Masters Newcomers Aim to Defy History

First-time participants rarely win the prestigious golf tournament, but a few rising stars are hoping to buck the trend.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:04pm

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A cubist, geometric painting featuring overlapping planes of emerald green, sky blue, and golden yellow, conceptually representing the fractured, multi-perspective nature of a high-stakes golf tournament.Newcomers to the Masters aim to defy history and capture the prestigious green jacket in their debut appearance.Evans Today

The 2026 Masters tournament will feature several high-profile first-time participants, including Chris Gotterup, Ben Griffin, and Jacob Bridgeman, all of whom are ranked in the world's top 20 golfers. While history suggests newcomers rarely win the Masters, these young stars are hoping their impressive resumes and tournament experience will give them a chance to make history.

Why it matters

The Masters is one of golf's most prestigious and difficult tournaments to win, with only a handful of first-time participants ever claiming the green jacket. The presence of several highly ranked rookies this year adds an exciting element of unpredictability and the possibility of a breakthrough performance that could shake up the sport.

The details

Chris Gotterup, 26, already has four PGA Tour wins, making him just the third player since World War II to make his Masters debut with that many victories. He joins Ben Griffin and Jacob Bridgeman as the highest-ranked first-time participants, all of whom are in the world's top 20. While a Masters rookie hasn't won the tournament since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, the recent inconsistency of favorites like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy could open the door for an unexpected champion.

  • Gotterup visited Augusta National more than a month ago, as he didn't want to watch the tournament previously without being able to play.
  • Bridgeman first came to Augusta as a 10-year-old fan in 2010 and later played the course as a freshman at Clemson University.
  • Griffin played the back nine at Augusta on Monday and has visited the course multiple times to soak in the history and iconic shots.

The players

Chris Gotterup

A 26-year-old golfer who has already won four PGA Tour events, making him one of the highest-ranked first-time participants in the 2026 Masters.

Ben Griffin

A rising star who won at Riviera in February in his first attempt and has visited Augusta National multiple times to prepare for his Masters debut.

Jacob Bridgeman

Another top-20 player in the world who first visited Augusta as a 10-year-old fan and later played the course as a college golfer at Clemson.

Mason Howell

The 18-year-old reigning U.S. Amateur champion, who is a University of Georgia commit and expected to have strong local support at the Masters.

Bubba Watson

A two-time Masters champion who finished tied for 20th in his first appearance, and recommends that newcomers focus on enjoying the experience rather than expecting to win.

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What they’re saying

“Just embracing the whole experience. Trying to take it all in and enjoy it while also trying to go out there and compete and give it everything I've got.”

— Chris Gotterup

“We had a couple members that hosted and we were able to bring down a group of nine of us, so I played with a roommate of mine and we had a blast. I remember teeing it up on (No.) 1 and there was not a soul around and I was super nervous. A little bit more comfortable this time. I don't know what it is. I'm kind of in tournament mode.”

— Jacob Bridgeman

“Tons of memories, all the iconic shots that have been hit. The one that comes to mind first is Tiger Woods' chip on 16 with the dramatic Nike symbol. I feel like every hole there's like a shot that's been hit by someone that I've either heard of or seen on television that I kind of remember.”

— Ben Griffin

“There's very few that's won it the first time. But talent can take over and anybody can win because they're good enough to get here, they're good enough to win. Just enjoy it. You want your first one to be, just enjoy it, take it all in, try to learn some things and get ready for the next time you come around here.”

— Bubba Watson, Two-time Masters champion

What’s next

The 2026 Masters tournament will take place from April 10-13, with the first-time participants looking to make history by becoming the first rookie champion since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

The takeaway

While the odds are stacked against first-time participants winning the prestigious Masters tournament, the presence of several highly ranked young stars with impressive resumes has added an exciting element of unpredictability to this year's event. Their performances will be closely watched as they aim to defy history and capture the green jacket in their debut.