost money backing Rory to win at Augusta National, noting Rory hasn't won a major championship in 11 years, despite recent victories like the Players Championship and at Pebble Beach. Mayo emphasizes that regardless of form and recent high-profile wins, McIlroy's ongoing drought in majors has consistently frustrated bettors and provides sufficient reason to abstain from investing at the current short price. Although Mayo expressed a personal hope that Rory eventually breaks through at Augusta for narrative value, he strongly advised against betting on Rory McIlroy in this event given historical trends and betting price point.

Michael Kim highlighted the significant mental strain Rory McIlroy likely experiences every Masters week given his history and expectations at Augusta. Kim noted that even an experienced and talented player like Rory is not exempt from the pressure and stress this major brings, implying a substantial mental hurdle to a strong Masters performance. For DFS and betting purposes, this cautionary note suggests being cautious investing heavily in McIlroy, given the psychological challenges he faces annually at this event.

Pat Perry discussed Rory McIlroy's recent elbow issue (described as an "owie"), suggesting it could serve as a beneficial distraction leading into The Masters. Perry observed that historically Rory places immense pressure on himself heading into Augusta, where he's had past disappointments. Having a minor elbow problem may alleviate some of that mental pressure, allowing Rory to approach Augusta more loosely. Perry expressed optimism that Rory's current excellent form, combined with potentially reduced self-imposed pressure due to this minor injury, positions him favorably for success at the Masters.

Pat Mayo strongly endorsed Rory McIlroy as the clear second pick for Underdog majors-only fantasy drafts, highlighting Rory's exceptional early 2025 form as principal reasoning. Despite historical disappointments at Augusta, Mayo focused on Rory's two early season victories and a top-five finish in Dubai, emphasizing that elite form typically translates to successful Masters performances or at least high-end contention. Given Rory's current high-level play, Mayo views him as an essential selection with top-tier win equity for fantasy drafts focused exclusively on major championships.

Tyler Tamboline highlighted Rory McIlroy as the clearly preferred top-tier golfer for DFS at the 2025 Houston Open, outpacing Scottie Scheffler in popularity. McIlroy's consistently exceptional play in 2025 combined with being priced $1,000 cheaper than Scheffler creates a natural pivot toward him. Tamboline noted if pricing were equal, ownership would be more evenly spread, but the significant price difference plus Rory's recent form—objectively making him the best golfer in the world thus far this year—is driving clear DFS preference. This is likely to shape roster construction heavily toward Rory-led lineups.