Nine-time major champion Gary Player has backed Bryson DeChambeau to win The Masters.
The tradition unlike any other begins on 9 April at Augusta National and the 32-year-old is in red-hot form ahead of the first men’s major of the year.
DeChambeau has won consecutive events in the LIV Golf League, courtesy of two playoff victories over Canada’s Richard Lee in Singapore and Jon Rahm in South Africa.
Two-time U.S. Open champion DeChambeau, 32, has struggled at The Masters since taking the low amateur honours in 2016.
But in recent years he appears to be finding his groove, finishing in the top 10 in 2024 and 2025.
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DeChambeau played in the final group last April alongside Rory McIlroy but, despite initially holding the lead early in the final round, fell out of contention after finding the water at the 11th hole.
In a Q&A with Golfweek, Player was asked which player he believes will win The Masters that is yet to own a green jacket.
“Bryson DeChambeau,” Player said, adding: “I would be thrilled to see him win. He is one of the best ambassadors for golf in the world today, and he brings great energy and curiosity to the game.”
Player, who slipped on the green jacket on three occasions (1961, 1974, 1978) added that it always surprised him that his compatriot Ernie Els and American duo Tom Weiskopf and Lee Trevino never won The Masters.
What is Bryson DeChambeau’s Masters record?
Bryson DeChambeau will be making his 10th appearance at Augusta in a few weeks’ time.
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He made his tournament debut in 2016 and clinched the low amateur honour.
In his previous nine Masters starts, DeChambeau has only missed the cut twice (2022, 2023).
But he has finished inside the top six over the past two years.
From 32 rounds played, DeChambeau has a scoring average of 72,44, with his lowest round of 65.
In the majors last year, DeChambeau shared second place at the PGA Championship and 10th place at The Open.
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He missed the cut as he attempted to defend the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.
Big names not in yet in The Masters
The race to qualify for The Masters is nearly up, with just two weeks left to qualify.
The 2026 Masters field is almost complete, with 88 players confirmed.
The top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking as of 30 March will be added to the field.
America’s Sam Stevens is currently the bubble boy.
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PGA Tour fan-favourite Rickie Fowler is among those looking to play his way in over the next two weeks.
Fowler is currently 61s in the OWGR and is in the field for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
LIV Golf’s Joaquin Niemann received special invitations into The Masters in 2024 and 2025 but has not yet managed to qualify.
America’s Tony Finau has played in the last eight Masters Tournaments but is currently 103rd in the OWGR after struggling with injuries over the last 18 months.
Billy Horschel and Will Zalatoris have also not qualified yet. In 2025, both players spent several months out injured.
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South Korea’s Tom Kim and America’s Sahith Theegala are also in a race against time to qualify.
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