Free Masters first-round threeball tips and predictions: Rose can bloom again at Augusta

Where to watch the Masters

Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 2pm on Thursday

Best bets

Justin Rose to win 5pm threeball
3pts 6-4 Betfair, Paddy Power

Patrick Cantlay to win 5.33pm threeball
3pts 11-10 general

Will Zalatoris to win 1.35pm threeball
3pts 10-19 bet365

Davis Thompson to win 1.24pm threeball
2pts 6-5 general

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The Masters first-round threeballs predictions

Thursday of the Masters has been a joyous time for Justin Rose through the years and the ultra-experienced Englishman could be set for another satisfying start in the Masters this week.

Rose has been first-round leader in the Masters an astonishing four times and seems to settle at the Cathedral of Pines much more quickly than others. He has made 19 Masters appearances and has carded an opening round in the 60s eight times, a remarkable effort at such a demanding track.

In three of the last five years Rose has carded a Thursday round in the 60s, and the 65 he conjured in 2021 may well be good enough to secure first-round-leader honours this time. He is tempting in that market but preference is for taking the 6-4 about the Ryder Cup star bossing his 5pm threeball with Max Homa and JJ Spaun.

Rose has twice finished second in the Masters and will feel he still has hopes of a Green Jacket at the age of 44, while Homa's game has been in disarray and he seems likely to be having the weekend off.

Homa has changed his coach and his clubs through this lean spell, then at the end of last month he was essentially sacked by his long-time caddie. Joe Greiner decided he needed to split from Homa, who has dropped from ninth in the world rankings to 80th since last year's Masters.

Homa has not made a cut this year. His only weekend golf has come in The Sentry and the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, events which did not have a cut. His first-round scoring average this year is 75.625 and he opened with an 81 at Bay Hill a month ago.

Spaun has played in the Masters only once – sharing 23rd place in 2022. He has played 66 competitive rounds fewer than Rose at Augusta. The knowledge and comfort Rose enjoys at Augusta are not reflected in the prices for this threeball.

Patrick Cantlay, who has three top-20s to his name at Augusta, has missed only one cut since the start of the 2024 season. This walking cash cow can be trusted to be too steady from tee to green for his 5.33pm threeball partners Matt Fitzpatrick and Rasmus Hojgaard.

Fitzpatrick, like Homa, has been plummeting down the world rankings. He has missed three of his last five cuts and is without a top-ten finish since June. He parted company with experienced caddie Billy Foster last month. Hojgaard has missed three of his last five cuts and looks vulnerable on his Masters debut.

Will Zalatoris, who boasts Masters form figures of 2-6-9, should be even shorter than 10-19 to defeat 67-year-old Bernhard Langer and amateur Major debutant Noah Kent, while Davis Thompson is an attractive option against Nico Echavarria and Danny Willett.

Georgia boy Thompson possesses the tools to have a positive Masters debut, while Echavarria's lack of driving distance is a significant handicap at a long track which was softened by heavy rain on Sunday and Monday. Willett has missed five Augusta cuts since winning the 2016 Masters and the injury-plagued Englishman is surely just making up the numbers this year.

Read more from Steve Palmer on the 2025 Masters:

Steve Palmer's Masters outright predictions: Our top tipster has a 22-1 headline selection 

Steve Palmer's Masters first-round leader predictions: 45-1, 50-1 and 90-1 tips for round one 

The Masters 2025: Steve Palmer's guide to all 95 players in the Augusta National field 

Steve Palmer's Masters specials predictions including a 200-1 tip 

Steve Palmer's Masters 72-hole match-bet predictions: MacIntyre poised for a big week 

Rory McIlroy Masters odds boost: get 50-1 on McIlroy to make the cut with Paddy Power 

Rory McIlroy Masters odds boost: get McIlroy to make a first-round birdie at 50-1 with Sky Bet 

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