2017 Masters: Five Past Winners to Keep an Eye On

6 of 6

Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Fred Couples — 1992

Back problems have forced this 15-time PGA Tour winner to curtail his schedule in recent years, but he’s appeared healthy enough this season, picking up a top six finish in each of his four Champions Tour starts. For that reason, we can’t rule out the possibility of Couples making a surprise run at this year’s Masters.

More from Pro Golf Now

Couples won his Masters in 1992, outlasting the veteran Raymond Floyd and a surging Corey Pavin to cap a memorable stretch that saw him rise to the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking. Twenty-five years later, the Washington native is nowhere near where he once was, but he’s remained stubborn at the year’s first major, finding the top 20 in five of his last six trips to Augusta.

Fifty-seven years of age may seem old for a major champion, but in a world where a 59-year-old Tom Watson can qualify for a playoff at The Open Championship, anything is possible. Couples’ affinity for Augusta is clear, and he’s sure to have an enthusiastic on-course following in every round he plays. It seems inevitable that a senior player will eventually nab one of the big four, and while it will be hard to pull off against a field featuring incredible talents like Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy, you’d be unwise to sleep on Freddie.

Next: Masters: DraftKings Picks

Which under-the-radar former champions do you think have the best chance of claiming another green jacket? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter, and keep it here at Pro Golf Now for more Masters updates.

Home/The Masters