Masters Preview - Rookie Focus

Post by Golfshake Writer, Nick Bonfield 

It’s common knowledge that rookies don’t tend to fare well at Augusta National. In fact, since the inauguration of the tournament in 1934, there have only been three first-time winners of the Masters. Two of those, Horton Smith and Gene Sarazen, triumphed in the first two stagings of the revered championship. Smith’s success in the first event isn’t overly impressive given that all 72 players were rookies that year, while Sarazen, even though he was making his Masters debut, had already chalked up six Major Championship victories.

In the modern era, only one player has reigned supreme at Augusta on his first appearance – Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979. Little-known Ed Sneed led with three holes to play, but bogeyed them all to fall into a play-off with Zoeller and former Masters champion Tom Watson. On the second play-off hole, the gregarious American rolled in a birdie putt before leaping into the air with unabridged joy.

Since then, it’s been a struggle for first-timers at Augusta – something that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The quirks of the golf course can take years and years to get used to, particularly the severe green complexes and slopes that seem almost unfathomable on arrival. Experience is key here – from knowing when to attack and defend to identifying the pin positions that simply can’t be taken on. It’s little wonder all first-timers seek as much advice as their brains can possibly soak up before the start of tournament proper. Over the first two days, you’ll sometimes see players putting off greens and looks of utter astonishment on the faces of those who’ve seemingly hit a great shot, only to see their ball trundling away from the flag and off the front of the green.

Only a select few players have acquitted themselves with real aplomb on their first Masters appearance. In 1990, John Huston found himself in the final group with Raymond Floyd, but stumbled to a final-round 75. Still, he finished in a tie for third on his first outing – a performance only two players (Zoeller aside) have bettered in the last 33 years.

In 1982, Dan Pohl got his campaign off to a poor start with a pair of 75s on Thursday and Friday. Normally, that would result in a player returning home for the weekend, but, owing to dreadful weather in Georgia, the 1982 tournament produced the highest ever cut in Masters history (10-over-par). Starting Saturday’s play six shots off the lead, Pohl compiled an impressive 67 – which included back-to-back eagles on 13 and 14 – and produced the same score, the best of the day, on Sunday. When he finished, Craig Stadler was six shots clear, but The Walrus started dropping shots with alarming frequency and wound-up in a play-off. Phol missed a six-footer for par on the 10th hole, though, handing Stadler the title.

In 2011, Jason Day made his Masters debut – something earned through victory at the 2010 Byron Nelson Championship. He propelled himself into contention with a second-round 64 and found himself in the thick of it with two holes remaining. With Adam Scott closer on the 17th hole, the Australian drained a 40-footer and birdied the 18th to tie the lead with Charl Schwartzel just finishing the 16th hole. Unfortunately for Day, the South African birdied both 17 and 18 – the first Masters champion to ever finish with four consecutive birdies – to complete a two-shot victory.

So there is some hope for rookies, provided they do their homework, execute their game plan and bring their very best golf to the party. But are there any first-timers who could make an impression in 2015? Below, we take a look at three players to keep an eye on as they bid to make themselves only the second first-time Masters winners in 79 years.

Brooks Koepka

In my mind, Brooks Koepka is a player with all the tools to succeed at Augusta. He’s made a rapid ascension up the world rankings despite only having played in six majors, and his performance at the 2014 US Open, where he finished in a tie for 4th, convinced me he’s a player with big-game temperament.

He’s won five professional titles since May 2013 – three on the Challenge Tour to secure promotion to the European Tour for 2014, the 2014 Turkish Airlines Open, one of the Finals Series events, and the 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open – and he looks at home playing in the biggest events with the best fields. He’s one of the longest hitters on tour, an undoubted benefit at Augusta, a strong putter and a player who can make a lot of birdies when he gets on a roll, so keep an eye on Koepka this week. 

Shane Lowry

Shane Lowry revealed his great potential when he won the 2009 Irish Open as a rookie – only the third to triumph on the European Tour and the first to do so in his first appearance. The Irishman has been plying his trade on the PGA Tour in recent times in an attempt to secure a card, and while he’s gone slightly off the boil of late, he’s registered three top-21s on the circuit this season. His statistics are solid across the board – particularly his driving – and he boasts on incredible short game – something that’s always key to success at Augusta National.

Bernd Wiesberger

Bernd Wiesberger will head to Augusta wondering how he’s not managed to win a tournament in 2015. The Austrian started the season with four top-six finishes in a row on the European Tour, and he had a legitimate chance to win them all. He’s played three events on the PGA Tour since then and missed two cuts, so he’s tailed off a little bit of late, but his long hitting and high ball flight will be assets at Augusta. He’ll also have confidence after his last performance in a major, the 2014 USPGA Championship, where he trailed Rory McIlroy by one shot after 54 holes and played in the final group on Sunday.