Masters: Sleeper Candidates to win the 2020 Green Jacket

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AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 10: Gary Woodland of the United States looks on from the second green during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on November 10, 2020 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Gary Woodland +6500

The last time I picked Gary Woodland as a longshot, he was a bit further down the board at +8000. That one turned out pretty good for me. I chose him in advance of the 2019 U.S. Open, and he ended up winning the event to earn his first major and fourth career PGA Tour victory.

Woodland isn’t as much of a longshot as he was then, and isn’t that far removed from his major victory. He actually won a major more recently than the defending champion of this event, Tiger Woods. Tiger won in April 2019, Woodland won in June 2019.

Woodland is no Bryson DeChambeau and has actually gone the other route, losing a bit of weight in order to gain flexibility and increase his long term health prospects. Length isn’t paramount at Augusta, although it is nice to have anywhere. Woodland can still stripe it with the best of them, as he average finished the 2020 season with good numbers of the tee, 30th in distance, and 102nd in accuracy. That makes for a good combo.

It’s going to come down to his work around the green, as it’s where he struggles. A great approach player, a good putter, and good off the tee. If he can play strong around the usually troublesome Augusta greens, Woodland is going to find himself in the same situation that he did last June, fighting atop the leaderboard for a major victory.

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