I Asked AI to Be My Masters Caddie — Here’s How I Built a Data-Driven Pool Strategy That Actually Makes Sense
What happens when a digital marketer obsessed with AI, APIs, and optimization turns that same energy toward Augusta National?
I spend most of my professional life thinking about AI-powered search, GEO, SEO strategy, CRM optimization, and paid media performance. I live in data. I build models. I test hypotheses.
And then April rolls around, and I turn into just another golf fan staring at a leaderboard wondering why I picked Viktor Hovland when he missed the cut in 2024.
This year, I decided to change that.
Instead of going with my gut (which historically has been less accurate than a random number generator at Masters pool time), I built a proper scoring model — powered by a live sports API, a large language model, and the same structured thinking I apply to every other data problem I work on professionally. The goal was simple: stop guessing, start reasoning, and make the most defensible Masters pool picks I possibly could.
Here’s exactly how I did it, what I found, and which 10 players I picked — with my top 8 core team and two alternates.
The AI Stack
Before I get into the golf logic, here’s what I actually used:
Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Anthropic) — The LLM running inside Cursor IDE, acting as my research partner and model-builder throughout. Claude isn’t just a chatbot here — it’s functioning as an autonomous agent: calling APIs, analyzing responses, running web searches, synthesizing historical data, and iterating on the scoring framework in real time.
Cursor IDE — I do most of my AI-assisted work in Cursor, and it was the natural environment for this project. The combination of Cursor’s agentic capabilities with Claude Sonnet 4.6 underneath meant I could have a genuine back-and-forth: prompt → research → model → refine → output. It’s as close to a real analyst workflow as AI gets right now, and the speed is genuinely remarkable.
SportsData.io API — Live golf tournament data, including the full 2026 Masters field, player odds, tournament details, and scoring data. Tournament ID 688 is the 2026 Masters at Augusta National. This gave me the actual field and real-time odds data rather than relying on memory or outdated articles.
Live web research — Real-time searches for the 2026 Augusta weather forecast, recent player form, historical Augusta finishing data, and champion DNA profiles.
The Framework: What Actually Wins at Augusta?
The first thing I did before touching a single player’s name was build a champion profile from the data. I looked at every Masters champion from 2021 to 2025:
| Year | Champion | What Won It |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hideki Matsuyama | Elite SG: Approach, led GIR, masterful short game from tight lies |
| 2022 | Scottie Scheffler | Ball-striking dominance, elite T2G, par 5 destruction |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm | World’s best iron player, emotional engine, par 5 savagery |
| 2024 | Scottie Scheffler | Same blueprint — 69.8 scoring avg at Augusta, best of any active player |
| 2025 | Rory McIlroy | Mentally unlocked after completing Grand Slam, playoff win over Rose, elite T2G |
What do they share? Every single champion:
- Had made the Augusta cut the previous year
- Had at least one prior top-25 Augusta finish
- Ranked top 10 in Strokes Gained: Approach that week
- Was in the top 15 in OWGR at time of win
- Was elite on par 5 scoring (Augusta’s four par 5s account for ~88% of recent winners’ scoring output)
This is the DNA. Every pick I made was held up against this template.
My Scoring Model (The 5 Categories)
I built a weighted scoring system out of 37 maximum points across five categories, directly based on how I think about Augusta’s demands:
| Category | My Weight | Max Points | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta Past Success | 8/10 | 8 pts | Wins, top 5s, scoring average, cut history at Augusta specifically |
| Recent Form | 7/10 | 7 pts | 2026 season wins, OWGR trajectory (excluded for LIV players) |
| Cut-Making | 8/10 | 8 pts | Augusta cut percentage, 2026 season consistency |
| Technical Metrics | 8/10 | 8 pts | SG: Approach, Par 5 scoring, GIR, SG: T2G, scrambling from tight lies, lag putting |
| Intangibles | 6/10 | 6 pts | Major wins, Sunday pressure history, narrative |
The cut-making weight being equal to Augusta past success was a deliberate decision. In most pool formats, missed cuts are punishing — getting zero points from a player you spent a pick on is often worse than picking a steady T25 finisher. I wanted a team with an extremely high floor, not just ceiling.
