2022 Masters: 31 Players Who Can Win, 6 Dark Horses
1. Justin Thomas (4th in 2020): He has every shot in the bag needed to earn his first green jacket.
2. Cameron Smith (T2 in 2020): Smith has been off-the-charts good so far this year with wins at the Tournament of Champions and Players Championship.
3. Rory McIlroy (4th in 2015): Chasing a Grand Slam and playing better than ever.
4. Jon Rahm (4th in 2018): Rahm has top 10s in each of his last four Masters starts.
4. Collin Morikawa (T18 in 2021): Eight times he’s gained 3.6 strokes or more for an event with his putter, and all eight are top-five finishes (three of them are wins).
5. Dustin Johnson (Won in 2020): Cocaine.
6. Brooks Koepka (T2 in 2019): He lives for the weekend, so all he has to do is make the cut and he will be around on Sunday.
7. Jordan Spieth (Won in 2015): In this current field, he’s still the best short game player at Augusta.
8. Louis Oosthuizen (2nd in 2012): It’s about damn time.
9. Scottie Scheffler (T18 in 2021): Why so low? Lack of experience.
10. Viktor Hovland (T21 in 2021): If he can make putts, he can go really low in at least two rounds at Augusta, so he just needs his other two rounds to be even par or better.
11. Xander Schauffele (T2 in 2019): If you can win a Gold Medal, you can win a major.
12. Will Zalatoris (2nd in 2021): Only Rahm and Zalatoris are clearing 2.0 strokes gained ball-striking in 2022.
13. Sam Burns (First Timer): He’s one of two 1st-time players that could win this tournament.
14. Harold Varner III: HV3 is the second. See above.
15. Adam Scott (Won in 2013): He’s a great 50-1 sleeper.
16. Corey Conners (T8 in 2021): If he can hang around on Saturday and make some putts on Sunday, Corey Conners will finish in the Top 10.
17. Joaquin Niemann (T40 in 2021):
18. Billy Horschel (T17 in 2016): Elite iron player.
19. Shane Lowry (T21 in 2021): Beefy and beautiful golf swing.
20. Daniel Berger (T10 in 2016): He’s likely a Top 15 finisher, but he’s not going to be your 2022 Masters Champion.
21. Tony Finau (T5 in 2019): He will win a major, just not this one.
22. Tiger Woods (Won in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019): Do not ever count him out.
23. Patrick Cantlay (T9 in 2019): He might place Top 5, but mentally he doesn’t have it to win at Augusta.
24. Abraham Ancer: San Antonio swagger.
25. Justin Rose (2nd in 2017): Rose holds the distinction of the player who has held the most first, second or third round leads without winning a single Masters.
26. Paul Casey (T4 in 2016): Thursday’s round will decide his chances of contending, but if he somehow shocks everyone with a low Round 1 score, I wouldn’t count him out just yet.
27. Marc Leishman (T4 in 2013): He is due for another Sunday surprise like the one in the 2015 Open Championship when he made himself known in the golf world.
28. Kevin Na (T12 in 2021): Everyone wants to see him walk in a 10-footer on 18 to win the Masters.
29. Sungjae Im (T2 in 2020): If he is the leader after Round 1 or 2, I think he will finish in the Top 10, but I do not see him winning this year.
30. Si Woo Kim (T12 in 2021): No missed cuts this year.
31. Hideki Matsuyama (Won in 2021): Injuries might prevent last year’s champion from playing on the weekend, but I had to make this a list of 31 players to show respect to what he accomplished at this time last year.
My 6 Dark Horses include two past champions, two first-timers, and two Americans. They are as follows:
Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia, Talor Gooch, Cameron Young, Max Homa, and Webb Simpson.
Last Place Predictions:
Bryson DeChambeau (T21 in 2016) and Patrick Reed. No shot these guys win. Am I joking? With Patrick Reed, yes. With DeChambeau, no. I legitimately do not think Bryson will make the cut. I want skinny Bryson back.
Here are the DraftKings Sportsbook Odds to Win, Top 5, and Top 10:
