Major Power Rankings: Masters Rankings

Major Power Rankings: Masters Rankings

This article is part of our Major Power Rankings series.

Below are our 2015 Masters rankings. This list is geared toward winner-take-all leagues and leagues that reward the lowest aggregate score, but it can serve other leagues as well, no matter the nuances. Check the comments section for golfers who are scratched.

A
=Amateur


FAVORITES

1. Rory McIlroy
Note: Posted best Masters finish last year (T8), seeking to complete career grand slam
2. Bubba Watson
Note: Defending champ has won two of last three green jackets, game fits Augusta like a glove
3. Jordan Spieth
Note: Runner-up in his first Masters last year; hottest player on the planet with 1st-2nd-2nd in last three starts
4. Jason Day
Note: Great history at Augusta, won at Torrey Pines earlier this year
5. Adam Scott
Note: Green jacket owner from 2013; going back to the long putter for Masters
6. Dustin Johnson
Note: Won WGC-Cadillac in impressive weekend comeback, seeking first major breakthrough
7. Henrik Stenson
Note: Nearly won at Bay Hill three weeks ago, is in great form, but average history at Augusta
8. Jimmy Walker
Note: Won two weeks ago in hometown San Antonio, top-10 in his first Masters last year
9. Phil Mickelson
Note: Always a threat at Augusta, seeking fourth green jacket; played solid last week

CONTENDERS

10. Brandt Snedeker
Note: Won at Pebble Beach in February, close calls at Augusta in 2008, 2013
11. Matt Kuchar
Note: Top-8s at last three Masters; a major is only thing not on his resume
12. Patrick Reed
Note: Augusta State alum
Below are our 2015 Masters rankings. This list is geared toward winner-take-all leagues and leagues that reward the lowest aggregate score, but it can serve other leagues as well, no matter the nuances. Check the comments section for golfers who are scratched.

A
=Amateur


FAVORITES

1. Rory McIlroy
Note: Posted best Masters finish last year (T8), seeking to complete career grand slam
2. Bubba Watson
Note: Defending champ has won two of last three green jackets, game fits Augusta like a glove
3. Jordan Spieth
Note: Runner-up in his first Masters last year; hottest player on the planet with 1st-2nd-2nd in last three starts
4. Jason Day
Note: Great history at Augusta, won at Torrey Pines earlier this year
5. Adam Scott
Note: Green jacket owner from 2013; going back to the long putter for Masters
6. Dustin Johnson
Note: Won WGC-Cadillac in impressive weekend comeback, seeking first major breakthrough
7. Henrik Stenson
Note: Nearly won at Bay Hill three weeks ago, is in great form, but average history at Augusta
8. Jimmy Walker
Note: Won two weeks ago in hometown San Antonio, top-10 in his first Masters last year
9. Phil Mickelson
Note: Always a threat at Augusta, seeking fourth green jacket; played solid last week

CONTENDERS

10. Brandt Snedeker
Note: Won at Pebble Beach in February, close calls at Augusta in 2008, 2013
11. Matt Kuchar
Note: Top-8s at last three Masters; a major is only thing not on his resume
12. Patrick Reed
Note: Augusta State alum won Hyundai TOC in January, on a roll recently; missed cut in first Masters last year
13. Rickie Fowler
Note: Top-5 at all majors last season, possesses all the tools to contend at Augusta
14. Justin Rose
Note: Struggled early this year but has never missed Masters cut with two career top-10s
15. Sergio Garcia
Note: Spotty record at Augusta considering talent, but finished T8 in 2013
16. Lee Westwood
Note: Incredibly solid record at Augusta with seven career top-11s; still seeking first major breakthrough
17. Billy Horschel
Note: Finished T37 in irst Masters last year, third at Texas Open in most recent start
18. Brooks Koepka
Note: Breakthrough win at Phoenix Open to get into Masters; exceptional length off tee, capable of competing if short game is on
19. Jim Furyk
Note: Decent record at Masters but hasn't truly contended since 2003; at 44, chances are beginning to wane
20. Keegan Bradley
Note: On paper, has length and high ball flight to contend but has yet to post top-25 here in three starts
21. Louis Oosthuizen
Note: Four missed cuts in six Masters appearances but lost in playoff in 2012
22. Angel Cabrera
Note: 2009 Masters champ almost won in 2013, losing in playoff to Adam Scott
23. Hideki Matsuyama
Note: Budding Japanese star has just one of 10 career rounds in the 60s

IN THE HUNT

24. Tiger Woods
Note: Returning from two-month hiatus after poor play, back injury; as much of a wild card as ever
25. Ian Poulter
Note: Lengthy history of making the cut but only one top-10 for the outspoken Englishman
26. Martin Kaymer
Note: Wire-to-wire to win 2014 U.S. Open by five; made Masters cut last three years but has never contended
27. Paul Casey
Note: Three great finishes in last two months; top finish this week would make for nice career revival
28. Zach Johnson
Note: 2007 Masters champ has been mediocre at Augusta since; top-10 at Bay Hill three weeks back
29. J.B. Holmes
Note: Won three-man playoff last week at Houston Open; second Masters appearance, first since 2008
30. Bill Haas
Note: Best Masters finish is T20 in each of last two years; mostly absent at majors in his career
31. Charl Schwartzel
Note: Won 2011 Masters with four straight birdies to finish
32. Gary Woodland
Note: Long and capable but has never put together four rounds at Augusta
33. Hunter Mahan
Note: Good ball striker with spotty history at Masters; three top-12s but three missed cuts in eight-year history
34. Jason Dufner
Note: Missed cut at 2014 Masters but three top-30s prior; enters in mediocre form
35. Luke Donald
Note: Best Masters finish a T3 in 2005; immaculate short game but likely not long enough to contend
36. Ryan Moore
Note: Contended in three of last four PGA Tour starts before disappointing finish last week
37. Victor Dubuisson
Note: Runner-up to Jason Day in the WGC-Match Play Championship in 2014
38. Graeme McDowell
Note: Four missed cuts the last five years at Augusta; left ankle tendon strain but cleared to play
39. Jonas Blixt
Note: Runner-up at last year's Masters but has zero top-10s since
40. Padraig Harrington
Note: Won the Honda out of nowhere last month, spotty since but solid Masters history makes him a wild card
41. Russell Henley
Note: Free-wheeler was T31 in second Masters last year; could surprise after fourth at Houston Open
42. Ryan Palmer
Note: 10th at 2011 Masters, could improve best finish if putts well; finished fifth at 2014 PGA Championship
43. Shane Lowry
Note: Top-10 at 2014 British Open, had pair of runner-ups on European Tour in 2014, seven top-10s overall
44. Webb Simpson
Note: Won 2012 U.S. Open outright by closing four-shot gap; poor Masters history, best finish T44 in 2012
45. Chris Kirk
Note: Top-20 at first Masters last year, enters with poor form after a career year in 2014
46. Fred Couples
Note: Augusta favorite is timeless 55-year-old yet to show signs of age at Masters; top-20s the last five years
47. Jamie Donaldson
Note: Top-15 in last year's Masters; solid ball striker peaking at age 39
48. Kevin Na
Note: Played well in some big events in his career, but just one career PGA Tour win
49. Marc Leishman
Note: Aussie surprised with top-5 finish in 2013 but missed cut at 2014 Masters
50. Miguel Angel Jimenez
Note: Defied age by posting best Masters finish last year; not expected to repeat the magic

