As of this writing, we’re looking at 91 competitors in the field for 2026, the 90th edition of the Masters, representing 23 different countries, competing for one green jacket and the lifetime invitation to come back that comes with it. It’s an exclusive club with just 56 members to date, 17 of whom will be taking part in this year’s tournament.

There’s nothing else in the world of sports quite like The Masters. For most, it signals the beginning of spring. The tight shots of the azaleas in bloom, the tree-lined shots of Magnolia Lane leading to the clubhouse, the piano playing that ditty that we’re so accustomed to as the coverage goes in and out of commercial breaks, and Jim Nantz whispering sweet nothings to us as he sends us to Amen Corner for an update.

Time stops when you’re on the grounds at Augusta National. No cell phones. No overpriced vendors. Other than the gnomes, of course. Even the schmucks who yell ‘get in the hole!’ and ‘light the candle!’ after every tee shot seem to understand that this place is different.

The course itself remains the ultimate test of skill and nerve. The Augusta National fairways are generous, but the approach shots that follow ask you to hit off uneven lies, navigate treacherous slopes and shaved runoffs, and hold greens that are firm and fast, repelling anything short of perfect. The green complexes are as punishing as they are beautiful.

This combination tests every club in a golfer’s bag while requiring elite levels of mental fortitude on golf’s grandest stage. Success at Augusta National favors players in peak form, with a history of playing well here and a well-rounded skill set. Distance off the tee, long-iron accuracy, creativity with their short game, and an ability to score on par-5s are all crucial baseline skills required for anyone looking for a late tee time on Sunday.

Beyond the specific shot requirements, the course is a masterpiece of design. The elevation changes, hole routing, and risk-reward options contribute to its strategic depth. Amen Corner, as difficult as it is breathtaking, is legendary for its ability to make or break a golfer’s round.

The green complexes, with their treacherous slopes, are another iconic feature that demands precise shot-making. While Augusta National is a long course by the numbers, the fairways are deliberately mowed in a way that makes it play even longer. Despite the challenge, golfers can employ strategic shot selection to play for par or take on more risk for birdie opportunities on most holes.

I could wax poetic about the “tradition unlike any other,” but let’s get to the goods. Let’s get into the players, stats, trends, and bets that actually matter.

• Below is a list of this year’s participants, along with their Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), notes on their history at Augusta, and a quick nugget or two regarding their recent form.
• The “Last 5 Masters Finishes” show the most recent first (2025-2021), but if a golfer hasn’t played in every recent event but played previously, their past appearances are listed in order.
• A new addition to this year’s guide is each golfer’s average strokes gained per round over the past five years (or starts) at Augusta National.
• You’ll see many other stats referenced and highlighted throughout. If some of these terms are new to you, please check out our stat glossary.

2026 Masters Field: The Player Guide

Ludvig Aberg

Current OWGR: 18th

Best Finish At The Masters: 2 (2024)

Last 5 Masters Finishes (2025-2021): 7, 2, -,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Years at Augusta National): 2.88

Ludvig Åberg is in the field at TPC San Antonio, tuning up for his third consecutive Masters appearance, where he’ll be looking to build off of back-to-back strong showings. He went off as the favorite at the Valero, and a good showing will drag his odds down even further. (edit: He finished T5 at the Valero.) Though there is reason to believe the market sentiment has cooled a bit on Ludvig after his disastrous Sunday at The PLAYERS.

Åberg’s major championship resume is eight starts deep, with an equal mix of solid finishes and missed cuts. He’s been outstanding in two appearances at Augusta National, a place that showcases his prodigious distance, apex height, and elite long iron play. When looking at how the field has played in similar setups, you see that Åberg deserves his current spot on the odds board. Over the past two years, Åberg’s gained an average of 1.77 strokes per round (min. 16 rounds) on long courses, against strong fields and under difficult scoring conditions. That ranks fifth in this week’s field behind a usual cast of characters, as you can see above.

We often get caught up in the ‘next big thing’, the shiny new prospect who’s loaded with potential, and I’m as guilty of it as anyone. But Åberg’s green jacket ceremony feels like a when and not an if.

Daniel Berger

Current OWGR: 38th

Best Finish At The Masters: 10th (2016)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 21, 50, MC, 32, 27

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -0.41

After missing part of 2022 and all of 2023 with a back injury, Daniel Berger returned to play in 2024 but struggled to find the form we had gotten accustomed to. He finished in the top 20 in just four of his 27 starts, but he returned to form in 2025 and has continued to play well early in 2026.

Berger is making his seventh start at Augusta National, and he’s still chasing the T10 he posted in his debut back in 2016. He played not to lose on Sunday at Bay Hill, which allowed the field, particularly Akshay Bhatia, to chase him down. His short game hampers his upside at times, but his ball-striking remains elite, and he’s added distance off the tee compared to his career baseline. A win would certainly surprise me, but a Sunday afternoon tee time would not.

Akshay Bhatia

Current OWGR: 20th

Best Finish At The Masters: T35 (2024)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 42, 35, -,-,

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -0.32

Akshay Bhatia‘s 2026 season got off to a rocky start, with back-to-back missed cuts at the AmEx and Farmers, but that’s a distant memory at this point. There’s perhaps no hotter player in the world since February. The 24-year-old finds himself ranked inside the top 20 in the world after a Signature Event win at Bay Hill last month, and he’s also contended in Phoenix (T3), Pebble (T6), Riviera (T16), and Sawgrass (T13).

Bhatia has taken a step forward in every aspect of the game. His short game has been a problem at times over the past two seasons, but he’s gained an average of 0.9 strokes on and around the greens this season, up from 0.05 in 2025. I’m not reading much into his missed cut at the Indian Open. Sure, I’d rather have seen him in Houston or back in San Antonio, where he won in 2024, as a prep event for the Masters, but I understand the pull to go to India and have that experience.

Bhatia’s early-season success has impacted his outright price in the futures market, so if you didn’t get an early number, you’re best sitting out now and seeing if he drifts prior to teeing off on Thursday. Ironically, his short game has been excellent in his eight Augusta National rounds to date, so if he can keep that trending and show up with his standard ball-striking game, he’ll post his best Masters finish to date.

Keegan Bradley

Current OWGR: 26th

Best Finish At The Masters: T22 (2024 & 2015)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, 22, 23, 43, 52

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.76

This is Keegan Bradley‘s tenth Masters start, and he’s still looking for his first top-20 finish.

Bradley’s 2026 season was always going to play out in one of two ways. The first option was that he’d be freed up, post-Ryder Cup, to focus on his game again and move forward without the weight of the “will he or won’t he” pick himself and all that came with the role. The second option was that the exhale of it all would be so vast that, without that carrot dangling in front of him, he’d struggle to find his footing. And that’s where we are.

Keegs has yet to be competitive in 2026, missing the cut in three of his first seven events, while bleeding strokes on approach (-0.47 per round heading into Valero). As you’ll hear me say often in this guide, Augusta National is not a place you show up to hoping to find your game along the way. You have to show up with it. And right now, Keegan’s game is M.I.A.

Augusta National GC Course Stats

Michael Brennan

Current OWGR: 45th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

We know that Augusta National has historically been rude to first-timers, so we’ll start there. It’s also important to note that Michael Brennan, winner of the fall’s Bank of Utah Championship, is struggling to find his footing so far in 2026. Brennan was slated to play the 2026 season on the Korn Ferry Tour, but his dominant win in Utah helped him earn his PGA Tour card, so he bypassed the KFT and jumped right into the thick of things with the world’s best.

The Wake Forest alum has easy power, leading this week’s field in club head speed. He routinely sits in the low 190s on ball speed, so while success at Augusta National requires a lot more than just sheer power, at least Brennan has it moving forward while the rest of his game catches up. Right now, his putter is keeping him out of contention, even against the softest of fields.

Jacob Bridgeman

Current OWGR: 17th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

There’s been no better bet to make in 2026 than a Jacob Bridgeman top 20 bet. The 26-year-old Clemson alum is 8 for 8 this season, including a wire-to-wire Signature Event win at Riviera in February.

This is the type of lead-in form that we want our golfers to have. Now, can Bridgeman keep the train rolling in his first Masters start? That’s the question. Yes, we haven’t seen a debutant win since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, but it’s not uncommon for someone to play well on debut here. Without digging back too far, off the top of my head, Tony Finau, Will Zalatoris, and Ludvig Åberg all finished T10 or better in their first trip here.

Prior to the finish at Valero, only Scottie Scheffler has averaged more strokes gained per round (2.04) than Bridgeman’s 1.88 in 2026. Bridgeman’s putter is at the heart of his success, having gained strokes putting in a remarkable 27 of his 30 measured rounds this season. He’ll need to show up tee-to-green to keep his T20 streak rolling, but he’s a sneaky look in the loaded Top Debutant market.

Sam Burns

Current OWGR: 33rd

Best Finish At The Masters: T29 (2023)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 46, MC, 29, MC, –

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -0.36

We’re starting to see a year-over-year trend with Sam Burns. He’s become one of the most form-dependent and streaky players on the PGA Tour, and when he’s playing his best golf, he’s live to win regardless of the course setup. He also tends to play better as the season progresses. While he’s still an elite putter, particularly on Bermuda, I think we can bury the Bermuda Burns moniker, since he hasn’t played well in most of his Florida starts over the past three seasons.

Even when he’s playing well, he’s so reliant on his short game, and that is a dangerous recipe when the tee-to-green test is as demanding as Augusta National. We have a relatively large sample of Burns being a non-factor in majors, and we’ve seen nothing from him in 2026 to indicate he’ll contend this week. In fact, 56 golfers in this year’s Masters field have played at least 20 rounds in major championships over the past five seasons, and Burns ranks 48th in SG: T2G.

Angel Cabrera

Current OWGR: n/a

Best Finish At The Masters: 1 (2009)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, MC, MC, MC, T24

Last season, the 2009 Masters champion made his first start at Augusta since 2019, after spending the previous four years in prison. Cabrera, who also won the 2007 U.S. Open, has spent the past season and a half competing on the Champions Tour. He won the James Hardie Invitational the week leading up to last year’s Masters, then won two more times in May, but he missed the cut in his return to Augusta National.

Cabrera was arrested in Brazil in January of 2021 after leaving Argentina without authorization following the start of a trial where he was facing numerous criminal charges, including assault, theft, and illegal intimidation. Cabrera was extradited to Argentina in July of 2021, but poor behavior, including another assault charge, extended his time behind bars. He was released in August of 2023, and the PGA Tour cleared him to return to competition later that year.