The Weather Factor: Why 2026 Conditions Completely Validate This Approach
Augusta weather this week is almost perfectly dry:
- Thursday: 73°F, 23% rain chance, 7–10 mph winds
- Friday: 80°F, 20% rain chance
- Saturday: 82°F, sunny, 15% rain chance
- Sunday (final round): 84°F, 0% rain, winds calming to 5–6 mph
This matters enormously. Dry, firm Augusta means:
- Greens are at maximum speed — 3-putt avoidance and lag putting become premium skills
- Tight fairway lies everywhere — scrambling from tight short grass is critical (Augusta has no real rough anyway, but firm conditions amplify this)
- Par 5s become even more reachable — dry fairways add 10–15 yards of roll, making all four par 5s gettable in two for the big hitters
- Approach play must be exact — on firm greens, a ball landing 2 yards long runs off into a nightmare. Precision from 150–200 yards is paramount
Every player I selected performs well in these conditions. None of my picks rely on soft, receptive greens to compete.
The Picks: My Full 10-Player Roster
Pool format: Pick 10 across 4 tiers, best 8 scores count. Here’s what I submitted.
TIER 1: The Foundation (Picked 2 of 10)
Pick 1: Scottie Scheffler — 4/1 Model score: 37.0/37
No deliberation needed. He’s a two-time Augusta champion (2022 and 2024), has never missed an Augusta cut, and holds the lowest scoring average at Augusta among all active players at 69.8. The metrics are perfect: elite SG: T2G, elite par 5 scoring, elite SG: Approach. In firm conditions, his power game gets an additional boost. He is the entire foundation of any serious pool entry this year.
Pick 2: Rory McIlroy — 10/1 Model score: 35.5/37
The defending champion. What makes McIlroy compelling in 2026 isn’t just that he won in 2025 — it’s how he won it. He completed the career Grand Slam after years of near-misses at Augusta, beating Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff. The mental weight that haunted him at this course for over a decade is gone. He knows the final round at Augusta now — from the inside of the jacket, not the outside looking in. There were reports of some form inconsistency heading into the week, but Augusta-specific, his knowledge and confidence are at an all-time peak.
Human in the Loop Update: I picked a serious alternative instead. Xander Schauffele (19/1, model score: 36.3) — marginally higher cut safety and two major wins. If you want the more conservative Tier 1 pairing, Scheffler + Schauffele is an excellent choice.
TIER 2: The Value Layer (Picked 3 of 25)
Pick 3: Jon Rahm — 9/1 Model score: 37.5/37 (highest in entire model)
Here’s the move. Rahm scores higher than anyone in my model — including Scheffler — but he’s sitting in Tier 2 at 9/1 odds. This is a structural pool advantage: because of how the tiers are drawn, the best player in my model is accessible without spending a Tier 1 pick. Rahm won in 2023, finished T2 in 2022, and has multiple Augusta top-10s. He’s a LIV player now, so OWGR tracking is excluded from my scoring (per my model rules), but his Augusta-specific record is elite regardless. Best iron player in the world, elite from 150–200 yards, dominant on par 5s. He is made for Augusta National.
Pick 4: Hideki Matsuyama — 39/1 Model score: 37.0/37
2021 Masters champion. The win was built on exactly the metrics that matter most at Augusta: he led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, was dominant on par 5s, and demonstrated exceptional scrambling from tight lies. His 2026 form is solid — T2 at the WM Phoenix Open, T8 at Pebble Beach. He is a near-perfect cut-maker at Augusta and knows how to close here on Sunday. At 39/1, he is one of the highest-value picks in the entire field for this pool format.
Pick 5: Justin Thomas — 55/1 Model score: 35.8/37
Two major championships (back-to-back PGA Championships), consistently ranked top-5 in SG: Approach on the PGA Tour, multiple Augusta top-15 finishes, and in reasonable 2026 form. His technical metrics are exactly right for firm Augusta conditions, and at 55/1, the odds-to-quality ratio is compelling. This is the “trusted professional” pick in a tier full of longshots — Thomas belongs here in the conversation.
Human in the Loop Update: I picked Justin Rose (36/1, model score: 36.3) — arguably more Augusta-proven. T2 at the 2025 Masters (lost to McIlroy in a playoff), three career Augusta runner-ups, and he won the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open. His cut-making at Augusta is outstanding. Rose vs. Thomas is a genuine toss-up; I went Thomas for the technical metrics advantage, but Rose is an excellent swap if you want more Augusta-proven history.
TIER 3: The Intelligent Longshots (Picked 3 of 18)
Pick 6: Corey Conners — 82/1 Model score: 35.5/37
This pick is entirely built around your pool format. Conners’s value in this pool is not that he’ll win — it’s that he almost certainly won’t miss the cut, and he regularly finishes in positions that score meaningful points. He consistently leads or near-leads the PGA Tour in Greens in Regulation, which at Augusta (in firm conditions, with terrifying run-off areas) is the most valuable stat you can have. He co-led after Round 1 at the 2025 Masters. He is the ultimate cut-safety anchor in Tier 3, and under my 8/10 cut-making weight, he earns one of the highest scores in the entire tier. At 82/1, the value is exceptional.
Pick 7: Jason Day — 69/1 Model score: 34.5/37
Multiple Augusta top-5 finishes, a T2 in his career here, and a major championship on his resume (2015 PGA Championship). Day’s game has been resurgent, and he arrives at Augusta knowing exactly how to contend here. Under my model, his combination of Augusta history, cut-making reliability, and major championship experience gives him a very high floor. Value at 69/1.
Pick 8: Cameron Smith — 100/1 Model score: 34.8/37
The sleeper pick of the entire roster. Smith finished T2 at the 2022 Masters — he knows this course. He won the 2022 Open Championship, proving he can close major championships. His game is specifically built for Augusta: elite putter on fast greens, exceptional short game from tight lies, strong iron play. He’s on LIV (so OWGR excluded), but his Augusta DNA is undeniable. At 100/1 in Tier 3, if he makes the cut and finds his game, he’s the pick that could completely change your pool score. The firm green conditions this week play directly into his putting strengths.
Human in the Loop Update: I picked conservative alternative Adam Scott over Smith (62/1) — 2013 Masters champion. Diminished current form but extraordinary Augusta course knowledge and a near-perfect Augusta cut record. If you want to minimize risk in Tier 3, Scott over Smith is a legitimate call.
TIER 4: The Tickets (Picked 2 of many)
Pick 9: Keegan Bradley — 140/1 Model score: 30.5/37
The floor pick of Tier 4. Bradley has qualified for the Masters repeatedly since his 2011 PGA Championship win and knows Augusta well. He’s a consistent Augusta cut-maker and arrives in reasonable form. In a tier full of cut risks and first-timers, Bradley is the player most likely to show up, do his job, make the cut, and contribute something to your score. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need from a Tier 4 pick.
Pick 10: Nicolai Hojgaard — 84/1 Model score: 29.3/37
The lottery ticket of the roster. Young, talented European player in excellent recent form. The best upside in Tier 4. He has limited Augusta experience, which is the honest risk, but at 84/1, the potential return if he finds his game at a course that can suit a skilled iron player is worth taking. You need one boom pick in Tier 4, and Hojgaard is mine.
The AI Full Team at a Glance
| Pick | Tier | Player | Odds | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Scottie Scheffler | 4/1 | Anchor |
| 2 | 1 | Rory McIlroy | 10/1 | Defending Champion |
| 3 | 2 | Jon Rahm | 9/1 | Best Value in Pool |
| 4 | 2 | Hideki Matsuyama | 39/1 | Former Champion |
| 5 | 2 | Justin Thomas | 55/1 | Elite Metrics |
| 6 | 3 | Corey Conners | 82/1 | Cut Safety Machine |
| 7 | 3 | Jason Day | 69/1 | Augusta Pedigree |
| 8 | 3 | Cameron Smith | 100/1 | Sleeper |
| Alt 9 | 4 | Keegan Bradley | 140/1 | Floor Pick |
| Alt 10 | 4 | Nicolai Hojgaard | 84/1 | Lottery Ticket |
Tiebreaker: -11 (firm conditions, 0% rain on Sunday, warming temps — historically in the -10 to -12 range, landing on -11)
If your pool is just top players?
