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The Masters: 10 dark horse golfers to win the Green Jacket

By Cameron La Fontaine

Apr 13, 2014; Augusta, GA, USA; A general view of lawn chairs along the 18th green during the final round of the 2014 The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2014; Augusta, GA, USA; A general view of lawn chairs along the 18th green during the final round of the 2014 The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 27, 2015; Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA; Brooks Koepka bows to the gallery after making birdie on the 18th hole during the second round of the Honda Classic at PGA National GC Champion Course. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2015; Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA; Brooks Koepka bows to the gallery after making birdie on the 18th hole during the second round of the Honda Classic at PGA National GC Champion Course. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /

Brooks Koepka, U.S.A.

I absolutely love Brooks Koepka to win the Masters this year and maybe he’s not even a dark horse candidate because so many people are talking about the young up and comer. But, if it’s your first time in the Masters and you’ve never won a major, you can still slide in as a dark horse.

Here’s why I love Koepka. He’s fifth in the PGA Tour in driving distance with an average of 307.8 yards per drive. Where does driving really come in key? Everywhere. But for the sake of being specific, Augusta National. Just look at recent winners. Bubba Watson (2012, 2014) he was leading the PGA Tour driving the ball over 314 yards in 2014. Adam Scott won in 2013 driving the ball over 297 yards per drive, Phil Mickelson won in 2010 and was driving the ball 299 yards per drive that season. The list goes on and on with success from big hitters at Augusta National.

I also love that Koepka has made all seven cuts this season and has three top 10 finishes including his first PGA Tour victory at the Phoenix Open back in February after making 18 birdies and an eagle over the course of the four rounds creating the space for five bogeys.

Koepka hasn’t been as sharp since his two straight top 10’s and then the win in Phoenix, but I have utmost confidence that he will thrive at Augusta National. He finished T-4 at the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 and I expect Koepka to play like he did in that tournament last year, and be right near the top of the leaderboard at the Masters this year.

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