Brian Campbell

Current OWGR: 111th

Best Finish At The Masters: T32 (2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 32, -,-,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.43

For the record, I’m still recovering from Brian Campbell‘s victory in Mexico. With an Aldrich Potgeiter 75/1 ticket in hand, I watched in sheer disbelief as Campbell’s tee shot on the second playoff hole careened into the fairway after rattling around amongst the trees and out-of-bounds stakes it was initially headed for. The moment proved to be a bit too big for the young South African, and Brian Campbell took home his first PGA Tour victory and the Masters invite that came along with it.

Campbell surprised us again a few months later, winning the John Deere Classic, his second win of the 2025 season, punching his ticket back to Augusta National. In the list of surprising 2025 results, a Brian Campbell win is near the top of the list. But Brian Campbell winning twice?! Insane.

Campbell’s off-the-tee game is better suited to a Thursday-night mixed home league than to a PGA Tour event or a major. It forces him to be perfect everywhere else, and Augusta National doesn’t allow that. He continues to amaze me, because I bet on him to miss the cut last year, and he shocked me with a T32 finish.

Patrick Cantlay

Current OWGR: 34th

Best Finish At The Masters: 9 (2019)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 36, 22, 14, 39, MC

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.35

Winning a golf tournament is hard to do. It’s not uncommon to see an elite golfer have a dry patch here and there, but Patrick Cantlay has made 65 starts since his last win at the 2022 BMW Championship. Yeah, he’ll sprinkle in a backdoor top 10 here and there, as he did at the Valspar this season, but beyond the lack of wins, he’s rarely ever in contention. The last time he was truly live to win heading into a final round was the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

Overall, his profile and recent form is fine in a vacuum, but it’s far from elite. When compared to his performance from 2019 to 2022, he’s miles away. Compare those four years to the four years of 2023 to 2026, and it’s clear as day he’s taken a step back.

From 2019 to 2022, Cantlay won six times, finished inside the top 10 29 times, and averaged roughly 1.7 strokes gained per round. From 2023 to 2026, Cantlay has yet to win, posted 17 top 10s, and his average strokes gained per round in 2026 is 0.83. This current version of Patrick Cantlay is still good, and I love the version that we get every September in the red, white, and blue, but he’ll be someone that I hunt in matchups this week, not someone I’m backing.

Wyndham Clark

Current OWGR: 75th

Best Finish At The Masters: T46 (2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 46, MC,-,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -0.79

In a vacuum, Wyndham Clark‘s game is well-suited for Augusta. He’s long off the tee, and at his peak, his on-and-around-the-green game is as good as anyone in the world. When his approach game is dialed in, he’s a threat to win on any course against any field. Unfortunately, we’re miles away from his short-game peak.

The 2023 U.S. Open champion is scuffling right now. He’s missed his past two cuts, moved on from his long-time caddie John Elliss, and he couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat right now. Clark’s approach play has finally turned a corner, but he’s lost an average of 1.3 strokes per round putting over the past 16 rounds. Read that again. 1.3 per round. Over five starts.

This issue is compounded by Clark’s struggles on these Augusta National greens. Clark has lost over 1.5 strokes putting in three of his six rounds here, and his tee-to-green game hasn’t been much better. He’s not a buy-low or a sneaky upside option down the board; in my opinion, he’s a stayaway this week.

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Corey Conners

Current OWGR: 43rd

Best Finish At The Masters: 6 (2022)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 8, 38, MC, 6, 8

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 1.10

Perhaps no one in this year’s field has more sneaky Augusta National course history than Corey Conners. He has four T10 or better finishes in his past six Masters starts, including a T8 last season, where he gained strokes throughout the bag.

Since tracking and sharing strokes-gained data at Augusta National became a thing a few years ago, only Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele have topped Conner’s 0.77 SG: APP per-round average. His short game has regressed a bit from last year’s massive stride forward, but admittedly, putting stats can be noisy. His lead-in form last year was quite a bit better than it’s been this season on the whole, but Conners did flash a bit the past two times out, with a T13 at Sawgrass followed up by a T14 at Copperhead. Again, I can’t pull the trigger on him winning this unless you’re staking an each-way bet on him, but another top-20, or even top-10, makes sense if the price is right.

Fred Couples

Current OWGR: n/a

Best Finish At The Masters: 1 (1992)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, MC, 50, MC, MC

There was a five-year stretch in the early 2010s where Fred Couples showed he could still compete even though he was 20+ years removed from his 1992 Masters win. It appears that the window is fully closed, though Couples ended a run of three straight Thursday-Friday trips to Augusta with a T50 in 2023 but missed the cut each of the past two years.

“Freddie Boom Boom” is a tremendous ambassador for the game and has lots of useful nuggets to share with the new faces making their way around here for the first time, but that’s likely where the good news ends.

Jason Day

Current OWGR: 41st

Best Finish At The Masters: T2 (2011)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 8, 30, 39, MC, MC

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.20

Jason Day is one of seven golfers in this year’s field who have averaged at least 1.0 strokes gained via his short game at Augusta National over the past five Masters. Unfortunately, he hasn’t lined that up with his ball-striking. During that same time frame, only Jose Maria Olazabal and Brian Harman have lost more strokes per round ball-striking than Day’s -0.8 (12 rounds minimum).

He flashed with a T8 last season, again driven by his short game, and he came in with better lead-in form than he will this season, even though he played well in Houston (T6). His short game is as good as ever, and his ball speed is up quite a bit of late, so that added distance certainly helps. If considering a bet on Jason Day, I’d go after a finishing position look, or an outright bet with each-way options, if available to you. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him in the mix again this season. We know Malbon will have him ready to go.

Bryson DeChambeau

Current OWGR: 24th

Best Finish At The Masters: T5 (2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 5, 6, MC, MC, 46

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.49

Once again, Bryson DeChambeau is rounding into form as major championship season approaches. A tradition unlike any other. DeChambeau hadn’t won a LIV Golf event since last May’s Korea stop, but he comes to Augusta National on the heels of back-to-back wins in Singapore and South Africa.

DeChambeau’s recent play on golf’s greatest stages has been undeniable. He’s finished T10 or better in six of the past eight majors, including his 2024 U.S. Open win at Pinehurst No. 2. He’s gained an average of 2.56 strokes per round in that stretch, the third-best mark in the world, trailing only Scottie Scheffler (3.10) and Xander Schauffele (2.88). Bryson also deserves credit for improving his short game, and his struggles around the green in the past are part of why I’m always hesitant to back him at Augusta National.

Perhaps my assessment is unfair, but Bryson’s machine-like methodology is rigid and appears to lack nuance and feel. And since he’s just nowhere near as strong or consistent with his approach play as the other elite golfers, he often has stretches where he has to rely on his scrambling abilities, which also lag behind his peers. While Scheffler (0.92), Rahm (0.45), Schauffele (0.49), and McIlroy (0.28) have all gained strokes around the green since strokes gained data has been available at Augusta National, DeChambeau has lost 0.2 strokes per round on average. The other four golfers listed all have a scrambling rate of 62% or greater, led by Scheffler’s 68.5%, while Bryson’s posted a below-field-average 56.2%.

The difference maker is clear in the image above. For as good as his driver is, and if we give him credit for his improved short-game skills here, I worry that his approach game gets exposed here. Yes, I’m picking nits. But I think we have to do that at the top of the board. If you’re betting on Bryson to win, that means you’re highly unlikely to be selecting another golfer in the sub-20/1 tier, so you have to consider the opportunity cost associated with the selection. Bryson is a stayaway for me this week, but I certainly hope he’s in contention because he’s fascinating to watch.

Nico Echavarria

Current OWGR: 39th

Best Finish At The Masters: 51st (2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 51, -,-,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -1.32

Nico Echavarria took advantage of Shane Lowry‘s Sunday collapse at PGA National to win this year’s Cognizant Classic. He needed Lowry to falter, but Echavarria played incredibly well all week, played to win on the back 9, and was rewarded for it.

When you look at Echavarria’s profile above, you see that he has a very particular set of skills. He can continue to evolve, but for now, he’s at his best in easy scoring conditions and against weak fields. That’s not on the menu this week. I’m sure his goal this week is to improve on last year’s T51 finish, but there’s not a bet worth chasing here.

Harris English

Current OWGR: 21st

Best Finish At The Masters: T12 (2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 12, 22, 43, 21, 42

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.74

No one’s super excited to click on Harris English, but he’s pieced together competitive rounds in each of his past five Masters starts. English also played well in all four 2025 majors, with top-2 finishes at The Open and PGA Championship to go along with his T12 at Augusta National. Over the past two years, English has made the cut in all eight of his major championship starts, gaining an average of 1.41 strokes per round, the 11th-best mark in this week’s field (min. 16 rounds). In general, he plays his best on long tracks under difficult scoring conditions against strong fields.

He’s a tricky handicap because his short game does a lot of the heavy lifting, and there’s a lot more week-to-week and round-by-round volatility in chipping and putting compared to someone with a strong baseline of elite ball-striking numbers. That’s sort of been his path to success in 2026 as well. He’s yet to contend, but he’s cashing checks. A poor week at Sawgrass is the only blimp on his ledger, but if you need a top-30 finish, English is your guy.

Outside of the MC at the Players, Harris English has cashed every top 30 bet ( 7 for 8)

… yet, if you have bet him Top 20, you are 0 for 8

T21 Houston
MC Players
T24 API
T22 Genesis
T24 Pebble
T28 WMPO
T22 Farmers
T27 AMEX

— Byron Lindeque (@TheModelManiac) March 29, 2026

I expect more of the same from Harris this week. A made cut, but an early morning tee time on Sunday, followed by another T40 finish.

Ethan Fang (a)

Current Am ranking: 8th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

Ethan Fang, a member of the 2025 U.S. Walker Cup team, became the first American to win the British Amateur Championship in 18 years, using all 36 holes to defeat Ireland’s Gavin Tiernan 1 up. Fang has reached as high as 3rd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), helping the Oklahoma State Cowboys to the 2025 NCAA Division I title. He’ll likely be the favorite for Low-Am.

Matt Fitzpatrick

Current OWGR: 5th

Best Finish At The Masters: 7 (2016)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 40, 22, 10, 14, 34

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.91

From June 2024 until this past year’s PGA Championship (May 2025), Matt Fitzpatrick made 21 starts around the world. He finished T-20 or better just one time (2024 FedEx St. Jude, T-18). He seemed lost. His short game abandoned him. His ball-striking was inconsistent. There was no bankable skill that could get him through each round. But he has clearly turned a corner.

Fitzpatrick has made 23 starts since the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow (T-8 finish), and he’s landed among the top 10 in 12 of the 23 starts, including a playoff win over Rory McIlroy in November at the DP World Tour Championship, along with his Valspar win last time out.

Though he’s never really threatened the top of the board at Augusta National, he’s earned his way here 11 other times, this being his 10th straight appearance. He’s also gained strokes putting in 67.9% (ranks 9th in the field) of his measured rounds at Augusta National. If he can line up his current tee-to-green play and his historic putting numbers here, look out. His near win at The PLAYERS shrank his outright price, and then his win the following week at Copperhead cratered whatever was left, so anyone coming in now on Fitz is buying at the top of the market. I expect he’ll play well, but my Fitzpatrick bet will be in the finishing position market, not at 25/1 to win.

