Masters 2024: Top 5 Rookies to Watch Out For

There is only one spot left for the 2024 Masters, which will be filled after the conclusion of the Valero Texas Open. However, the now-declared field has many veterans and new talent in it. Former champions like Scottie Scheffler, Tiger Woods, and Hideki Matsuyama will be seeking to win once again. Whereas players like Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, and many more will be vying to win the illustrious Green Jacket for the first time after many failed attempts. Among all the veterans, there will be a group of debutants too at the 88th Masters!

A few players who were Tour rookies last season, and a couple who have been on the Tour for quite some years but its their first time on the greens of Augusta. Out of the lot, here are five picks from the PGA Tour clan that may shock the world with their performances this year.

Will the debutant win at the 2024 Masters?

5. Eric Cole: Coming from an incredibly talented golfing family, Eric Cole is yet to win on the PGA Tour. However, last season, due to his various top finishes—to be precise, seven—and two runner-up performances at the Honda Classic and the ZOZO Championship, Cole was awarded the 2022–23 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Award by the vote of his peers over Ludvig Aberg.

The 35-year-old has been on many mini-tours, and in the 2024 season, he has made it into the top 25 six times. Courtesy of this, Cole is 38th on the Official Golf World Ranking and eligible to play in the 88th Masters. He is on the lookout for his maiden win, and the Augusta National can be his abode.

4. Nicolai Hojgaard: Last year, the Danish pro debuted in the Ryder Cup alongside many great European players. Eventually, Team Europe and created history. He is also in the top 50 on OWGR and hence allowed to play the men’s first major. Playing in Georgia will be an opportunity for Hojgaard to eye golf’s highest glory.

So far, in the 2024 season, the 3-time DP World Tour winner has had one runner-up finish at the Farmers Insurance Open, the only stark performance from the Dane. He would undoubtedly like to change his pace at Augusta National.

3. Ludvig Aberg: The Swedish pro is the 9th-ranked golfer in the world and has the best of the other two rookies on this list. In 2023, Aberg accompanied Hojgaard at Marco Simone after winning the Omega Masters on the European Tour. Later on, the Swede earned his maiden victory on the PGA Tour at the RSM Classic, and from then on, his name has been secured to play in the 2024 Masters. In the 2024 season, the 23-year-old has shown what consistency looks like.

He has consecutively made the cut for every event he played, was a runner-up at Pebble Beach, and has carded five top 25s. His bright record speaks for itself and is a testament to what Aberg is capable of doing at the 88th Masters.

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2. Stephan Jaeger: After more than six years on the PGA Tour, Stephan Jaeger finally had his first victory at the Texas Children’s Houston Open. He won the event, surpassing world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by one stroke. Just a few days before the Masters starts, Jaeger has been confirmed in the field as the PGA Tour winner and 43rd golfer on OWGR. The German pro talked about making it to the Masters and said, “It feels amazing.” With his form back on the greens, he may do wonders at Augusta as a debutant.

1. Wyndham Clark: This year, Clark won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, as he shot a round of 12 under 60, the lowest course record. Moreover, two times so far, the 30-year-old has been closer to victories; once at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and again at the PLAYERS. Both events were won by Scheffler.

Regardless, the world no. 4 has recently had some of the best finishes on the PGA Tour, amassing three top-10 finishes, and at the Masters, he may improve his scorecard for the better. Last year he won the U.S. Open and debuted at the Ryder Cup. Who knows, he might take his second major victory at the 88th edition of the Masters.

Out of all the five players, who do you think has a better chance of winning at the 2024 Masters? Tell us in the comments.

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