Rickie Fowler — 8th
One of the game’s more consistent players over the last month, Fowler enters this week on a run of five consecutive top 20 finishes, including a trio of top fives. That stretch includes a victory at the Honda Classic in February and a tie for third at last week’s Shell Houston Open, where he made a late bid at the title thanks to an excellent back nine. The reason behind this success is no secret — it’s his ball striking. Fowler paced last week’s field in strokes gained: approach-the-green, and on the season, he ranks third on the PGA Tour in that category. Combine that with his solid track record at the Masters — five-for-six with two top 15s — and he looks like a bona fide contender.
There are hotter players in the field at Augusta, but don’t let that fact distract you from this contender. There’s a lot to like about Fowler this week, so don’t be surprised if he finally gets the major monkey off his back.