Tommy Fleetwood

Current OWGR: 4th

Best Finish At The Masters: T3 (2024)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 21, 3, 33, 14, 46

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 1.06

Tommy Fleetwood broke the seal in dramatic fashion last season, winning the season-ending TOUR Championship for his first career win on the PGA Tour. He was knocking on the door, with a T3 at the St. Jude and T4 at the BMW, and it’s easy to look back and find near-misses all over his player page over the years. That’s why this felt so much different.

Fleetwood has continued to play well, posting three straight T3 or better finishes on the DP World Tour in the fall, including a win in India in October. His T10 in San Antonio was yet anothe solid showing, and Fleetwood’s now started the season with four T10 or better finishes in five 2026 starts.

Fleetwood routinely plays his best against the strongest fields. Over the past two years, Tommy Lad has averaged 1.33 strokes gained per round in Signature Events or Playoff Events, the second-best mark in the world. (Yup, it’s Scottie). His major championship resume is lacking, though. His best recent finishes have been at the 2024 Masters (T3), 2023 U.S. Open (T5), and 2022 Open Championship (T4). When you dig a bit deeper, he wasn’t really in contention in any of those starts, and he finished at least five strokes behind the eventual champion in all of them. He’s easy to root for, and the golf community would love to see him get over the hump on the biggest stage, but he’s tough to back at 25/1 or shorter.

Ryan Fox

Current OWGR: 48th

Best Finish At The Masters: T26 (2023)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: -, 38, 26,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.54

Ryan Fox is back at Augusta National after not qualifying last season, making his third career start after back-to-back trips in 2023 and 2024. Fox is a notoriously streaky golfer, and he appeared to be heating up after solid showings to start the 2026 season, including a T7 at Riviera. Turns out, surgery to remove kidney stones can derail a streak. Who knew?

Fox was forced to withdraw from this year’s PLAYERS to have the painful kidney stones removed, and then went to Houston last week, a course that’s perfectly suited for his style of play, and he missed the cut. Fox made the cut in ten straight major championship starts before missing the cut on the number at Royal Portrush. I don’t think we’re looking at a late Sunday tee time for Fox here, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see him post his best Masters finish to date.

Sergio Garcia

Current OWGR: 342nd

Best Finish At The Masters: 1 (2017)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, MC, MC, 23, MC

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -0.54

Sergio’s T23 here in 2022 was his first made cut since winning here in 2017. He was back on the missed-cut wagon again last year, his fifth in six years. When you remove the 2017 victory and look at his career at Augusta before and after winning the green jacket, 2017 feels more like an outlier than an inevitable culmination of someone who’s dominated this event.

He’s missed the cut in eight of his 18 Masters appearances, with just three top-10 finishes, including the year he won. He’s made 20 starts worldwide since last year’s Masters, finishing T10 or better just three times. In five LIV Golf starts this season, he’s finished T30 or worse in three of them (54-man field). He entered the 2025 Masters in excellent form and still missed the cut, so while you think about a sneaky down-the-board play with excellent course history, remember that Sergio isn’t that guy.

Ryan Gerard

Current OWGR: 28th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

This is Ryan Gerard‘s fifth major championship start, but his first appearance at the Masters. He’s cooled off a bit, missing the cut in two of his past three starts after kicking 2026 off with a bang. He started the season with back-to-back second-place finishes, and his approach play had been about as good as anyone’s.

It’s possible that Gerard just needed a break after grinding every week to kick off the season. I don’t want to overreact to his recent stumble, but clearly I’d rather see him trending well than heading to Magnolia Lane on a bit of a downturn. Gerard is still just 26 years old, and a name to watch over the next few seasons, but it’s tough to have any expectations for him here, considering he’s done most of his damage against weak fields on shorter golf courses.

Chris Gotterup

Current OWGR: 9th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

What a difference a year makes. At this time last year, Chris Gotterup had missed the cut in 8 of 11 2025 starts. While there were always signs of his potential, it seemed possible that Gotterup’s ceiling would be someone who could pick off a Myrtle Beach Classic or ISCO win, but likely not someone who’d have the full game to compete in strong fields or on more testing venues. But Gotterup seemed to turn a corner last May, stringing together multiple T25 finishes before showing up in July at Scotland’s Renaissance Club, where he’d eventually hold off Rory McIlroy and a handful of other elite contenders to win the Scottish Open.

Gotterup followed it up with a solo third-place finish the following week at The Open Championship, and he hasn’t let up. He’s won twice this season, at Waialae and TPC Scottsdale, two courses that demand wildly different skill sets on paper. If at first he held my curiosity, now, he has my attention.

Augusta National also demands a particular skill set, and it’s incredibly rare to see someone navigate it smoothly the first time around the property. This will be Gotterup’s fifth major championship start, but he’s one of many debutants in the field this week. He should be the favorite in that market, as he’s the only debutant currently in the OWGR’s top 10.

Max Greyserman

Current OWGR: 62nd

Best Finish At The Masters: T32 (2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 32,-,-,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.43

Max Greyserman is making his second consecutive start at Augusta National, and while a green jacket is not likely in his future, his baseline skill set fits well here. He’s long off the tee, and his short game is one of the best on the PGA Tour. Unfortunately for Greyserman, he’s scuffling right now.

After losing in a 3-man playoff at the Rocket Classic in late June, Greyserman missed four straight cuts heading into the playoffs. He’s missed three cuts in seven 2026 starts, and he’s been bleeding strokes tee-to-green. Again, if you come to Augusta National without your top-tier ball-striking completely dialed in, you don’t stand a chance. Another made cut feels like a win, and perhaps he can putt his way to another solid finish, but that’s the ceiling.

Ben Griffin

Current OWGR: 16th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

It’s crazy to think that this is Ben Griffin‘s first Masters appearance, considering the year he had in 2025. Griffin won three times and earned his way onto the U.S. Ryder Cup squad at Bethpage. Overall, he finished among the top 10 in 12 of his 30 starts, after totaling nine top tens in the three previous years combined.

Unfortunately, that guy has not shown up yet in 2026. Griffin averaged 0.62 strokes gained per round ball-striking in 2025. For the season, that was among the top 20 in this week’s field, right around Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Åberg, Chris Gotterup, and Russell Henley. Through his first 26 rounds of 2026, Griffin is 1.21 strokes worse, down to -0.59 strokes gained per round ball-striking.

The Top Debutant market is strong this season, and if you asked me back in January, I’d have guessed that Ben Griffin would be the favorite. That can no longer be the case. I hope he finds his form later this summer.

Harry Hall

Current OWGR: 59th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

Harry Hall finished the 2025 season in fine fashion, punching his first ticket to Augusta National after qualifying for the TOUR Championship at East Lake. His T17 at East last was part of a 13-event stretch that saw Hall finish inside the top 25 12 times, the lone exception being a T28 at Royal Portrush.

This will be Hall’s first Masters but fourth major championship start. Hall’s profile is one I often avoid when filling out my betting card. There’s a lot of upside because his short game is so strong, and even though it tends to be more statistically noisy than a solid foundation of elite ball-striking, we see it week in and week out with Hall; this is who he is. The inverse here is that he’s below average off the tee, both in distance and accuracy, and his approach upside is pretty limited. He’s essentially 85% Cameron Smith just before he started winning. It’s hard to argue with Smith’s success at Augusta National, but that’s a big ask for Hall in his debut. He could have some sneaky DFS potential, but he’s not someone I’m betting on.

Brian Harman

Current OWGR: 50th

Best Finish At The Masters: 12 (2021)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 36, MC, MC, MC, 12

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -0.28

Brian Harman has been on Tour since 2012, and he’s gained strokes putting in every single season. Through seven 2026 starts (the Valero Texas Open is his 8th), Harman is losing 0.38 strokes per round on the greens.

When you’re hemorrhaging distance off the tee to the field, you have to find other ways to contend, and Harman can’t if he’s not putting it well. He came out of nowhere and won last year’s tune-up event, the Valero Texas Open, and he played well the week after the Masters at Harbour Town, but his ability to contend these days feels limited to shorter, positional tracks where his lack of distance is mitigated. He broke his missed cut streak with a T36 last season, and that feels like his ceiling in 2026.

Tyrrell Hatton

Current OWGR: 31st

Best Finish At The Masters: T9 (2024)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 14, 9, 34, 52, 18

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.42

I’ve always felt that Hatton’s game is well-suited for success at Augusta, and he posted his first career top-10 finish here back in 2024, and nearly did it again last season (T14). This will be Hatton’s tenth consecutive Masters appearance, and perhaps he’s finally warming up to a place that he used to routinely bitch and moan about.

Hatton played well this past fall, with three T5 or better finishes in Europe and Asia, but his early 2026 LIV Golf results don’t inspire much confidence at the moment. He’s not nearly as consistent as I’m sure he’d like, but his ceiling outcomes remain incredibly appealing, which we saw at Oakmont (T4) back in June. He has the ball-striking chops to compete here, so no one should be surprised if Hatton finds himself with a late tee time on Sunday afternoon. His current outright price is untenable, but he could drift down the board when the odds reshuffle, and he’s a name I’ll be monitoring.

Russell Henley

Current OWGR: 10th

Best Finish At The Masters: T4 (2023)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, 38, 4, 30, 15

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.93

Russell Henley rarely plays himself out of tournaments, and his results reflect that. He’s teed it up 14 times dating back to last year’s Memorial in late May, and his missed cut at this year’s Genesis is the only time he’s finished outside the top 20. (Edit: Henley read the headlines and missed the cut at the Valero last week.) His lack of distance is concerning, but he’s one of the best wedge players in the world, and turning the Par 5s into three-shot holes has served short hitters like Zach Johnson well in the past and appears to be the recipe for success for Henley as well. Bay Hill profiles as a ‘bombers course’ as was Pinehurst, and that didn’t seem to impact Henley whatsoever. In fact, he’s finished inside the top 10 in four of his past six major championship starts, and has a T5 at Augusta National on his resume as well.

He’s going to keep the ball in play off the tee, and his scrambling ability becomes paramount, particularly on the long Par 4s here. Over the past two years, looking at how this field has performed on long courses against strong fields and under difficult scoring conditions, Henley’s ninth at 1.45 strokes gained per round, with strokes gained in 70.8% of his rounds. An outright bet should likely include an each-way option, just to cover the possibility of a strong finish.

