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2017 Masters: Ranking First-Time Competitors’ Chances to Win

By Mike Randleman

Mar 4, 2017; Mexico City, MEX; Thomas Pieters lines up a putt on the 16th green during the third round of the WGC - Mexico Championship golf tournament at Club de Golf Chapultepec. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Mexico City, MEX; Thomas Pieters lines up a putt on the 16th green during the third round of the WGC - Mexico Championship golf tournament at Club de Golf Chapultepec. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 Masters
Mar 4, 2017; Mexico City, MEX; Thomas Pieters lines up a putt on the 16th green during the third round of the WGC – Mexico Championship golf tournament at Club de Golf Chapultepec. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 Thomas Pieters

When did you discover Thomas Pieters? Was it when he won an individual NCAA Championship at Illinois in 2012? How about after nearly taking the bronze medal in Rio? Or when he became a brash European Ryder Cup cult hero?

More and more fans seem to jump on the Pieters bandwagon after every big event, and rightfully so. With three wins on the European Tour by the age of 25 to go with his amateur and collegiate achievements, he’s risen to No. 34 in the world and as high as 29th. US fans might have some distaste after he hushed them at Hazeltine, but by all accounts he’s likable and brings energy to the game. He’s also relatable to the average duffer in his willingness to take out some frustration on his equipment.

The 2017 Masters makes for his third major start after a T30 at the Open Championship and 86th at the PGA. He tied for fifth at his latest elite-field stroke-play event, the WGC-Mexico Championship.

Pieters’ length off the tee could go a long way (pun intended) toward attacking Augusta’s gettable par-5s and thrust himself into the mix for a green jacket.

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