Full Player Scores (Top 14 Contenders)
TIER 1 — ELITE: The Anchors of Your Pool
🟢 #1 — SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER | Score: 37.5/37
| Category | Score | Notes |
| Augusta Past Success | 8.0 | 2x champion (2022, 2024). 69.8 avg score at Augusta — best of any active player. Made every cut. |
| Recent Form | 6.5 | World #1 for 90+ consecutive weeks, 6 PGA Tour wins since 2024–25. Slightly inconsistent lead-up but still dominant. |
| Cut-Making | 8.0 | Perfect Augusta cut record. Has never missed the cut here. |
| Technical Metrics | 8.0 | Elite SG: T2G, elite SG: APP, massive par 5 scorer. Everything Augusta demands, he does at an elite level. |
| Intangibles | 6.0 | Chasing history (3rd jacket = joining Nicklaus/Arnie/Tiger). Handles Sunday pressure better than anyone alive. |
| Weather Bonus | +0.5 | Power game thrives on firm fairways. |
| TOTAL | 37.5 |
Verdict: He is the pick. Safest cut. Most likely winner. Highest floor, highest ceiling.🟢 #2 — JON RAHM | Score: 37.0/37
| Category | Score | Notes |
| Augusta Past Success | 8.5 | 2023 champion. T2 in 2022. Multiple top 10s. Augusta is his home course spiritually. |
| Recent Form | 7.0 | LIV member (no OWGR tracking per your rules), but “surging” with LIV wins pre-Masters. Arrived at Augusta with serious momentum. |
| Cut-Making | 8.0 | Near-perfect Augusta cut record. Only misses if playing hurt. |
| Technical Metrics | 8.0 | Arguably the world’s best iron player. Elite 150–200 yard approach. Elite par 5 scoring. Elite GIR. |
| Intangibles | 5.5 | 3x major winner, fierce competitor, Augusta motivates him above all else. Slight LIV isolation concern. |
| Weather Bonus | +0.5 | Iron precision thrives when ball needs to fly exact distance on firm greens. |
| TOTAL | 37.0 |
Verdict: One of the two highest-upside picks in the field. His Augusta record is extraordinary. Despite LIV, he cannot be left off your roster.🟢 #3 — RORY McILROY | Score: 35.5/37
| Category | Score | Notes |
| Augusta Past Success | 7.5 | Defending 2025 champion. Beat Rose in a playoff. Multiple prior runner-ups. Mentally unlocked here now. |
| Recent Form | 6.0 | PGA Tour article notes “questions” about form heading in. Defending champion narrative could cut both ways. |
| Cut-Making | 7.5 | Generally makes the cut, with some historical inconsistency pre-2025 win. |
| Technical Metrics | 8.0 | Elite off tee, elite iron play, strong T2G. One of the best ball-strikers in the world. |
| Intangibles | 6.0 | Completed Grand Slam in 2025. Highest intangible score possible — that mental weight is now gone. |
| Weather Bonus | +0.5 | Power game and precise iron play suit firm, fast conditions. |
| TOTAL | 35.5 |
Verdict: The defending champion. The “questions” about form are a mild concern but his Augusta DNA is now fully unlocked. Core pick.🟢 #4 — XANDER SCHAUFFELE | Score: 36.3/37
| Category | Score | Notes |
| Augusta Past Success | 7.0 | T2 in 2019, multiple top 10s, consistent Augusta performer. Very comfortable here. |
| Recent Form | 7.0 | 2024 PGA Championship and Open Championship winner. In the top 10 in the world. Serious 2026 form. |
| Cut-Making | 8.0 | One of the most reliable cut-makers at Augusta. Almost never misses. |
| Technical Metrics | 8.0 | Elite iron player, SG: APP consistently top tier, excellent putter for Augusta speeds. |
| Intangibles | 6.0 | 2x major winner, Olympic gold medalist. Has handled enormous pressure repeatedly. |
| Weather Bonus | +0.3 | Precision iron play benefits from firm conditions. |
| TOTAL | 36.3 |
Verdict: Underrated pick. Reliable cut-maker, proven major winner, elite Augusta metrics. Arguably the safest “secondary star” pick in the entire field.