Augusta National Course Stats Page

Jackson Herrington (a)

Current Am ranking: 116th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

The Tennessee sophomore was the U.S. Amateur runner-up, which punches a ticket to both the Masters and U.S. Open. Though the southpaw will be playing in the Masters for the first time, he’s been on the grounds before, having attended the 2014 event won by another lefty, Bubba Watson. Herrington is a unit, and his UT teammates have dubbed him “The Fridge”. Nothing beats a good nickname.

Nicolai Hojgaard

Current OWGR: 36th

Best Finish At The Masters: T16 (2024)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, 16,-,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.26

Nicolai profiles well for Augusta National, with plus distance, high apex height, and the ability to shape shots both ways. He flashed in a big way back in 2024, where he was in contention late before dying on Amen Corner. He’s not the first and definitely won’t be the last. He’s taken a step forward, though, in 2026.

Nicolai is gaining throughout the bag this season. He’s made 12 starts worldwide since October’s Baycurrent Classic, and he’s finished inside the T24 nine times. Five of those were T6 or better, including a solo second-place finish in Houston the last time out. He gained an average of 0.78 strokes per round on the PGA Tour last season, and that number is up to 1.60 this season, the sixth-highest mark on the Tour. A win is a stretch, though I did bet him to win at 100/1 in the middle of his start in Houston. Both Nicolai and his brother Rasmus have very loud and sexy traits. It’s easy to get caught up in the potential, but Nicolai is starting to deliver.

Rasmus Hojgaard

Current OWGR: 55th

Best Finish At The Masters: T32 (2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 32,-,-,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.43

It’s a bit unfair to say that the Hojgaard twins are alternating good years because it undersells how well the other has played at times. Right now, though, Rasmus is trailing Nicolai in current form.

Rasmus had a solid swing season, with three T3 or better finishes in eight starts, with six of the eight being T14 or better. That form hasn’t carried over to 2026. His T9 at the Cognizant Classic was his lone T20 finish, and he’s been fairly unpredictable in terms of how he’s gained strokes in a given start. Both brothers are insanely long off the tee and match it with an incredible eye on the greens, but Rasmus is not nearly as sharp with his approach game. It’s only a matter of time before these two are both top 20 in the world.

Brandon Holtz (a)

Current Am ranking: 4,033rd

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

This is one of the better stories that we have this year. Brandon Holtz is a 38-year-old real estate broker from Bloomington, Illinois, and a former Division I basketball player at Illinois State. Holtz tried his hand on the mini-tours for six years before regaining his Am status in 2024. Holtz won the U.S. Mid-Am back in September, earning him entry into both the Masters and U.S. Open in June. Holtz’s father won the coveted lifetime Masters badge back in 2004, so Holtz and his family have attended the event every year since. This year, father and son will be inside the ropes, with Holtz’s dad lined up to caddie for his son. So cool.

Max Homa

Current OWGR: 156th

Best Finish At The Masters: T3 (2024)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 12, 3, 43, 48, MC

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.46

Max Homa came to last year’s Masters in a bit of a tailspin, but he followed up his T3 in 2024 with a surprising T12 finish. Luckily, one of the many ways to qualify for the Masters is to finish T12 or better the previous year. Without it, Max would be at home watching with the rest of us.

But since he’s here, he has my attention. His lead-in form isn’t particularly strong, but it’s better than it was last season, an admittedly low bar. He played pretty poorly at the Valspar, and if he struggles again at the Valero, he’ll be tough to back in any way. (edit: Homa missed the cut at the Valero.) But if he makes the weekend in San Antonio and shows a pulse, I think he’s a sneaky finishing position bet and DFS punt.

Viktor Hovland

Current OWGR: 22nd

Best Finish At The Masters: T7 (2023)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 21, MC, 7, 27, 21

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 1.03

There’s only one Viktor Hovland. He’s such a fascinating guy, and we’re not that far removed from him being considered by some as the best golfer on the planet. He’s still just 28 years old, so perhaps he can get back there, but we left the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome thinking Hovland was a top-5 golfer in the world, and he wasn’t fifth.

Hovland gained an average of 1.47 strokes per round ball-striking in 2023, and dipped down over a half-stroke per round in 2024 (0.84) and 2025 (0.90). Through 22 measured rounds in 2026, Hovland is at 0.29, and he’s bleeding strokes off the tee. His ball speed is way down, but so is his accuracy, so if he’s sacrificing distance for control, it’s not working at the moment. This is bad news because he’s struggled off the tee at Augusta National in 2024 and 2025.

Hovland’s path to winning a green jacket in the future is pretty clear. Unless he makes massive strides in his short game, he needs to return to being one of the world’s premier ball-strikers. His iron play remains elite, but the rest of his game is inconsistent. We know he’s certainly trying to return to form. When you start wearing floaties during your range sessions, and you replace someone on your coaching staff as often as Scheffler wins, you’re certainly fighting to improve. I’m cheering for Vik, but he’s just not getting any of my money this week.

Mason Howell (a)

Current Am ranking: 114th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

The U.S. Amateur Champion gets to play in the first two rounds with the defending Masters champ, so 19-year-old Mason Howell will be playing with his idol, Rory McIlroy, the first time he plays at Augusta National. Not a bad gig. This isn’t Howell’s first major championship start, though. Last year, the then-high-school-senior shot 63-63 in qualifying to earn his way into the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, where he shot 77-76 to miss the cut.

Howell, aka “The Moose”, beat Jackson “The Fridge” Herrington 7 and 6 in the finals, capping a remarkable run by Howell, who entered the event as the 63rd seed. Howell’s play earned him a spot on the 2025 Walker Cup team as well, where he went 2-0-1.

Sungjae Im

Current OWGR: 70th

Best Finish At The Masters: 2 (2020)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 5, MC, 16, 8, MC

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.72

Sungjae Im recently found himself in contention for the first time in over a year at the Valspar Championship, and in the final round, he melted like a popsicle on the 4th of July. Im missed the start of the 2026 season due to injury, but unfortunately, it looks like he’s picked up where he left off in 2025, and that’s not a good thing.

Im’s T5 at last year’s Masters surprised most, given his abysmal lead-in form. The summer wasn’t much better, with Im losing strokes on approach in 13 straight starts post-Masters, finally breaking the streak by gaining 0.11 strokes on approach at Sedgefield in August. It’s worth noting that he’s routinely played well here, sprinkling in strong finishes and missed cuts over the past six years. Perhaps his solid first three rounds at Copperhead will be a springboard to better golf this summer, but I’m not chasing anything here.

Casey Jarvis

Current OWGR: 69th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

There aren’t many golfers who will come to Augusta National in better form than 22-year-old Casey Jarvis. Jarvis is currently third in the DP World Tour rankings, having won back-to-back starts in Kenya and South Africa last month. He nearly won his next start as well, a T2 finish at the Joburg Open. Jarvis bookended this run with T13 finishes, first on the Challenger Tour, and then in his last start at the Indian Open.

This is obviously a huge step up, both in the demands of the course and the strength of competition. Winning is difficult to do on any tour, especially at such a young age, so I’m excited to see how he responds to the moment. From a course fit standpoint, if I’m making a comp to PGA Tour venues, Jarvis appears to be more Harbour Town than Augusta National. He gains off the tee through accuracy, not distance. We’ll see if he’s ready for this test, and it looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of him stateside in 2027.

SG: Augusta National, Last 5 Years (Per Round Average)

Dustin Johnson

Current OWGR: n/a

Best Finish At The Masters: 1 (2020)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, MC, 48, 12, MC

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -0.64

A prevailing narrative about many of LIV Golf’s departed is that they don’t truly care about competitive golf anymore, and that’s mostly unfair.

Other than Dustin Johnson.

As I pointed out last year in this space, you can’t look at DJ’s LIV Golf results and tell me with a straight face that he’s teeing it up every week with the same fire in his belly as his peers on the PGA Tour or even something resembling the 2021-22 version of DJ who played on Tour before taking the Saudi bag.

He clearly loves Singapore, with three straight T10 or better finishes there, but otherwise, he’s struggling to crack the top 20 on LIV. Dating back to his T7 finish in Singapore in 2024, DJ has made 35 non-Singapore starts worldwide and finished T20 or better just nine times. Remember, most of these starts are against 54-man fields because he’s not chasing world ranking points in Europe and Asia like many of his LIV Golf peers are. He’s missed the cut in six of his past nine major championship starts, including his past two trips to Augusta National.

Zach Johnson

Current OWGR: 314th

Best Finish At The Masters: 1 (2007)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 8, MC, 34, MC, MC

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.03

Zach Johnson‘s T8 finish at last year’s Masters was a nomination finalist in the unofficial “Things Noonan never thought could happen” award category, but it lost to “Brian Campbell, two-time winner in 2025.” It was Johnson’s first top-ten finish since the 2021 Honda Classic, a run of 79 PGA Tour starts. He’s missed the cut in four of his past seven PGA Tour starts, but he went out and won his PGA Champions Tour debut in early March. His 162 mph ball speed plays nicely on that circuit, and I’m sure he’ll have continued success there in the short term. But another Masters T10 for the 2007 champ? Unlikely.

Naoyuki Kataoka

Current OWGR: 366th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

Naoyuki Kataoka won the fall’s Japan Open, qualifying him for this year’s Masters. It was his first win since the 2021 Japan PLAYERS Championship, and he’s competing on the PGA Tour of Australasia this spring. I like that the Masters has quirky qualifying paths for players around the world, but it feels strange that competitive PGA Tour pros are home while Noayuki Kataoka is in this field. No offense to Kataoka, he deserves to be here, but I think adding at-large spots to fill a field of 100 would be a good solution. Also, keeping former winners, Am winners, and whoever Augusta National officials want to participate in the field.

Johnny Keefer

Current OWGR: 60th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

This will be Johnny Keefer‘s third career major championship start, but his first time putting a peg in the ground at Augusta National. The Korn Ferry Tour grad finished the 2025 season inside the top 50 of the OWGR, which is how he earned his way into this field.

There’s a ton of future upside here with Keefer, who routinely gains off the tee and spikes on approach. As he gains experience on the PGA Tour, we’ll likely see him stabilize, and the upside potential is quite tantalizing. His short game needs a lot of work. It’s keeping him out of contention, and in most cases, it’s keeping him on the wrong side of the cut line.

Michael Kim

Current OWGR: 56th

Best Finish At The Masters: T27 (2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 27, MC,-,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.93

Michael Kim capped off a career year in 2025 with a September win at the Open de France. I took four years of French in high school, so allow me to translate that for you. It means the French Open. You’re welcome.

Unfortunately, the momentum that Michael Kim brought to the 2025 Masters didn’t carry over to the spring and summer, and 2026 has been more of the same. He’s missed the cut in three of his eight starts, with a T18 at the WM Phoenix Open as the highlight of the season to date. (edit: Kim played well at last week’s Valero, finishing T2, but expectations haven’t changed for this week.) The year-over-year dip is concerning, but hopefully it’s just a bump in the road and not a long-term issue for Kim.

