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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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Apr 11, 2014; Augusta, GA, USA; Branden Grace reacts after holing a shot from out of a bunker on the 9th hole during the second round of the 2014 The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2014; Augusta, GA, USA; Branden Grace reacts after holing a shot from out of a bunker on the 9th hole during the second round of the 2014 The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports /

Branden Grace, South Africa

Branden Grace is another stellar dark horse pick to win the Masters this year. He’s mainly a European Tour guy who has had a great season so far winning two events on that tour this season so far and adding two more top 20’s in six events.

Grace is a 26 year old golfer hailing from a country that has brought amazing golfers to the PGA Tour with Ernie Els, Gary Player, Charl Schwartzel, Trevor Immelman, Tim Clark, Louis Oosthuizen, Retief Goosen among others. Player, Schwartzel and Immelman have all won the Masters bringing in a total of five wins for South Africa at Augusta National, the most by any country other than the United States.

In the last seven years, two South Africans have won the Masters (Schwartzel and Immelman) and I think it’s time that South Africa brings home another Green Jacket.

Since 2009, the Masters has flipped year to year from American winners to international winners and don’t be surprised if that trend continues with a great field of international players this year.

Grace’s scoring average has been his best ever on the European Tour this year (69.96) and he also is driving the ball 305.2 yards on average this season, bringing up his career best by nearly 10 strokes. It’s a great formula to do well at Augusta National and this really looks like it could be his year.

Grace finished T-18 at Augusta National in 2013, and I expect him to be right near the top with the way he’s been playing on the European Tour this year. Watch out, because Grace is a dark horse with a lot of potential this season.

Next: Ryan Palmer

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