LONG SHOTS

51. Bernd Wiesberger
Note: Masters rookie played in final group at 2014 PGA Championship; first Austrian in Masters
52. Branden Grace
Note: Two European Tour victories in 2015, finished T18 at Augusta in 2013
53. Brendon Todd
Note: Made U.S. Open, British Open, PGA Championship debut in 2014, making cut in all 
54. Danny Willett
Note: Masters rookie had six top-10s on European Tour in 2014
55. Ernie Els
Note: Past prime at 45 but still capable of winning, as evidenced by 2012 British Open
56. John Senden
Note: Revival year in 2014, winning the Valspar and following with T8 at Masters
57. Joost Luiten
Note: Shot a final-round 67 for T26 in Masters debut last year
58. Matt Every
Note: Defended the Arnold Palmer for second PGA Tour win; missed cut in Masters debut last year
59. Morgan Hoffmann
Note: 36-hole leader at Bay Hill, finished fourth in his most recent start
60. Steve Stricker
Note: Returning from back injury to play Masters as first event this season
61. Thomas Bjorn
Note: Eight career top-10 major finishes including surprise T8 at last year's Masters
62. Charley Hoffman
Note: Solid middle-tier player in his second Masters, his first since 2011
63. Sang-Moon Bae
Note: Won season-opening Frys.com Open by two strokes for second PGA Tour win
64. Brian Harman
Note: Good putter who earned invite after winning 2014 John Deere Classic
65. Kevin Stadler
Note: Withdrew from Hyundai TOC with left wrist injury; questionable to play this week
66. Robert Streb
Note: Masters rookie won first career PGA Tour victory at McGladrey Classic in October
67. Anirban Lahiri
Note: Won twice on Euro Tour in 2015; third Indian to play Masters
68. Bernhard Langer
Note: Two-time Masters champ and Champions Tour staple is 57 but surprised with top-10 last year
69. Cameron Tringale
Note: Posted best finish at Barclays in 2014, top-5 at last week's Houston Open
70. Camilo Villegas
Note: 2014 Wyndham win was first in five years; enters in poor form with no major top-10s since 2010
71. Geoff Ogilvy
Note: Won 2014 Barracuda Championship for eighth career PGA Tour victory to earn Masters invite
72. James Hahn
Note: Broke through winning playoff over Dustin Johnson at 2015 Northern Trust Open
73. Kevin Streelman
Note: Won 2014 Travelers with seven birdies to close; made first Masters cut in 2014 in third appearance
74. Seung-Yul Noh
Note: Captured first PGA Tour win at 2014 Zurich Classic; best major finish is T21 at 2012 PGA
75. Stephen Gallacher
Note: T34 in Masters debut last year, won Dubai Desert Classic in 2013, 2014
76. Thongchai Jaidee
Note: 15 international victories after winning Euro Tour's 2014 Nordea Masters
77. Vijay Singh
Note: Won 2000 Masters in 2000, made his last three Masters cuts despite advanced age
78. Ben Martin
Note: Two-shot win at Shriners to make Masters pro debut; played as amateur in 2010
79. Mikko Ilonen
Note: 35-year-old posted T7 at 2014 PGA Championship, also won twice on the European Tour last year
80. Trevor Immelman
Note: Won 2008 Masters but has fallen off the radar since
81. Erik Compton
Note: Multiple heart transplant recipient tied for second at 2014 U.S. Open
82. Ben Crane
Note: Earned invite with surprise wire-to-wire win at 2014 St. Jude Classic
83. Darren Clarke
Note: Won 2011 British Open by three to become oldest major champ since Ben Crenshaw at 1995 Masters
84. Jose Maria Olazabal
Note: Eight career top-10 Masters finishes including 1999 triumph; not a contender at 49
85. Mike Weir
Note: Canadian became first left-hander to win Masters in 2003
86. Mark O'Meara
Note: Won Masters and British Open in 1998
87. Tom Watson
Note: Won 1977 and 1981 Masters, runner-up three times
88. Byron Meth (A)
Note: Won last iteration of U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship for Masters invitation
89. Bradley Neil (A)
Note: Won British Amateur for first Masters invitation
90. Corey Connors (A)
Note: Runner-up at 2014 U.S. Amateur for first trip to Masters
91. Matias Dominguez (A)
Note: Won inaugural Latin America Amateur Championship
92. Antonio Murdaca (A)
Note: Won 2014 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship for Masters invitation
93. Gunn Yang (A)
Note: Won 2014 U.S. Amateur for first Masters invitation
94. Scott Harvey (A)
Note: Won 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur for first Masters invitatione
95. Ian Woosnam
Note: Won 1991 Masters but made just one Masters cut since 2001
96. Ben Crenshaw
Note: 1984 and 1995 Masters Champion is now 63
97. Larry Mize
Note: Chipped in on second playoff hole in 1987 to beat Greg Norman and claim green jacket
98. Sandy Lyle
Note: Became first Brit to win Masters when he earned green jacket in 1988
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Riek
Michael is the 2016 FSWA Golf Writer of the Year winner. He is a former collegiate golfer with a passion for analytics and strategy.
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