Si Woo Kim

Current OWGR: 30th

Best Finish At The Masters: 12 (2021)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 30, 29, 39, 12, 34

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.72

It feels like Si Woo Kim has been around forever, as this is his eighth Masters appearance, but he’s still just 29 years old. He’s become one of the most consistent golfers on the PGA Tour, which is a wild thing to type when you think back a few years and how wide his range of potential outcomes was from week to week.

Kim had an 11-start streak from the St. Jude to the WM Phoenix Open, where his worst finish was T21. He’s cooled a bit since, but he’s still gaining strokes tee-to-green every week. He’s added a bit of ball speed off the tee in 2026 while also improving his driving accuracy, which is a pretty thin needle to thread.

In the image above, you’ll see that only Scottie Scheffler has gained strokes tee-to-green at a more consistent rate than Si Woo. It often comes down to putting for Si Woo, and I was shocked to learn that he’s gained strokes putting at Augusta National in six straight appearances. I struggle seeing him win, but maybe that’s something I need to figure out. There are too many positive signs here to ignore.

Kurt Kitayama

Current OWGR: 35th

Best Finish At The Masters: T35 (2024)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: -, 35, MC,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -0.85

Every so often, Kurt Kitayama flashes a ball-striking ceiling that very few golfers possess. In fact, over the past 12 months, only Scottie Scheffler (83.3%) has gained strokes ball-striking more often than Kurt Kitayama (78.3%). When he pieces that together with a field-average putting performance, as he did at Riviera back in February (T2), we see what’s possible.

Kitayama’s 2025 average ball speed of 181.17, which is comfortably above average, is up to 184.04 through 29 measured rounds in 2026. That’ll play. The question that he needs to answer for me is, can he piece together four solid rounds against the world’s best? For the most part, his best results have come against softer fields. He did play well in the playoffs last season, but his best finishes in 2025 were the 3M Open, John Deere Classic, and Byron Nelson. This will be his 18th major championship start, and his T4 at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill is the only time he’s cracked the top 30.

Jake Knapp

Current OWGR: 42nd

Best Finish At The Masters: 55 (2024)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: -, T55, -,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -1.43

Jake Knapp‘s history of playing against strong fields is pretty limited, but his 2026 form is undeniable, including multiple top-10 finishes against the best the PGA Tour has to offer. Knapp is returning to Augusta after his win in Mexico back in 2024 sent him here the first time, but he’s here this time because he’s ranked inside the OWGR top 50. I don’t want to be a prisoner of the moment, but it feels like Knapp has ascended past the “Weak Field Bomber” class and into a real discussion about what his future might hold.

Knapp will turn 32 later this summer, so it’s an unusual story arc. He’s made seven starts in 2026, finishing T11 or better in six of the seven (missed cut at The PLAYERS). His swing should come with an “NSFW” tag, and when you look at his putting stats, you might believe me if I told you that he gets to putt to a hole that’s twice the diameter of anyone else on Tour.

A second career win coming at the Masters, or any major championship for that matter, is likely a bridge too far. Another top 10? It wouldn’t surprise me one bit, and it’d be an emphatic statement that Knapp is here to stay.

Brooks Koepka

Current OWGR: 165th

Best Finish At The Masters: 2 (2019 and 2023)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, 45, 2, MC, MC

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.27

Brooks Koepka has been so good tee-to-green in his return to the PGA Tour this season, and he appeared to be firing on all cylinders heading into last week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open. Then the wheels fell off. It’s a blimp on what’s been a mostly positive return for Koepka this season.

From a handicapping perspective, Brooks has always been a tough nut to crack in non-major championships, and his ability to shift gears when the lights are the brightest has been his calling card for about a decade now. While we’re clearly a bit removed from peak-Brooks, his incentive to play well is as high as it’s been in quite some time. Koepka is not currently in the Tour’s Signature Event fields, so he’s left to play the smaller purse events and grind his way back to full status.

Koepka has a few horrendous putting performances on his Augusta National resume, which is worrisome since his putter has been at the heart of his struggles in 2026. His recent form has made him a popular early click for those shopping for futures, so the current price is tough to swallow. I think it drifts a bit after his struggles in Houston, and if it drifts too far, I’ll be monitoring it.

Fifa Laopakdee (a)

Current Am ranking: 25th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

Fifa Laopakdee is currently 5th in the WAGR rankings, making him the top-ranked amateur in this year’s Masters. The Arizona State Sun Devil earned his spot by winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in October, where he staged a remarkable comeback, having started the final round six strokes behind the leader. With five birdies on the back nine, he forced a playoff and then birdied three consecutive holes (18-17-18) to outlast Japan’s Taisei Nagasaki.

This victory made Laopakdee the first Thai player to win the championship and the first Thai amateur to compete in the Masters. It also granted him an invite to the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. He won’t be the betting favorite, but this is my pick for Low-Am.

Min Woo Lee

Current OWGR: 25th

Best Finish At The Masters: T14 (2022)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 49, 22, MC, 14, –

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.07

Min Woo Lee‘s ceiling was never in question, but some had justifiable concerns about his ability to put four consecutive rounds together. He answered that for us last season with his win in Houston, but 2025 never really took off for him after that, even though it felt like it was about to.

2026, though, oh boy.

Min Woo has been in contention multiple times this season, finishing T6 or better in three of his seven 2026 starts, all of which were top-40 showings. While everyone’s turning the distance dial to 11, Min Woo has dialed it back for the sake of accuracy, and it’s paying off. Now, dialing it back means still averaging 186.32 mph. This isn’t Lucas Glover all of a sudden. That mark still ranks inside the top 10 in this week’s field; it’s just a dip down from his spray-and-pray 187-189 range from 2023 to 2025. As a result, he’s seen his fairway hit rate jump from 55.4% in 2025 to 62.1% this season. More importantly, Min Woo is gaining 0.27 strokes per round on approach, a 0.77 stroke improvement from 2025 (-0.50).

As I’ve said about a few of his peers in the field as well, Min Woo has loud traits. His short game chops are exceptional. If he’s been able to learn from his past Masters experience, and the approach gains are sticky, he’s going to be in the mix on Sunday. He’s also on my betting card at 66/1 to win.

Haotong Li

Current OWGR: 81st

Best Finish At The Masters: T32 (2018)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: -,-,-, 43, 32

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): n/a

Haotong Li won the 2025 Masters, and no one’s even talking about it!

Wait…

That was the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters on the DP World Tour. That’s my bad.

Haotong Li returned to the global stage in July with a T4 at Royal Portrush, playing in the final group alongside the eventual Champion Golfer of the Year, Scottie Scheffler. Li’s strong DP World Tour play in 2025 helped him earn his PGA Tour card this season, but he’s faltered of late, missing three of four cuts heading into his tune-up start in San Antonio. This will be Li’s third time teeing it up at Augusta National, the first since 2019, and my expectations are quite low.

Shane Lowry

Current OWGR: 32nd

Best Finish At The Masters: 3 (2022)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 42, 43, 16, 3, 21

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 1.02

Shane Lowry was on his way to another strong Masters finish last season, but the wheels fell off in the final round. He was in one of Sunday’s last tee times, playing with defending champ Scottie Scheffler, and then shot an 81, losing 8.92 strokes to the field. Understandably, the wheels have fallen off a bit again since his stunning collapse at PGA National in late February.

Lowry missed the next two cuts, at Bay Hill and Sawgrass, but he seemed to shake off some of the cobwebs in Houston with a T28 showing on a course that doesn’t suit his game at all. I’d say the same about Augusta National, too, but he’s proven otherwise throughout the past few seasons.

Robert MacIntyre

Current OWGR: 11th

Best Finish At The Masters: T12 (2021)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, 23, 12, -, –

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.65

“Bobby Mac” had better lead-in form last season, with late Sunday tee times at the 2025 Waste Management, API, and PLAYERS before eventually missing the cut at last year’s Masters. He struggled mightily too, bleeding strokes on approach and on the greens.

Left-handers with distance have historically fared well at Augusta National, and after his solo fourth-place finish at this year’s PLAYERS, his outright number for this year’s Masters took a beating, just like it did last year. My concern this season is that his approach form is just nowhere near good enough to compete. Perhaps he found something at Sawgrass, and we’ll see how he fares in San Antonio, but he had lost 16.94 strokes on approach (an average of -1.06 per round) in the four events prior to the PLAYERS (+0.37 per round). (edit: MacIntye gained a total of 5.63, or 1.41 strokes per round on approach at last week’s Valero. He gained strokes in three of four rounds.)

His putter has carried him this season, and while the winner typically needs a ceiling-like outcome on the greens, they also can’t be losing strokes on approach. There’s only one instance in the past two years on the PGA Tour where MacIntyre gained over 2.5 strokes on approach and finished outside the top 20, and that was last year’s Scottish Open. I want to like him, because I think he’s got a bit of dog in him, but this is not the profile of someone who gets my money.

Hideki Matsuyama

Current OWGR: 14th

Best Finish At The Masters: 1 (2021)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 21, 38, 16, 14, 1

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 1.52

Hideki Matsuyama is just 34 years old, but this will be his 15th time teeing it up at Augusta National. He’s made the cut in 13 of the 14 starts here, finishing T20 or better eight times, just missing it last season, finishing T21.

The range of potential outcomes with Matsuyama feels wider than with most other top-20 golfers. That makes him a bit harder to trust, but the upside also keeps his outright betting number short because he’s a threat to win at any course against any field. If we could bottle his best golf, those peak rounds where he blacks out and looks like the best golfer in the world, he’d be impossible to ignore. We just never know when he’s going to pop.

Matsuyama has cooled a bit after a strong start to the season, and he’s in the field at the Valero, which will give us more answers to where his lead-in form lies. (edit: He finished T21 and was fourth in SG: BS on the week.) Most of his struggles in 2026 have come from a wayward drive, and while you’re not going to win here if you’re relying on SG: Pinestraw, the wide fairways help. Last year, only Rory’s 2.3 strokes gained per round on approach topped Matsuyama’s 1.90. His around-the-green wizardry comes in handy here as well. It simply comes down to his ability to hole putts, something he’s struggled with in three of the four years since his win. If he doesn’t threaten the top of the board in San Antonio, he’ll likely drift out to 40/1 or beyond. That should catch your attention.

Matt McCarty

Current OWGR: 46th

Best Finish At The Masters: T14 (2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 14,-,-,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 1.43

Matt McCarty impressed in his Masters debut last year, carrying over the lead-in form that saw him play well in Florida in March of 2025. There haven’t been many finishes in 2026 that have me optimistic that another strong showing is in the cards.

The 28-year-old southpaw played well during the swing season again, but he’s trending poorly at the wrong time if he’s looking to book another top 20 Masters finish. McCarty is bleeding strokes tee-to-green, and he’s already working from a deficit given his lack of distance off the tee.

