by When the Azaleas start to pop in Augusta, that means friends, colleagues, enemies are sending around Masters pools of all shapes and formats. Many of these games demand you go outside the obvious names at the top of the world rankings to compete and succeed. In what’s become my own little bit of tradition around here, some “longshots” – that term is used relatively here, of course – for the 2022 Masters.
Corey Conners
Odds to win: 60 to 1
Masters Record: T8 (‘21), T10 (‘20), T46 (‘19), MC (‘15)
Listen, I don’t think that Corey Conners will win but you will struggle to find as long of odds on anyone who has been on the number of major championship leaderboards in recent years as Conners. He is a supreme talent tee to green and if he has an out-of-body week with the putter, he can win. I really like Conners for a top 20 result.
Thomas Pieters
Odds to win: 100 to 1
Masters Record: MC (‘18), T4 (‘17)
On pure talent alone, this man deserves to have stronger odds. The former University of Illinois standout has had an up and down career as a professional after busting onto the scene and making that 2016 European Ryder Cup team. That said, when you look at long odds, you’re really looking for undervalued talent and you won’t find someone with more of that at 100 to 1.
Sergio Garcia
Odds to win: 125 to 1
Masters Record last 10 years: MC (‘21), DNP (’20), MC (‘19), MC (‘18), 1st (’17), T34 (’16), T17 (’15), MC (’14), T8 (’13), T12 (’12), T35 (’11)
He’s a past champion with all the ingredients to thrive at Augusta, surgical tee-to-green game and a world-class short game. I don’t know how this legend, no matter how poorly he’s played in majors since winning the Masters, ever gets to these long odds.
Cameron Young
Odds to win: 150 to 1
Masters Record: Rookie
Augusta National is not kind to first timers, but if I was going to bet on one having success, I like Young. Much like the others on this list, Young is long and gifted from tee to green. His ascent in 2022 has been rapid and obscured by the Saudi tour circus. He played great his first time around Riviera and also won the Augusta Invitational the week before the Masters in 2019 while at Wake. While that was a different golf course (Augusta CC), it shares the dramatic topography, signaling he is comfortable enough hitting shots from uneven lies. The question will be around his short game, which needs some tidying up.
Max Homa
Odds to win: 125 to 1
Masters Record: MC (‘21), MC (‘20)
The social media darling didn’t make the cut his first two times at the Masters but I like his fit for success at Augusta National. He has won events against big-time fields and big-time players (namely, Riviera & Wells Fargo). He is strong tee to green and might be peaking at the right time with four straight top 20s in stroke play events on the PGA Tour.
More Masters coverage from The Fried Egg team:
Is Augusta National Turning Over a New Leaf?
Geoff Ogilvy’s notes on all 18 at Augusta National
Stories worth your time and tracking at the 2022 Masters
The Art Behind Augusta’s Roars: Focal points in Alister MacKenzie’s routings
Tiger’s Masters flirtation is something more than ceremonial
