Masters Golf Tournament starts in Augusta, GA, featuring elite contenders in the year's first major event. Get our analysis and best bets inside!

In a no nonsense black frame with a dark green background, three square pictures of three distinct golf holes have been in my presence for as long as I can remember. Like every golf fan, you have seen the contents of the photographs.

Masters is almost here. Who are the best longshot bets and sleeper picks in this year's field? Expert predictions are rolling in.

The Masters begins Thursday at Augusta National, where defending champion Scottie Scheffler will try to win his third green jacket, Rory McIlroy will try once again to win his first, and the biggest names in golf will come together amid the Georgia pines for the year's first major championship.

Rory McIlroy is well aware of how close he is to completing the career grand slam if he can win the Masters, so he's doing his best to avoid outside distractions leading up to the start of this year's tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.