Rory McIlroy

Current OWGR: 2nd

Best Finish At The Masters: 1st (2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 1, 22, MC, 2, MC

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 1.55

Last year’s final round was just about as good as it gets in the world of sports. I believe we all felt that in the moment, but reflecting on it now, a full year removed, and it’s not hyperbole to say it was one of the more memorable sporting events of my life.

The up and down start. Bryson fading. The inevitable coronation… until the chip into the creek. The shot on 15. Rosey. The shot on 17. A playoff. Then, an emotional relief that we’re just so rarely privy to. I don’t think I’ll ever forget watching Rory’s walk off 18, weaving through the patrons, and eventually, into the arms of friends and family before heading to sign his scorecard. It’s the sort of moment that makes us all romantic about sports and the game of golf.

Now, can he do it again?

If your answer is no, it’s likely for one of two reasons. First, the weight of repeating. The demands of the previous year’s champ are vast, but you could argue that Rory’s stature and the more-than-a-decade pursuit of his first green jacket and the Grand Slam have always impacted the demands of his time and attention before putting the first tee in the ground here on Thursday every year.

The other argument against him in 2026 would be the recent questions about his back injury, which forced him to withdraw from Bay Hill in early March. That falls apart pretty quickly in my opinion. He played the following week at The PLAYERS, and while his T46 was less than inspiring, he led the field in driving distance, was second in SG: OTT, and gained 1.76 strokes per round tee-to-green. He just didn’t hole any putts. In short, his back was a non-issue.

He had the two Signature Event wins at Pebble and Sawgrass last year, something he doesn’t have on his resume this season, but his game is absolutely dialed right now. If the market sentiment on Rory continues to question his chances at repeating, there’s a point where his outright number simply gets too big to ignore.

Tom McKibbin

Current OWGR: 102nd

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

This will be 23-year-old Tom McKibbin‘s fifth major championship start, but his first at Augusta National. The much-heralded Northern Ireland native has yet to crack the top 40 in his previous four major championship starts, and he’s struggling to post top 20 finishes in LIV Golf’s 54-man fields. McKibbin has made five starts this season on LIV, with his best finish, a T17 in Riyadh, coming back in February.

McKibbin is young and still has a ton of potential, and as he gains experience, he could have a bright future. In the short term, his iron play is just nowhere near where it needs to be if he wants to be consistently competitive, even on LIV.

Maverick McNealy

Current OWGR: 27th

Best Finish At The Masters: T32 (2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 32,-,-,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.43

2025 was a banner year for Maverick McNealy, even though he didn’t win an event. He qualified for each of the four major championships for the first time in his career, finishing inside the top 40 in each of them. This will be his 13th career start in a major, his second at the Masters, and he’s still on the hunt for his first top 20 finish.

McNealy has had a few solid 2026 showings (T10 Farmers, T13 Waste Management, and T13 at API), but he’s yet to be in contention late on a Sunday. The biggest improvement from years past remains the consistency in his approach play. He’s in the field at the Valero, and I’ll be watching closely. McNealy has lost strokes on approach in three straight starts after a tremendous start to the season, and I’d like to see him get back on track before backing him in any way. (edit: McNealy finished T21 at the Valero, but the putter carried him; he lost strokes ball-striking again.)

Collin Morikawa

Current OWGR: 8th

Best Finish At The Masters: T3 (2024)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 14, 3, 10, 5, 18

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 2.07

This is one of the toughest nuts to crack this week. Collin Morikawa has an elite course history at a track where it matters more than anywhere else, and you could argue that he’s playing the best golf of his career by margin in 2026. That’s wild to say, considering the two-time Major Champion has been one of the best golfers in the world since turning pro, but the data backs it up.

He’s gained an average of 1.65 strokes per round tee-to-green in 2026, which would be the best rate of his career. He’s at 1.07 strokes per round on approach, just trailing his career-high mark of 1.23 from 2021. Morikawa’s ball speed has jumped up from 170.8 in 2024 and 2025 to 173.76 in his 2026 starts, which puts him closer to the PGA Tour average instead of slightly behind. He followed up his win at Pebble Beach in February with a T7 at Riviera and a solo-fifth at Bay Hill, and he entered the week at The PLAYERS as one of the most popular selections of the week. And that’s where the story gets complicated.

Morikawa tweaked his back on a practice swing shortly after starting the first round at TPC Sawgrass, and he was forced to withdraw. He skipped the TGL Finals but reportedly felt well and was looking forward to playing the Valero as a tune-up, a course that fits his game like a glove. Then, he withdrew. Now, there are a ton of questions and concerns about his health, and rightfully so. He was one of the few guys near the top of the board that still had a tenable outright price, but now he’ll likely drift out even further. Some will cross him off and not even consider him, regardless of price. I’m a bit paralyzed about what to do with him, but at a minimum, I think he’s a great DFS play because that’s the best place to leverage the public’s concerns.

Rasmus Neergaard Petersen

Current OWGR: 68th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen’s win at the Australian Open in December secured his spot at this year’s Masters. The Australian Open is one of the auto-qualifying events for the winner, and it pushed him into the OWGR’s top 50 at the same time.

He’s slid back a bit since. The 26-year-old has struggled to find his footing on the PGA Tour, which is not uncommon for young DP World Tour grads who come stateside for the first time. It has to be a pretty massive real-life adjustment. He’s made the cut in five of his six PGA Tour starts, though just one (a T40 at PGA National) landed him inside the top 40. He’s not on my radar at all, and a made cut has to be considered a win.

Alex Noren

Current OWGR: 19th

Best Finish At The Masters: T62 (2019)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: -, MC, 62, MC, MC

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -3.69

This is Alex Noren‘s fifth Masters start, and his first since 2023. He’s struggled here, missing the cut in three of the previous four visits, with a T62 in 2019 the highlight, if you will. Noren had a four-event stretch at the end of last summer in which he finished T7, T3, Win, MC, and Win, and then was a vice captain for the European Ryder Cup team despite having better recent form than half the squad.

That form hasn’t carried over to 2026, because golf is hard. Noren has played a bit better of late, and he’s in the field at the Valero Texas Open, but even a strong result there isn’t enough for me. This is not a great course fit for the 43-year-old Swede, who’s got a low bar to top for his best Masters finish to date.

Andrew Novak

Current OWGR: 47th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

Andrew Novak started to heat up around this time last year, but there aren’t a lot of signs that this spring is going to go quite as well. Novak partnered with Ben Griffin to win last year’s Zurich Classic, and he played well enough to earn his spot in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, making it all the way to Atlanta and the Tour Championship.

Novak played well again at Torrey Pines (T7) in January, but he’s struggled to build any momentum off of it. Overall, Novak has played his best when the scoring conditions are easier, the field strength is weak, and the course features Bermuda grass greens. He’ll get none of that this week as he makes his first start at Augusta National.

Jose Maria Olazabal

Current OWGR: n/a

Best Finish At The Masters: 1 (1994 & 1999)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, 45, MC, MC, 50

The two-time Masters champion out of Spain has been kicking it around on the Champions Tour a bit, where he’s posted one T20 or better finish in the past 5 years. His T45 here back in 2024 was certainly a surprise, and speaks to the value of course history here.

Carlos Ortiz

Current OWGR: 157th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: -,-,-,-, MC

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -3.12

Carlos Ortiz will be making his second career Masters start, the first since his missed cut back in 2021. If you’re wondering how in the world Carlos Ortiz qualified for the Masters, you’re probably not alone. A T4 at last year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont is Ortiz’s ticket to Augusta National, an out-of-body experience for the 34-year-old LIV Golf member, who’s missed the cut in 8 of his 11 major championship starts. His two other made cuts were both outside the top 50, so Oakmont was definitely an outlier result.

Ortiz is an above-average ball-striker and a classic Team No Putt mule. Even at Oakmont, he lost strokes putting. His ball-striking isn’t good enough to make up for that at this venue and against this field. Making the cut should probably be considered a win for Ortiz.

Marco Penge

Current OWGR: 37th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

Marco Penge was dominating on the Challenger Tour before earning his way into DP World Tour fields. He started slow and then turned a corner in 2025. He won three times and made a splash in the co-sanctioned Scottish Open, where he finished T2 and flashed a skill set built for long PGA Tour setups.

He earned his PGA Tour card and got off to a slow start due to injury and the adjustments that come with moving to a new country. He’s posted two T20 finishes in his past four starts, but I’m cooling expectations a bit until we get into some of the softer field summer events. There’s a ton of talent here, but we should expect much from him at this year’s event.

Aldrich Potgieter

Current OWGR: 77th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: -, MC,-,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -2.69

What were you doing at 21? Certainly not making you second career start at the Masters, that’s for sure. I say that because context is important, and while it’s not uncommon to see young kids come up on the PGA Tour and succeed right away, it’s also not uncommon to see them struggle. And that’s Potgiether in a nutshell.

The young South African phenom teed it up here as an amateur back in 2023 after winning the 2022 Amateur Championship at just 17 years old. He has an insane amount of talent, and ball speed, and for stretches, he puts it all together. He teased us at the 2025 Farmers and Mexico Open, then won the Rocket Classic in June. 2026 has not gone his way, with five missed cuts in eight starts, but his solo fifth-place finish at Riviera, a Signature Event, shows you what’s possible.

He’s not consistent enough to trust, and his short game needs a lot of work, but the ceiling is undeniable. He’s someone we should bypass this week, but he’ll make some noise here eventually.

Mateo Pulcini (a)

Current Am ranking: 173rd

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

Argentina’s Mateo Pulcini earned his spot in the 2026 Masters by winning the Latin America Amateur Championship in January at the Lima Golf Club in Peru. The 25-year-old Arkansas Razorback became the oldest champion in the event’s 11-year history.

His win also earned him exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. He’s hoping to get in a practice round with fellow Argentine, 2009 Masters champion Angel Cabrera.

Jon Rahm

Current OWGR: 29th (sure, sure)

Best Finish At The Masters: 1st (2023)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 14, 45, 1, 27, 5

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 1.67

Jon Rahm‘s 2025 major championship year was a step up from the disappointment of 2024, but he still didn’t truly contend for any of the titles on Sunday. He played very well at Oakmont (T7) and was in the mix heading into the final round at Quail Hollow before falling back, eventually finishing T8.

LIV Golf’s move to a standard 72-hole format has worked in Rahm’s favor, and the results have followed. His worst finish through five 2026 events is a solo fifth-place in Singapore. He’s finished first or second in the other four starts, gaining throughout the bag. His lack of wins on LIV is admittedly surprising, but this is still undoubtedly one of the top five golfers in the world.

Rahm’s career tee-to-green play at Augusta National is as good as anyone’s, even though his iron play has been a bit behind his peers. His approach play was pretty poor by his lofty standards last year, and when you look back at his lead-in approach form, it was still excellent but far from his career baseline.

