2015 Masters Fantasy Sleeper Picks

When you get to a major – especially the Masters – the term “sleeper” really doesn’t apply. There are less than 100 golfers participating and everybody is recognizable. So, this week the picks are golfers that aren’t generating buzz and are, of course, cheap picks on DraftKings.

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Length, accuracy, putting (of course), and experience are the key factors I look at every year at the Masters. Experience is usually the biggest factor. Typically, you won’t see first timers competing for the win.

Last year, was the exception as Jordan Spieth is really just a special player that continues to leap tall buildings in a single bound and bomb 40 foot putts.

Anyway, that’s what I personally look for when making picks and with that here are my 2015 Masters fantasy sleeper picks. And, again, we are using “sleeper” loosely this week.

Bill Haas– In five starts at The Masters, Haas has made the cut in all five tournaments. While he still has yet to record a top ten finish, he has, more a less, gotten better each time he’s played at Augusta National.

He has racked up back-to-back T-20 finishes the last couple of years and last year he did lead after the first round. Not only that, but Haas is 32 years old. That is the median age for a winner at The Masters.

Here is a quality article from PGATour.com it’s a couple of years old, but still relevant. Heading into the 2013 Masters, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, and Brandt Snedeker were 32 years old. Do you remember who won the 2013 Masters? That’s right, Adam Scott.

With Bubba Watson winning it at age 35 last year, 32 is still that magical number you want to be around and Haas is right in the middle of it.

Sep 11, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Gary Woodland walks to his ball on the third hole during the first round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Gary Woodland– Like Haas, Gary Woodland hasn’t missed a cut at The Masters. In three starts, Woodland is three-for-three with his best finish being a T-24 in 2011.

In 2012, he had a great start shooting a 73-70, but on Saturday he ballooned up to an 85 and withdrew. Last year, Woodland finished T-26.

Woodland has the game that suits Augusta National and he has shown it thus far with his made cuts. Not only that, but he has been playing better of late. Woodland has made the cut in three of his last four starts including a T-21 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and T-23 at the WGC-Cadillac Championship.

He’s probably still a bit inexperienced to seriously compete for the win this year, but in a couple of years I wouldn’t be surprised to see Woodland actually contending for a green jacket.

Miguel Angel Jimenez– “The Most Interesting Golfer in the World” you got to love Miguel Angel Jimenez. Jimenez brings that fun loving, cigar smoking swagger to a golf course that you can’t help but root for.

Jimenez has been having a bit of a resurgence over the past few years becoming the oldest European Tour winner, winning his first event on the Champions Tour, and finishing 4th last year at The Masters.

In fact, Jimenez has made the cut the last nine times he has played at Augusta National and has racked up four top 12 finishes.

Jimenez is in solid enough form he’s been competing on the European Tour, he won the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in January and in his most recent tournament he finished T-22 at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic.

Fred Couples– Freddy Couples is the best value pick of the tournament hands down. I don’t know why, but for some reason golfers like Padraig Harrington ($6,700) and Steve Stricker ($6,800) are more expensive than Boom Boom.

Paddy Harrington is nowhere near the golfer he was five, six, seven years ago. Stricker is still a quality golfer, but he’s basically retired now and coming off a couple of different surgeries.

They aren’t the only ones, though, Alexander Levy ($6,800) and Harris English ($7,100) aren’t even playing at The Masters, yet they are both ahead of Couples. That’s pretty silly.

Anyway, why is Couples such a valuable pick? Just look at his resume here at Augusta. T-20, T-13, T-12, T-15, and 6th. That’s all been in the last five years.

You have to remember that Couples is 55 years old so one day he just won’t have it anymore, but based on his play on the Champions Tour he isn’t slowing down quite yet. He finished 3rd at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship and in his most recent tournament he finished T-15 at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic.

Realistically, Couples could get off to that hot start, yet again, but tail off as the tournament heads into the weekend. If Couples can get off to another great start this year and just hold steady Saturday and Sunday, hey, you never know.

Next: Masters Power Rankings

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