The long wait is finally over! It’s already Masters week and excitement is definitely building for the year’s first major golf championship. All eyes will surely be on Jordan Spieth as he attempts to defend the title he won so convincingly last season. Make no mistake about it, though, this 2016 Masters isn’t a one-horse race. Spieth might be the defending champion but a host of other golfers are ready to spoil the American’s party this coming weekend.
Read on below as we list down three high-value sleepers who we think can take home the green jacket this weekend. While you’re at it, you can check out our complete preview of the 2016 Masters here.
Can Phil Mickelson make another run at a Masters title? That’s the question on everyone’s lips heading into Thursday’s opening round at Augusta National. Mickelson has had a solid start to the year thus far, going T11, 2, T37, 5 and T18 since missing the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open back in January. That’s the first time since 2008 that Lefty has notched four top-20 finishes between the beginning of February and the Masters tournament.
That will serve him in good stead ahead of the Masters this week. He loves playing in this tournament as evidenced by his three victories and 15 top-10 finishes here at Augusta. With the form that he is in right now and his experience with this golf course, Mickelson has an excellent chance of grabbing the championship this weekend. He is pegged at +1,800 to do just that.
Dustin Johnson
If there’s one golfer primed to have a major breakthrough at the Masters this week, it’s got to be Dustin Johnson. He’s playing some excellent golf of late, tallying four top-10s and six top-25s in his first seven starts this year. He has sustained the momentum of his successful 2015 season wherein he finished in the top 10 in three of the four major tournaments. That includes his sixth-place showing at the Masters last year, his best-ever finish here at Augusta National.
Key to Johnson’s success this season has been his powerful drive. He is fifth in the PGA Tour in driving distance this year with a whopping 310.1 yard per drive average. That will be a major asset for Johnson in dissecting Augusta National’s long 7,435 yard, par-72 course. If Johnson can take advantage of the long par-5s, chances are the Masters will be celebrating another first-time major winner this coming weekend. Johnson’s odds of winning the Masters are currently priced at +2,200.
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Patrick Reed, +5,000
Another golfer who’s having a great 2016 is Patrick Reed, who is pegged at +5,000 to win it all at Augusta. The 25-year-old Texan has been in fine form to start the season, already notching a PGA Tour-best seven top-10 finishes. He’s coming off a 10th-place finish at the recently-concluded Shell Houston Open.
Key to Reed’s strong start has been his stellar play from tee to green. He is 17th in the PGA Tour in strokes gained in that particular department with a solid .971 average. That solid all-around play will come in handy for Reed when tackling the treacherous Augusta National course. He’s listed at +5,000 to win his first major title this week.