In 2023, Rahm’s last season on the PGA Tour, he averaged 0.93 strokes per round on approach. The past two seasons on LIV, Rahm’s been at 0.39 (2024) and 0.45 (2025). Again, good, but not great. He played six events before last year’s Masters, losing strokes on approach twice and never gaining more than 1.0 on average. This season, Rahm’s gaining an average of 0.98 strokes per round on approach, back up to his 2023 rates, and he gained 1.86 per round in Hong Kong and 2.23 in Singapore. That’s a lot of words and numbers to say: he’s headed to Augusta National in much better form than he was in 2025.

Don’t sleep on the Spaniard.

Aaron Rai

Current OWGR: 40th

Best Finish At The Masters: T27 (2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 27,-,-,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.93

There are a handful of PGA Tour venues that set up tremendously well for Aaron Rai when his game is clicking. Not only is Augusta National not one of those venues, Rai’s clearly not at his best right now.

He withdrew from the Houston Open field last week, citing a neck injury. Perhaps this neck injury has been something he’s been fighting all season, because his performance is miles away from his baseline.

The injury unknowns, recent struggles, and overall poor course fit make Rai an easy name to avoid this week.

Patrick Reed

Current OWGR: 23rd

Best Finish At The Masters: 1st (2018)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 3, 12, 4, 35, 8

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Years): 1.92

The Augusta University grad’s success at the Masters is difficult to ignore. The 2018 Masters champ shows up to Augusta National every year and competes, with four T12 or better finishes in the past five years. He’s typically a form golfer, parlaying multiple strong performances in a row once he gets going. Considering that he’s already won twice in 2026, albeit in late January and early February, it’s hard not to be bullish on Patrick Reed.

Now, his outright price plummeted with each win, so I find the current price for him to win a bit hard to swallow, but I’m anticipating another strong showing here. Perhaps his price will drift once the market resets, but for now, I’ll only consider Reed in the positional market or in DFS.

Kristoffer Reitan

Current OWGR: 49th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

The move from Europe to the States and the shift from playing on the DP World Tour to competing weekly on the PGA Tour is no small feat. It’s one that Kristoffer Reitan earned in 2025 with an exceptional season, but he’s fighting to find the form that landed him here.

Reitan had a run of eight T6 or better finishes in 14 DP World Tour starts from late April to October last season, including a win at the Soudal Open. He won again in December, the Nedbank Golf Challenge, before heading stateside in 2026. His T10 at last week’s Valero was his best showing of the season, and the first time he’s gained strokes on approach, after going 0-6 to start the year. Making your debut at Augusta National is difficult enough, even if your game is completely dialed in.

Davis Riley

Current OWGR: 116th

Best Finish At The Masters: T21 (2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 21,-,-,-,-

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 1.18

Davis Riley blacked out for four days in May of 2024 at Colonial. After missing the cut in seven of his first 14 starts to the season, Riley held off Scottie Scheffler, Keegan Bradley, and Collin Morikawa to win the Charles Schwab Challenge, earning his first trip to the Masters in the process. He went right back to his missed cut ways immediately after the win, seeing the weekend just six times over his next 16 starts.

He did it again in May of 2025, this time, backdooring a T2 at the PGA Championship to earn his way back to Augusta National again. (Note to self: bet on Davis Riley in May). Riley’s T21 at last year’s event was a surprise, but he enters this year’s event in significantly worse form, having missed five of his past six cuts. When you think about some of the golfers who aren’t here this year, it’s hard to believe that Davis Riley has strung together four rounds in back-to-back years that were good enough to send him here. Golf.

Justin Rose

Current OWGR: 7th

Best Finish At The Masters: 2 (2017 & 2025)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 2, MC, 16, MC, 7

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 1.41

I’m so impressed by Justin Rose. It would’ve been easy for Rosey to join a few of his Ryder Cup teammates who left for LIV. He was outside the top 50 in the world. He’d show up occasionally and cash a top-10 finish, but he was clearly on the other side of his best golf. But he didn’t. Instead, he stuck around and competed, added to his game, and improved. What he’s done over the past few seasons is remarkable.

He’s played his best golf in the biggest spots. He finished T6 at Valhalla and then battled to the end at Troon, finishing T2. He flashed a bit before last year’s Masters, with a T3 at Pebble and a T8 at Bay Hill. Then, he refused to go away on Sunday at the Masters, forcing a playoff against his long-time friend and fellow Ryder Cupper, Rory McIlroy. The summer was quiet, but then he showed up to TPC Southwind, facing one of the best fields in golf, and won the first leg of the 2025 playoffs. He was also nails at Bethpage for the Ryder Cup.

2026 has been more of the same. A sprinkle of lackluster showings and a win, this time at Torrey Pines. Rosey never models well and lacks consistency these days, but his ceiling is still good enough to win on the biggest stage. Like most 2026 winners, their Masters future odds caved after their win, so you’re not getting a discount on Justin Rose this year, but I think we should be surprised if he’s not in the mix again on the weekend.

Xander Schauffele

Current OWGR: 6th

Best Finish At The Masters: 2 (2019)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 8, 8, 10, MC, 3

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 1.80

Xander Schauffele played so well in 2024 that there was a moment when people were genuinely discussing him as a Player of the Year favorite. As in, over Scottie Scheffler. The footnotes of history will forget it, but the good news for Xander Schauffele is that Major Championship victories live forever.

Schauffele’s 2025 was sort of a failure to launch. He missed the West Coast swing and was out for two months with a rib injury and really never found his footing. The average PGA Tour pro would love to have a season in which they average 0.89 strokes gained per round, but that’s miles off from Schauffele’s recent baseline.

He found the winner’s circle again in the fall at the Baycurrent Classic, and his recent finishes, although he hasn’t won, have been extremely encouraging. A T7 finish at Riviera and T24 at Bay Hill were followed by two legit chances to win, at both The PLAYERS (3rd) and Valspar (T4). As you can see in the data above, Schauffele’s ball-striking in 2026 is all the way back, and his game is firing on all cylinders.

Only Scottie Scheffler has gained more strokes tee-to-green on average at Augusta National over the past few years than Xander Schauffele. He’s finished inside the top ten in six of the past seven Masters, and it feels like a ‘when’ more than an ‘if’ for Schauffele’s green jacket.

Scottie Scheffler

Current OWGR: 1st

Best Finish At The Masters: 1st (2022 & 2024)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 4, 1, 10, 1, 18

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Years): 2.96

What started as a bizarre first-round anomaly has spilled over to these sporadic 3-4 hole stretches where Scottie Scheffler doesn’t look invincible. For the better part of the past four seasons, Scheffler’s peers were the ghosts of the all-time greats far more than any of his weekend playing partners, but we’ll head to this year’s event with far more questions about the undisputed World No. 1 than we have in quite some time.

Scheffler started the season with a win at PGA West, and it felt like 2026 was going to be more of the same. Then we had the slow starts at Waste Management and Pebble, two events he nearly won by dominating the weekends. The first-round hiccup continued at Riviera, but he never found that extra gear and ended up breaking his top-10 streak with a T12. His past two starts, a T24 at Bay Hill and T22 at Sawgrass, two venues where he’s hoisted multiple trophies during this run, left the golf world scratching its proverbial head.

Now, for context, six T25 finishes, including a win and two other top-5 finishes, is exceptional lead-in form! There was an opportunity for him to show up at Memorial Park in Houston, another place where he’s played very well, and answer a few form questions, but he withdrew with his wife, expecting the birth of their second child. (Congrats, Scottie and Meredith!)

Scheffler has lost strokes on approach in five of his past 12 rounds. For the season, Scheffler’s sitting at 0.08 SG: APP after three straight years north of 1.25 per round. None of us should be surprised if he shows up and wins. He’s the favorite by margin, and deservedly so, but the odds always make it a difficult click. It’s even more difficult now that he’s clearly out of sync.

Charl Schwartzel

Current OWGR: n/a

Best Finish At The Masters: 1st (2011)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 36, MC, 50, 10, 26

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -0.03

We were all caught off guard by Charl Schwartzel‘s T10 finish in 2022, but that speaks to the nature of sticky course history at Augusta National. Schwartzel’s LIV Golf record is fairly uninspiring. He’s finished inside the top 20 in one of his six starts this season, and his last top ten on LIV came last April in Mexico City. He’s sprinkled in a few random top 20s on the Asian Tour in the past calendar year, but those fields are really lacking any weight.

In my opinion, backing Schwartzel in any way, shape, or form is a bet on course history alone, and that’s never enough for me.

Adam Scott

Current OWGR: 53rd

Best Finish At The Masters: 1st (2013)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, 22, 39, 48, 54

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -0.79

Adam Scott missed the cut here last season, something he hadn’t done at Augusta since 2009. Scott has just one T10 here since his 2013 win, which was all the way back in 2017. Scott hasn’t won on Tour since his 2020 victory at Riviera, but 2026 is shaping up to be Scott’s best year in nearly a decade.

Over the past 36 rounds, Adam Scott ranks third in this week’s field in SG: APP. His tee-to-green play has been excellent, and his experience at Augusta National certainly works in his favor. He’s always been long off the tee, but at 45 years old, Scott has made massive strides in his ball speed, which now averages 184.53 mph, a full 5 mph jump from 2025. It all comes down to the putter.

Scott’s been an elite putter historically, but he’s struggled with it of late, and it’s why he didn’t see the weekend here last season, losing 2.7 strokes on the greens in his two rounds of play. If he can be flat to the field, or even spike a bit, you’re looking at this year’s Justin Rose.

Vijay Singh

Current OWGR: n/a

Best Finish At The Masters: 1st (2000)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 58, MC, MC, MC, WD

After Vijay Singh exercised a career earnings exemption to play in the season-opening Sony Open on the PGA Tour, I thought we’d see him in more events, but that hasn’t been the case. He’s also only teed it up once on the Champions Tour, and that was the following week, also in January.

Singh ended his streak of 31 consecutive Masters appearances last year, withdrawing from the event a few days before due to injury. It wasn’t anything too serious because he teed it up two weeks later on the Champions Tour. Either way, Singh’s last top 40 finish at Augusta National was back in 2014, so I’ve spent more time writing about this than I should have. Prime Vijay was a dog, though.

Cameron Smith

Current OWGR: 211th

Best Finish At The Masters: 2 (2020 & 2022)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, 6, 34, 3, 10

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 1.44

I fell for it last year. Cameron Smith showed a pulse in the fall of 2024 and continued to play pretty well in the front part of LIV’s 2025 calendar. After all, he showed no form leading up to the 2024 Masters and finished T6, so any lead-in form was going to catch my attention given his course history here. But he sold hard in the second round last year (78), kicking it around and missing the cut by 3 strokes.