TIER 2 — STRONG: High Value, Specific Advantages
🔵 #5 — JUSTIN ROSE | Score: 36.3/37 ⭐ Sleeper Pick of the Pool
| Category | Score | Notes |
| Augusta Past Success | 8.0 | T2 in 2025 (lost in playoff to McIlroy after holing a 20-footer on 72). Three career runner-ups. Has led Augusta after Round 1 FIVE times — more than anyone in history. |
| Recent Form | 7.0 | Won the Farmers Insurance Open in 2026. Stroke average of 68.85 across 4 events in 2026. Coming in HOT. |
| Cut-Making | 8.5 | Exceptional Augusta cut record. Borderline elite. |
| Technical Metrics | 7.5 | Elite iron player, excellent course manager, proven Augusta-specific game. |
| Intangibles | 5.0 | 2013 US Open winner, but 3 runner-ups without a win is a concern for the “intangibles” narrative. However — he nearly won last year. He knows how to play this final round. |
| Weather Bonus | +0.3 | Precision iron play suits firm conditions. |
| TOTAL | 36.3 |
Verdict: The most underrated pick in the pool. He was literally one hole away from winning last year, is in career form in 2026, and has as much Augusta experience as anyone. His “never wins it” narrative actually drives him. Massive value.🔵 #6 — COREY CONNERS | Score: 35.5/37 ⭐ Cut Safety Specialist
| Category | Score | Notes |
| Augusta Past Success | 7.5 | Co-led after Round 1 in 2025. Multiple top 10s. Leads or near-leads GIR at Augusta every year. |
| Recent Form | 6.0 | Consistent but no 2026 wins. Steady, not spectacular. |
| Cut-Making | 9.0 | His GIR excellence makes him one of the safest cut-making picks in the entire field. When you hit more greens than anyone, you make cuts. |
| Technical Metrics | 8.5 | Leads PGA Tour in GIR regularly. Elite ball-striker. Augusta rewards this specifically — keeping the ball on greens avoids the dangerous run-offs. |
| Intangibles | 3.5 | No major wins. Lacks final-round firepower. But mentally solid and composed. |
| Weather Bonus | +0.5 | GIR king is the biggest beneficiary of firm conditions — when greens are fast, hitting them vs. being around them is a massive differentiator. |
| TOTAL | 35.5 |
Verdict: Per your priority on cut-making (8/10 weight), Conners might be the most structurally sound pick in your pool. His floor is extraordinarily high. He won’t win, but he will make the cut and score meaningful points.🔵 #7 — LUDVIG ABERG | Score: 35.5/37
| Category | Score | Notes |
| Augusta Past Success | 7.0 | T2 on debut in 2024 — extraordinary for a first-timer. Only 2 Augusta starts but both positive (made cut both times). |
| Recent Form | 7.5 | World top 5, multiple wins in 2025–26, breakout young talent. One of the hottest players in the world. |
| Cut-Making | 6.5 | Small Augusta sample, but tour-wide cut rate is excellent. The inexperience is the only flag. |
| Technical Metrics | 8.5 | Elite ball-striker across every metric. Long, accurate, elite SG: APP, elite par 5 scoring potential. |
| Intangibles | 5.0 | No major wins yet, but T2 on Masters debut shows he handles the biggest stages. He’s clearly not intimidated by Augusta. |
| Weather Bonus | +0.5 | One of the longest hitters in the field. Firm fairways = massive off-tee advantage on par 5s. |
| TOTAL | 35.5 |
Verdict: High ceiling, slightly limited Augusta sample. But a T2 debut is as good as it gets. He’s the “boom” pick in your top 8.🔵 #8 — TOMMY FLEETWOOD | Score: 34.6/37
| Category | Score | Notes |
| Augusta Past Success | 6.0 | Multiple top 15s, never top 5. Consistent finisher here but ceiling has been moderate. |
| Recent Form | 7.0 | Best season of his career in 2025–26. Multiple wins on DP World Tour and PGA Tour. His game is peaking. |
| Cut-Making | 8.5 | Outstanding Augusta cut record. One of the most reliable cut-makers in the entire field. Almost never misses at Augusta. |
| Technical Metrics | 8.0 | Elite iron player, SG: APP consistently top tier. Scrambling from tight lies is excellent. |
| Intangibles | 4.5 | No major wins — the “best player never to win a major” label is real. But the narrative has “2026 is his year” energy, and he’s mentally tougher now than ever. |
| Weather Bonus | +0.3 | Precision iron play. |
| TOTAL | 34.6 |
Verdict: The value pick. +2300–+2500 odds but his cut-making is almost guaranteed and his current form is the best of his career. If he ever breaks through at a major, 2026 Augusta is the year that makes sense.
Notable Players & Why They Rank Outside Top 8
Collin Morikawa (34.8): Deserves consideration as a 9th man. Elite iron player (arguably best on PGA Tour), 2x major winner, handles pressure. Augusta cut record is solid. The knock: his Masters history lacks a top-5 finish despite his overall major pedigree. Would be a strong pick at 9/10 in your roster.
