Ten each-way long shots to follow at the Masters

Even as recently as 12 months ago, not many were surprised to see the names of Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland, Scottie Scheffler and the victorious Jon Rahm at the top of the leaderboard.

However, the fact that there was also room in the top ten for the likes of Sahith Theegala, Russell Henley and a well-past-his-sell-by-date Phil Mickelson proves that there is decent value to be found among the so-called long shots.

Well-backed favourites are as liable as anyone to mess things up (just ask Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, who both missed the cut last year), which leaves an opening for hungry hopefuls, fearless rookies and hapless has-beens to enjoy their hour in the Augusta sun.

Using the 40/1 mark as our minimum odds, we have scoured the nether regions of the 89-man field to come up with a handful of (un)likely candidates who could flop, of course, but who might just be capable of punching above their weight against the powerhouses of the PGA and LIV tours.

• Top Price On The Planet: Best odds for Scheffler, McIlroy and Rahm, and 50% back if your bet leads after any round but then loses

Russell Henley (45/1)

Not exactly a rank outsider at 45/1, Russell Henley has made the cut six times in his seven visits to Augusta, with his three top-20 finishes crowned by last year’s fourth place

He arrives in good shape after enjoying two more fourth spots in two of his last three tournaments, either side of a forgivable blip in missing the cut at the Players Championship.

Corey Conners (50/1)

Rarely too far away from the top of the leaderboard, Corey Conners has not missed a cut all season, albeit with a best-placed finish of 13th at the Players Championship last month.

 

He missed the cut at last year’s Masters, but made the top ten in each of the previous three editions, so the capable Canadian clearly knows how to plot his way round the Augusta course. 

 

Si Woo Kim (60/1)

Without ever giving the leaders too much to worry about, Si Woo Kim has been consistent all year, making the weekend at all nine tournaments entered, with a season-best sixth at the Players.

His recent Masters form has been equally solid, and he could be set to improve upon his steady recent performances at Augusta, where he has hovered between 12th and 39th at each of the last six editions.

 

Akshay Bhatia (66/1)

If striking while the iron’s hot can be a reliable betting strategy, then Masters rookie Ahshay Bhatia could be a snip at his current price to win at his first Augusta appearance.

Yes, he has missed four cuts this season, but none of his six weekend appearances have seen him finish lower than 17th, and he punched his ticket for Augusta at the final hurdle with a dramatic win at last week’s Texas Open that was all the more courageous for the barrage he faced from Denny McCarthy and having to down a 12-footer to force the play-off that he eventually won.

Footnote: McCarthy (75/1) birdied the last seven holes to draw level with Bhatia in Texas, so is arguably the in-form player coming to Augusta, and if the Masters was a putting competition, then Denny would be your man.

Sungjae Im (75/1)

Sungjae Im started his year with a promising fifth place at the Sentry in Hawaii, but has since been out of sorts, mixing missed cuts with mid-division finishes.

 

However, he is the kind of player who could turn his season around in a heartbeat, and it would be unwise to write off the chances of a player who was runner-up behind Dustin Johnson here in 2020, eighth in 2022 and 16th a year ago.

 

Rickie Fowler (85/1)

If Augusta National had a roof, then it would surely come off if Rickie Fowler were to be donning the prestigious Green Jacket on Sunday night.

 

His well-documented winless spell ended with a long-overdue victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last July, which earned him his Masters ticket after a three-year absence from Augusta.

 

Write the popular Californian off at your peril, because he has missed the Masters cut just once in 10 appearances, with his 2018 runner-up spot the best of three top-ten finishes.

Harris English (110/1)

Harris English is one of those golfers who we punters tend consider and quickly disregard, only then to kick ourselves for overlooking his uncanny knack for making his presence known on leaderboards.

 

He missed the cut at the recent Texas Open, but had hovered around the top 20 in each of his previous four events, and this will be the first time he plays in consecutive Masters, having finished 43rd last year (21st in 2021).

 

Sepp Straka (120/1)

Will Sepp Straka win this year’s Masters? Probably not, after missing the cut as many times as he has played the weekends this season, but he is the kind of mercurial talent who could hit a four-day purple patch on any given weekend.

 

After navigating his way around Augusta well enough to make the cut on each of his two previous attempts (30th in 2022, 46th in 2023), he has the skill set and the fearless mindset to take on the course this time and possible make it third time luckier.

 

Eric Cole (200/1)

Eric Cole has yet to notch up his maiden Tour win, coming closest at last year’s Honda Classic where he lost in a play-off to Chris Kirk.

 

Cole made the cut at his first appearances at both the US Open and the PGA last season, and he might just be one to watch if he makes it to the weekend here as well.

 

Last season’s consistency made him the PGA’s oldest ever Rookie of the Year at 35, and what a story it would be if he could put his game together this weekend and break his Tour duck with a Green Jacket at the first attempt.

Ryo Hisatsune (300/1)

The task of our featued rookies is not made easier by the knowledge that no player has won on their first appearance at Augusta since Fuzzy Zoeller upset the Masters applecart way back in 1979.

 

Up-and-coming Japanese star Ryo Hisatsune is 300/1 for a reason, of course, but he could quite easily make a mockery of that price if his game and mentality can get the better of the course and the occasion respectively.

 

The fact that he is one of just three players (alongside Joaquin Niemann and Thorbjorn Olesen) to receive a special invite to Augusta speaks volumes for the reputation and potential of last year’s French Open winner, who notably pipped Swedish sensation Ludwig Aberg for the DP World Tour Rookie of the Year accolade.

 

READ MORE: Who will win the Masters: Best bets for Augusta