Getty Gallery: 5/7
No. 3 Hideki Matsuyama
DraftKings Price: $8,400
Vegas Odds: 35 to 1
Matsuyama was one of my sleeper picks, but I like him across the board for two key reasons. He is a golfer who is not one of the favorites at Augusta, but has a chance to win the tournament. Secondly, his floor is high with a good chance to land another top 10 finish at Augusta.
The golfer has had a great amount of success at the Masters, especially in recent years. Matsuyama is coming off three straight top 11 finishes at Augusta. Matsuyama finished T-11 at 2017, T-7 in 2016 and fifth in 2015. His 2017 final round of 67 was his second best round at Augusta in his career. Matsuyama is one of four Japanese players expected to compete at the 2018 Masters. He spoke with The Augusta Chronicle about the excitement in Japan over this year's tournament.
“It’s going to be an exciting Masters in Japan, especially if four of us are able to play,” Matsuyama told The Augusta Chronicle. “All of Japan realizes and understands that Augusta is a special place. All I can do is do my best and hopefully it will go well for me this year.”
Matsuyama ranks 12th in strokes gained heading into Augusta, and 13th in strokes gained when it comes to tee-to-green. He is also third in strokes gained around-the-green. You get a bit more value on Matsuyama in 2018 than you did last year, in part because of the thumb injury the golfer has been battling. His recent struggles mean his DFS ownership rates are going to be relatively low. Matsuyama is not too far removed from a T-12 finish at the Farmers Insurance Open, T-4 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and T-5 in the Hero World Challenge.
His $8,400 price tag makes him the 15th most expensive golfer on DraftKings, which is a good price for a player who has a good chance to be in contention on Sunday. Matsuyama explained to The Augusta Chronicle that there is something special that happens when he plays at Augusta.
“There’s something about that special place that really gets me motivated to play the best I can,” Matsuyama told The Augusta Chronicle. “I love Augusta National and enjoy going back there every year. Hopefully through playing there a number of times now I’ve learned what it takes to win. Hopefully my experience I’ve been able to gain will help me learn how to win my first major. I hope it will be there at Augusta.”
Matsuyama has five finishes inside the top 11 of majors over his career. He has been on a hot streak when it comes to majors, finishing in the top 11 in four straight majors. In addition to the 2017 Masters, Matsuyama finished T-2 at the US Open, T-7 at the 2016 Masters and T-4 at the PGA Championship.
Matsuyama's recent hand injury could work to his advantage given he has had more time to prepare, but you will want to check in on his Masters status before locking in your lineup. All indications are Matsuyama is 100 percent heading into Augusta.
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