He’s just not a serious golfer at this point, and I think he’s ok with it. He likes to fish and get back to Australia as often as possible. He missed the cut in all four major championship starts last season (plus the last one of 2024), and he’s mostly been a non-factor on LIV to start 2026. His ability to scramble remains unmatched, but he’s a consistently below-average ball-striker, which makes his path to success paper-thin. If I start to warm up to Cam Smith this week, I give you, the reader, permission to walk up to me and slap me in the face. Don’t say anything, just slap me. I’ll know why you did it.

J.J. Spaun

Current OWGR: 13th

Best Finish At The Masters: 23rd (2022)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 50, 23, -, -, –

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.02

Last season, J.J. Spaun graduated from a Sedgefield/Waialae All-Star to a top-10 OWGR ranking, U.S. Open champion, and Ryder Cup team member. What a wild ride. 2026 has not been as kind. (edit: JK, he won the Valero!)

As you can see in the pic above, Spaun has performed worse in each strokes-gained category year over year. The putting number jumps off the page because that alone is 4 strokes per event, but he’s regressed back to the 2024 tee-to-green version, which is a good PGA Tour pro but nowhere near the elite golfers in the world.

Spaun had missed the cut in three of his past four events prior to showing up in San Antonio and gained throughout the bag on his way to career victory No. 3. Spaun is still looking for his first career top 20 at Augusta National, and I think that’s about the ceiling of what we should expect.

Jordan Spieth

Current OWGR: 63rd

Best Finish At The Masters: 1 (2015)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 14, MC, 4, MC, 3

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 1.35

There’s no place on earth where strokes-gained-magic-beans is more useful than the rolling terrain of Augusta National, and it’s no accident that Jordan Spieth loves playing golf here. After starting his Masters career T2-Win-T2, it feels like a bit of a letdown that he hasn’t won again.

While I don’t think any of us would be shocked to see him in the mix again on Sunday, it’s tough to back him in the betting markets because you’re paying a tax based on course history. His recent form is encouraging, though, having gained 12.2 strokes on approach over his past three starts, the ninth-most in the field. He’s spraying it off the tee, but you can get away with that a bit here if your distance is additive, and Spieth’s is.

Spieth is once again in the Valero field, and a strong showing will certainly shrink his price in the outright market. If it slid the other way a bit, closer to 50, I’d consider him, but he’s more likely to land around 30/1 than he is 50/1, and that’s a steep price for someone who’s four years out (2022 RBC Heritage) from their last week on Tour.

Sam Stevens

Current OWGR: 44th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

This is Sam Stevens‘ sixth major championship start, but his first trip to Augusta National. He’s made the cut in each of his previous major starts, and he’s had an under-the-radar start to 2026. Playing more often in Signature Events and in major championships is a big step up for the former Oklahoma State Cowboy, but I don’t think it’s something he can’t handle.

Stevens is coming off a solo fifth-place finish in Houston, his best finish to date on the 2026 calendar, but he’s made the cut in eight of his nine starts. Over the past 36 rounds, Stevens is 17th in this field in SG: T2G, ahead of Brooks Kopeka, Akshay Bhatia, Viktor Hovland, and Patrick Cantlay. He’s historically been a slightly above-average putter, but his short game has held him back this season. The good news is that he’s fared best on Bent grass greens, which he’ll get this week. Expectations should be low, but in a loaded Top Debutant market, Stevens is a sneaky down-the-board look if you’re looking to stay clear of the chalk.

Sepp Straka

Current OWGR: 12th

Best Finish At The Masters: T16 (2024)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, 16, 46, 30, –

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.14

The Georgia Bulldog had a tough major championship run last season. He missed the cut in each of the first three events before a T52 at Royal Portrush helped prevent the dreaded Golden Sombrero. It had to be frustrating because 2025 was the best year of Straka’s career.

In 2024, Straka averaged 0.25 strokes gained per round, but that jumped up to 1.03 in 2025. That’s a huge jump, equaling roughly 3 full strokes per event. That resulted in two wins and career-highs in top-10s (6) and top-20 (12) finishes. 2026 has been more of the same, minus the wins. He’s a perfect fit for Pebble (T2) and Sawgrass (T8), venues that mitigate a distance advantage off the tee while rewarding accuracy and short iron play.

This may be disrespectful, but I’m not sure Straka has the gear it takes to win an event like this, but he’s certainly playing well enough to compete. He’ll play the Par 5s as three-shot holes and take advantage of his exceptional wedge game to give himself scoring chances, ala Russell Henley and former champ Zach Johnson. Another T20 is in play, but I wouldn’t anticipate much more than that.

Nick Taylor

Current OWGR: 66th

Best Finish At The Masters: T29 (2020)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 40, MC, 29, -, –

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -1.63

Nick Taylor is making his fourth start at Augusta and is still looking for his first top 20 finish here or at any major championship. Last year, Taylor broke his streak of missing the cut in eight straight major appearances, making the cut at both the Masters and U.S. Open.

Taylor is a streaky player, and unlike many players of similar stature, his streaks result in wins. There’s no world where he gets so hot this week that he contends or wins, but he’s been a bit more consistent this season, particularly on approach, and that can mask a lot of other issues in a golfer’s game.

Justin Thomas

Current OWGR: 15th

Best Finish At The Masters: 4 (2020)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 36, MC, MC, 8, 21

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.51

Justin Thomas looked like he wasn’t ready to return after his 79-79 start at Bay Hill, his first start of 2026 after undergoing off-season back surgery. Kudos to JT for bouncing back with an impressive T8 the very next week at The PLAYERS. His iron play was great at Sawgrass, but that didn’t carry over to Copperhead. He finished T30 at the Valspar, losing nearly a half-stroke per round on approach.

Thomas desperately wants a green jacket, and at times, you can almost see the pressure that he puts on himself to play well here. I think that’s worked against him. I’m not sure that the standards and expectations that he has for himself are any different right now as he’s working his way back, but I think ours should be. Thomas won’t be on my betting card this season, but I’m hoping he returns to form as the spring rolls into summer.

Sami Valimaki

Current OWGR: 57th

Best Finish At The Masters: n/a

Last 5 Masters Finishes: Debutant

November was kind to Sami Valimaki. He carried the momentum of a T2 at the World Wide Technology Championship into a win later that month at the RSM Classic, which earned him his first career Masters invite.

We’ll occasionally see the Finn pop on a long course setup against a weak field, like Mexico, Myrtle Beach, or Houston, but 2026 has been a giant step up in field strength for Valimaki. He’s missed the cut at PGA National and Sawgrass, and he’ll look to break that streak at the Valero Texas Open before heading to Augusta National. My expectations are low.

Bubba Watson

Current OWGR: n/a

Best Finish At The Masters: 1st (2012 & 2014)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 14, MC, MC, 39, 26

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -0.24

Bubba Watson‘s T14 here last year was not on my Bingo card. The Range Goat’s legend had made 29 starts in LIV’s limited-field events, finishing inside the top 10 just once prior to last year’s Masters, but he rolled that T14 form over a bit, posting four T8 or better finishes in his next eight LIV events in 2025. Unfortunately, he didn’t pick up where he left off. Bubba has yet to find the top 25 on LIV this season, so I don’t know what to make of him heading into this year’s event.

What we do know is he loves this place, he’s thrived here, and his shot-making skills and ability to move the ball both ways are nearly unmatched. It hasn’t been all azaleas and green jackets, though. When he’s not winning, he’s routinely finished outside of the top 25, which feels likely again, given his limited recent reps and spotty play.

Mike Weir

Current OWGR: n/a

Best Finish At The Masters: 1st (2003)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, MC, MC, MC, MC

Weir, the left-handed Canuck, and 2003 champion, has missed 13 of the last 15 cuts here. Weir has been more competitive on the Champions Tour of late than he’s been leading into previous Masters starts, but it’s difficult to see a path to him making the cut this week, which is his ceiling.

Danny Willett

Current OWGR: 393rd

Best Finish At The Masters: 1 (2016)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: 42, 45, MC, 12, MC

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -0.20

The 2016 Masters champion stunned us again in 2022 with a competitive four rounds and a T12 finish despite entering with zero form and one top-ten finish in the past calendar year. His form leading up to this year’s event is no different. Willet’s dealt with injuries over the past few seasons, but he’s played more golf leading into this year’s event than in years past.

He’s teed it up 21 times since last year’s Masters. He’s missed the cut ten times, adding a WD at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic as well. He finished among the top 35 in just three of those 21 starts. He’s short and inaccurate off the tee, and he’s shown a very limited ceiling with his irons over the past few seasons. In fact, he’s gained strokes, albeit barely, in just two of those 21 starts since last year’s Masters. Enjoy the champion’s dinner, Danny! No one can take that, or your green jacket, away from you.

Gary Woodland

Current OWGR: 51st

Best Finish At The Masters: T14 (2023)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, 14, MC, 40, MC

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): -0.50

Gary Woodland‘s win at this year’s Texas Children’s Houston Open will be one of the best stories in all of sports in 2026. He’s heading back to Augusta National for the 13th time after missing it in 2025. It has not been a pleasant on-course experience for Woodland, who’s finished inside the top 20 just once in his previous 12 starts here.

It does feel like he’s unlocked something in his game, though. Over the past 30 starts, he’s gained strokes putting after being one of the Tour’s worst putters for a stretch, and his distance off the tee is a weapon that is additive to anyone’s chances around Augusta National. He chipped it beautifully at Memorial Park, and he’ll need to do that again if he’s going to crack the top 20 here for the second time in his career, but the form and momentum are strong right now. Rock Chalk.

Cameron Young

Current OWGR: 3rd

Best Finish At The Masters: T7 (2023)

Last 5 Masters Finishes: MC, 9, 7, MC, –

Average SG: Total (Last 5 Masters): 0.59

What a difference a year makes. Cameron Young missed the cut at last year’s Masters, but even though he had back-to-back top-10 finishes here in 2023 and 2024, the missed cut was far from a surprise. It was right in line with what he was doing every week. Heading into last year’s event, Young had missed the cut at the Genesis, Cognizant Classic, Arnold Palmer, and Valspar in the months leading up to the event. More proof that form supercedes even the best course history cases.

Well, if it’s form we’re looking for as we handicap the 2026 event, Cameron Young has it in spades. He had an exceptional end to the 2025 season, building off of his win at Sedgefield with excellent showings at all three playoff events. He was one of the U.S.’s bright spots at Bethpage, and he seems to have found another level this season, with three straight ball-striking clinics at Riviera (T7), Bay Hill (T3), and Sawgrass (1st).

Another member of Team Loud Traits, Young is a popular selection, with an almost cult-like following around the golf outright betting community. Young was routinely going off the board at 100/1 or greater in weak field events last season, and now, I’m wishing I could find a 30/1 to click on this week.