5 sleepers to keep an eye on at the Masters
Understandably, it's the biggest names in golf who are basking in the spotlight leading up to the Masters. After all, it's the most glamorous tournament of the season, and there are plenty of reasons the sport's brightest stars are receiving the most attention.
Justin Thomas has already won twice this season and World No. 1 Dustin Johnson also has one title to his name in 2018. Rory McIlroy put forth a scintillating performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, while Phil Mickelson snapped an almost five-year drought with a WGC win down in Mexico.
Mix in a promising 66 for Jordan Spieth in his final round before traveling to Georgia, the ever-consistent Justin Rose, and two wins in two months from two-time Masters champ Bubba Watson, and you would be foolish if you didn't have your eyes glued to your television this weekend.
Oh, and just in case that's not enough for you, Tiger Woods is healthy and competing again, ready to make a charge for a fifth career win at Augusta National.
However, the field is 87 players deep, and as Danny Willett and Mike Weir can attest, the green jacket doesn't always go to those who enter the competition as the favorite. With that in mind, here are five sleepers who own the potential to steal the spotlight this week at the Masters.
Tony Finau
If anyone's game is built to cater to Augusta's length, it's Finau's, who can strike the ball as pure as anyone on Tour. The 28-year-old ranks first in driving distance (321.1 yards) and has the strength with his irons to reach par 5s in two - the best way to go low on such a demanding course.
Finau has quietly put together a strong start to the season with three top-10 finishes, including two instances in which he was the runner-up. He currently ranks eighth in FedEx Cup points but will need to see improvement with his putter to do any serious damage this week.
Alex Noren
Noren hardly possesses the raw ability to wow viewers like some others in the field, but at the end of the day, the 35-year-old Swede has managed to put together a consistently steady season that's vaulted him to 15th in the world rankings.
Among all players, Noren ranks sixth on tour in total strokes gained (1.892) this year and has a runner-up and two third-place results to his name so far in 2018. He doesn't yet own a PGA Tour victory, but Augusta doesn't seem like a terrible place to start, does it?
Tommy Fleetwood
His hairstyle may not sit well with some regular members at Augusta, but don't be surprised to see Fleetwood and his shoulder-length locks in the mix through the weekend.
After a breakout 2017 campaign that included three top-10 finishes, the Englishman has maintained similar results through six events this season, including four results in the top 25 and a 69.647 scoring average - good for seventh on tour.
Thomas Pieters
Pieters made a name for himself last year at his debut Masters tournament, as he placed in a tie for fourth in a week that featured a considerable hiccup after a 3-over 75 on moving day.
The lanky Belgian hasn't been able to capitalize on any momentum earned from the impressive showing, but his length off the tee led him to a score of 9-under on the par 5s in 2017, a recipe that would undoubtedly put him in contention again, should he be able to reach that level this week.
Rafael Cabrera-Bello
Cabrera-Bello will have to stay mistake-free off the tee throughout the week, simply because he doesn't have the distance to match his peers.
That said, what he lacks in driving distance, he makes up for with accuracy in his second shots. So far, in 2018, Cabrera-Bello ranks seventh in strokes gained approaching the green (.901) and second in proximity to the hole (33 feet 9 inches). If the 33-year-old can mix in a hot putter with his pinpoint irons, perhaps he can make a run and follow up Sergio Garcia's 2017 win to earn a second consecutive green jacket for his native Spain.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)