The unmistakable buzz of Masters week has returned to Augusta National Golf Club, ushering in the 2026 edition of golf’s most storied major. With the opening round teeing off on April 9, fans are once again treated to a dazzling mix of seasoned champions, rising stars, and a notably deep field of debutants all vying for the coveted green jacket. But if history and recent form are any indication, this year’s Masters could be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory.
For the past several years, betting on long shots at Augusta has seemed like a fool’s errand. Since 2019, the green jacket has found its way onto the shoulders of heavy favorites—Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler (twice), Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, and Tiger Woods—each ranked among the world’s elite. In fact, six of the last seven champions entered Masters week as top-three players in the world, cementing the notion that Augusta National rewards pedigree and proven class.
Yet, Augusta’s hallowed fairways have witnessed their share of Cinderella stories. From 2007 to 2011, four winners teed off with odds north of 100/1: Zach Johnson (125/1) in 2007, Trevor Immelman (150/1) in 2008, Angel Cabrera (125/1) in 2009, and Charl Schwartzel (100/1) in 2011. More recently, Hideki Matsuyama (60/1 in 2021), Danny Willett (50/1 in 2016), and Patrick Reed (40/1 in 2018) reminded us that the Masters can still be fertile ground for surprise victories.
So, who are the long shots poised to shake up the leaderboard in 2026? According to DraftKings Sportsbook, several names stand out—some with the pedigree, others with the momentum, and a few with the raw power that Augusta often rewards.
Leading the veteran charge is Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, making his 25th start at Augusta. Scott enters this year’s tournament in resurgent form, having finished fourth at Riviera and 11th at Bay Hill to kick off his PGA Tour season. His iron play has been stellar—ranking fourth in Strokes Gained: Approach for 2026—and he’s still averaging a robust 312.2 yards off the tee, good for 26th on Tour. While his putting and occasional wayward drives have been the only blemishes, Augusta’s forgiving fairways could play to his advantage. “Scott is hitting his irons very well,” notes one analyst, “and one decent week on the greens could put him back in contention.” His odds? +6200 to win, +860 for a top 5, and +365 for a top 10 finish.
Another name to watch is Nicolai Hojgaard, the Danish phenom who has surged from outside the world’s top 70 to 36th in 2026, buoyed by three top-six finishes and a runner-up in Houston. Hojgaard’s Augusta debut in 2024 saw him hold the solo lead on the second nine Saturday before faltering. He’s been putting brilliantly and striking his irons with authority this season, and like Scott, his occasional struggles off the tee may be less costly at Augusta. With odds at +8400 to win, Hojgaard could be primed for a breakthrough.
Akshay Bhatia, a left-hander with a flair for big moments, has already won at Bay Hill this year and posted strong showings at Scottsdale and Pebble Beach. While a recent missed cut at the Hero Indian Open raises questions about his preparation, Bhatia’s Masters performances—T35 and T42—suggest he’s learning the nuances of Augusta. His ball striking and putting have been sharp in 2026, but his scrambling remains a potential Achilles’ heel. Still, at +6660 to win, he’s among the most intriguing long shots in the field.
For those seeking a true dark horse, look no further than Marco Penge. The Englishman enters his first Masters as a debutant, a status that’s yielded just one winner—Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979—since the tournament’s inception. Penge’s odds are a staggering +16000 to win, but his prodigious length off the tee (second only to McIlroy in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee) and recent results—a T4 at the Valspar and T16 at Riviera—underscore his potential. “When he makes the weekend, he tends to find himself in the mix for at least a top 20 finish,” reports a CBS Sports analysis. The boom-or-bust nature of his season (four cuts made in eight starts) only adds to the intrigue.
Jacob Bridgeman, meanwhile, offers a different profile. Not known for his length or scrambling, Bridgeman has nonetheless caught fire in 2026, leading the FedEx Cup standings and notching a dominant win at Riviera. He’s also lauded as the best putter on Tour this season, a skill that could prove invaluable on Augusta’s treacherous greens. “He’s a fantastic iron player, and if he can get the greens figured out quickly, he could certainly find his way onto the first page of the leaderboard this weekend,” according to CBS Sports. Bridgeman’s odds stand at +9400 to win, and he’s yet to finish outside the top 18 in eight starts this year.
The 2026 Masters field is deeper than ever, with 91 players set to compete and 22 making their tournament debut—including 16 first-time professionals such as Michael Brennan, Ryan Gerard, Chris Gotterup, Ben Griffin, Harry Hall, and Penge. The rookie class is especially compelling this year, as the tournament marks the first Masters since Fuzzy Zoeller’s passing in 2025. Will a debutant finally replicate Zoeller’s historic feat? Among the top-ranked first-timers, Chris Gotterup stands out after two PGA Tour wins this season and a solo third at last year’s Open Championship. His odds are 43-1, making him a notable threat to shake up the status quo.
Other debutants drawing attention include Ryan Gerard (155-1), who opened 2026 with back-to-back runner-ups and notched a top-10 at last year’s PGA Championship; Harry Hall (150-1), who finished T19 and T28 in majors in 2025 and cracked the top 10 at Bay Hill this year; and Penge, whose power and boom-or-bust style could make for a captivating debut. The challenge for these first-timers is immense—experience is currency at Augusta, and the course’s subtle demands have confounded even the most talented newcomers. But as Ludvig Åberg and Will Zalatoris have shown in recent years, fresh faces can make serious runs at the green jacket.
Of course, no Masters week is complete without the Par-3 Contest, held this year on April 8. The Par-3, a tradition since 1960, offers a lighthearted prelude to the main event, with players’ families often serving as caddies. The course, just over 1,000 yards, has seen 115 hole-in-ones, including a record nine in 2016. While no Par-3 winner has ever donned the green jacket that same week, the contest remains a beloved fixture, broadcast on ESPN Unlimited and ESPN, and streamed via Masters.com.
As the opening round unfolds, all eyes are on Augusta National, where the world’s best and boldest long shots will test their mettle. Will the favorites continue their reign, or will a new name etch itself into Masters lore? The chase for the green jacket is underway—and as always at Augusta, anything is possible.