Jason Day (34.5): Multiple Augusta top-5s, major winner (2015 PGA), resurgent form. Solid pick. Edges out Morikawa for Augusta-specific history but comparable overall.
Bryson DeChambeau (33.5): “White hot” LIV form coming in but his Augusta cut record is a genuine concern given your 8/10 cut-making weight. He’s a boom-or-bust pick — miss the cut and you’ve wasted a spot. Hard to justify in a cut-focused pool.
Patrick Cantlay (32.0): Exceptional lag putter for these fast green conditions, but no major wins and no Augusta top-5. Cut-safe but low upside.Viktor Hovland (30.0): Missed the 2024 Augusta cut. Only T21 in 2025. Inconsistent Augusta results despite elite ball-striking ability. Too much downside for a cut-focused pool.
Your Recommended Pool (Top 8 Core + 2 Alternates)
CORE 8 — PICK THESE:
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
1. Scottie Scheffler 37.5 ← Anchor. Must-pick.
2. Jon Rahm 37.0 ← Highest upside. Must-pick.
3. Xander Schauffele 36.3 ← Cut-safe elite. Must-pick.
4. Justin Rose 36.3 ← Best value in the pool. Must-pick.
5. Rory McIlroy 35.5 ← Defending champ, unlocked. Must-pick.
6. Corey Conners 35.5 ← Cut safety machine. Must-pick.
7. Ludvig Aberg 35.5 ← The boom pick. Must-pick.
8. Tommy Fleetwood 34.6 ← Value + cut insurance. Must-pick.
ALTERNATES (if your pool allows more than 8):
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
9. Collin Morikawa 34.8 ← Elite iron play, major winner
10. Jason Day 34.5 ← Augusta pedigree, resurgent form
What I Learned From Doing This
A few things jumped out from running this process:
Augusta is genuinely unique in golf. Most major tournaments reward whoever is playing the best that week. Augusta rewards players who understand the course, have walked its slopes under pressure before, and have built a mental model of how to navigate it. The stat that 45 of the last 45 winners had previous Augusta experience, and that 21 of the last 26 winners made 3+ Masters appearances before winning, is not a coincidence — it’s a design feature. The course teaches. First-timers and players with limited appearances get a different education.
Cut-making is systematically underweighted in most pool strategies. Everyone talks about who’s going to win. Almost no one talks about who’s going to miss the cut — and in a pool that heavily penalizes cut misses, that’s backwards. I built cut-making as an 8/10 priority alongside past Augusta success because the most common pool-destroying move is picking a marquee name who shoots 79-76 and is gone by Friday afternoon. Conners, Matsuyama, McIlroy, Scheffler — these players don’t disappear on Friday.
The weather is genuinely part of the model. The 2026 forecast (firm, dry, 0% rain on Sunday) told me exactly what Augusta was going to demand: precision approaches to firm greens, elite lag putting, scrambling from tight lies, and par 5 dominance from the long hitters. That information directly shaped which players I felt most confident in.
LIV players are being systematically undervalued in pools. Rahm and Smith both have exceptional Augusta track records. Because their OWGR isn’t tracked and they’re less visible in PGA Tour news cycles, pool participants often overlook them. Rahm at 9/1 in Tier 2 is extraordinary value for a former Augusta champion who is arguably still a top-5 player in the world.
Would I Do This Again?
Absolutely — and I’d do it earlier. Building the scoring model the week before the tournament gave me a framework to evaluate every pick rather than defaulting to vibes and recency bias. The combination of Claude Sonnet 4.6 as the reasoning engine, Cursor as the working environment, and live API data from SportsData.io created something genuinely useful: a repeatable, explainable decision process.
This is exactly what I spend time thinking about in my professional work — using AI and structured data to make better decisions faster. It turns out the same approach works whether the problem is a campaign attribution model or a Masters pool. The underlying logic is the same: define your criteria, weight them honestly, pull real data, iterate on your assumptions, and let the model do the reasoning.
The golf is just more fun.
The 2026 Masters runs April 9–12 at Augusta National Golf Club. Built using Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Anthropic) in Cursor IDE, with live data from the SportsData.io Golf API. Picks reflect pre-tournament analysis only.
