Getty Gallery: 2/7
No. 6 Tony Finau
DraftKings Price: $7,400
Masters Odds: 90 to 1
Fuzzy Zeller was the last rookie to win the Masters which happened almost four decades ago in 1979. In other words, it is very difficult to win a green jacket in your Augusta debut. While I don't expect Finau to win the 2018 Masters, he has what it takes to land in the top 10. Given his $7,400 price tag, that would be solid value for Finau in his first Masters appearance.
Finau is another golfer who is strong in the different strokes gained statistics, which we like for Augusta. Finau ranks 22nd in overall strokes gained. He is 17th in strokes gained in approach-the-green, and 11th in tee-to-green. Finau's ability to drive the ball has many people bullish on his chances at the Masters.
Since December, Finau has three top 10 finishes: T-2 at the Genesis Open, T-6 Farmers Insurance Open and T-4 at the QBE Open. Finau has scored 70 or more fantasy points in eight of his last 10 tournaments, and is averaging 72 points on DraftKings. He has made the cut in 9 out of his last 11 tournaments.
Finau grew up watching the Masters every year, and will finally get to play in the tournament that introduced him to golf. Finau told the Salt Lake Tribune that his game is "perfectly suited" for Augusta.
“I know the golf course inside and out,” Finau told the Salt Lake Tribune citing his decades of watching the Masters. "...We’ve done some good homework. I don’t think there’s going to be too many tricks for us.”
Finau is averaging 70 fantasy points on DraftKings, and has notched more than 70 points five times in 2018. Finau scored 99 points in his second place finish at the Genesis open. Finau had back-to-back 80 plus performances in January with 85 points at the Farmers Insurance Open and 83.5 at the Sony Open.
Finau is not an elite putter, and will need to do better this week to have a solid performance at Augusta. Golf.com's Mark Broadie explains why putting may not be as important as you think at the Masters.
"Augusta's greens are more difficult to putt than average, but a closer examination yields surprises," Broadie writes. "Inside of seven feet, players sink more putts at Augusta than elsewhere. Those immaculately conditioned greens are most likely the explanation. Outside of seven feet, the green speed and slope leads to more putts. The conclusion is that precision iron shots, especially from 125 to 225 yards, is the skill on which Augusta places the highest premium. Augusta, more than other courses, is a second-shot course, where power (to hit the ball high and land it softly) and precision are required to knock approach shots closer to the hole, giving the players shorter putts. Fact: The top ten finishers at Augusta last year gained the most strokes with their approach shots."
Finau ranks in the top 20 for strokes gained when it comes to approach to the green. Finau not only can drive the ball, but follows it up with consistent shots. It is a formula that could give him a little leeway when it comes to putting.
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