3. SERGIO GARCIA

Best Masters Finish: 1st (2017) 

Recent Form: T17 (LIV Golf South Africa), T35 (Aramco LIV Golf Singapore), T8 (HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong) 

While Sergio Garcia’s results have been up-and-down for the first five LIV Golf events of the season, he’s shown some encouraging signs of form entering the Masters. The Fireballs GC captain ranks 4th in the league in Strokes Gained: Approach and his long irons have been particularly impressive, which will come in handy on the par 5s at Augusta National. 

Garcia has lost strokes putting in four of five starts this season, which has been the primary reason he’s yet to contend. If he can have a spike week on the greens, the 2017 Masters champion’s tee-to-green game is sharp enough to see him exceed expectations. 

4. TYRRELL HATTON

Best Masters Finish: T9 (2024) 

Recent Form: T38 (LIV Golf South Africa), T10 (Aramco LIV Golf Singapore), T45 (HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong) 

Tyrrell Hatton has had an unpredictable start to his LIV Golf season. Although the Legion XIII star has two top-10 finishes, his other three starts have resulted in finishes of T38 or worse including a T38 finish in his most recent start in South Africa. 

Surprisingly, it’s been the putter that’s let Hatton down so far, as he’s lost strokes on the greens in four of his five starts. 

Despite the shaky short game, Hatton cannot be ruled out at Augusta National. He has posted solid finishes of T9 and T14 in the past two Masters, and after establishing himself as a major contender last season, the Englishman may just turn it on this week. 

5. CAMERON SMITH

Best Masters Finish: T2 (2020) 

Recent Form: T17 (LIV Golf South Africa), T8 (Aramco LIV Golf Singapore), 48th (HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong) 

An argument can be made that Augusta National is the perfect golf course for Cameron Smith. While the course is demanding in many ways, it offers a bit more room off the tee — something the Ripper GC captain needs given his career-long driving accuracy issues. Where Smith truly thrives, however, is on and around the greens, where his creativity and shot-making ability allow him to score effectively. Those are precisely the qualities that matter most at Augusta National. 

Smith has made nine starts at the Masters and finished inside the top 10 five times. With course history being a major factor this week, don’t be surprised if he finds himself in the mix.