Steve Palmer's Masters first-round preview, best bets, free golf tips

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 12.30pm Thursday

Best bets

Hideki Matsuyama to win threeball
3pts 13-10 Hills

Scottie Scheffler to win threeball
2pts 5-4 general

Matt Wallace to win threeball
2pts Evens general

Preview

The top two in the Masters outright betting have been separated in the tee-times draw, with favourite Bryson DeChambeau scheduled off early and world number one Dustin Johnson out late.

DeChambeau is due on the tee at 7.33am local time (12.33pm UK and Ireland) alongside Jon Rahm and Louis Oosthuizen, while Johnson has Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay for company at high-noon in Georgia (5pm UK).

The weather forecast continues to cloud the picture, though, and the likelihood of thunder suspensions could see the start times changed. Punters need to be on the lookout for any potential draw bias which may result. Delays could mean players having to return to finish round two on Saturday morning, which would probably be in the coldest temperatures of the event.

Initially, though, a wet, stormy Thursday is expected, and an already soft course is set for a further soaking. During any play which takes place in the gaps between electrical activity, Hideki Matsuyama (12.11pm), Scottie Scheffler (12.22pm) and Matt Wallace (1.17pm) can be fancied to use their power advantage to great effect against weak playing partners.

Matsuyama is up against Webb Simpson, a short hitter who could struggle this week on sodden fairways, and Marc Leishman, who has been in awful form post-lockdown. Matsuyama tied for second in Houston on Sunday, finding his A-game at the perfect time to become a Masters contender, and the Japanese ace can boss this group.

Scheffler is an Augusta debutant, but the Texan finished fourth in his last Major - the US PGA - and his form over the last year makes him one of the most dangerous first-timers in attendance. Scheffler was the second-best scorer in the Tour Championship and can outmuscle Kevin Kisner and Adam Hadwin.

Wallace, lively on the European Tour lately, can outgun Mike Weir and Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

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