Long Shots Aim for Masters Glory

Sungjae Im and Gary Woodland emerge as top dark horse picks to win the 2026 Masters at Augusta National.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:34pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a golfer's swing and the Masters tournament action, rendered in a cubist style with vibrant colors and sharp, overlapping planes.A cubist interpretation of the Masters tournament captures the dynamic energy and unpredictability of golf's most prestigious major.Palm Harbor Today

Golf analyst Alex Hunter highlights two long shot players with strong track records at Augusta National who could pull off an upset victory at the 2026 Masters: South Korean star Sungjae Im and veteran American Gary Woodland. Both golfers have contended at the Masters in recent years and are entering the tournament in strong form, making them intriguing high-risk, high-reward bets to win the coveted green jacket.

Why it matters

The Masters is one of the most prestigious events in golf, and an unexpected winner can captivate audiences and shake up the sport's landscape. Identifying potential long shot champions requires deep knowledge of course history, player tendencies, and current form - insights that can give bettors an edge in a highly competitive market.

The details

Sungjae Im, a 28-year-old South Korean, has finished in the top 10 at the Masters three times in the last four years, including a runner-up showing in 2021. He's coming off a strong performance at the Valspar Championship, where he held the 54-hole lead before faltering on Sunday. Im ranks 13th in the field in strokes gained per round at Augusta National. Gary Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, won the Houston Open in his last start and is striking the ball exceptionally well off the tee, a key attribute for success at Augusta. Woodland has made the cut in 5 of 11 career Masters appearances, including a T13 finish in 2023.

  • The 2026 Masters will take place April 10-13 at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.
  • Sungjae Im finished runner-up at the Masters in 2021.
  • Gary Woodland won the U.S. Open in 2019, his first major championship victory.

The players

Sungjae Im

A 28-year-old South Korean golfer who has finished in the top 10 at the Masters three times in the last four years, including a runner-up showing in 2021.

Gary Woodland

A 41-year-old American golfer who won the 2019 U.S. Open and is coming off a victory at the 2026 Houston Open.

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What they’re saying

“Im was in the driver seat for his third PGA TOUR win at the Valspar Championship a few weeks ago. He held a two-shot lead heading into the final round, but faltered Sunday and finished T4th. Still, this was an impressive performance for Im and his fourth top-20 finish in his last 10 starts.”

— Alex Hunter, Golf Analyst

“Woodland has been inconsistent at Augusta National, making 5-of-11 cuts at the course, but he finished T13th here three years ago and is better equipped to contend at Augusta National now than in recent years.”

— Alex Hunter, Golf Analyst

What’s next

The 2026 Masters will tee off on April 10, with the final round scheduled for April 13. All eyes will be on Im and Woodland to see if they can pull off an upset victory and capture the coveted green jacket.

The takeaway

The Masters is one of the most unpredictable majors in golf, and identifying potential long shot champions requires a keen eye for course history, player tendencies, and current form. Sungjae Im and Gary Woodland fit that profile, making them intriguing high-risk, high-reward bets to win the 2026 edition of the tournament.