Three Masters Newcomers to Look Out for at Augusta in 2026

For almost every year since 1934, early April has been the start of the major season. To kick off this premier stretch of golf, the most exclusive field in professional golf tees it up at one of the most iconic venues and tournaments in the world: the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Among the biggest names in golf, like two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy, and “the most popular golfer in the world” Bryson DeChambeau, 22 newcomers will play Augusta National for the first time in a competitive setting. Despite the aforementioned exclusivity, a diverse group of names seeks to elevate their status this weekend at the Masters; who should fans look out for?

​Chris Gotterup

Chris Gotterup was the talk of the town after staring down McIlroy in last season’s Genesis Scottish Open, claiming just his second PGA Tour win of his professional career. Since then, the 26-year-old has snagged two more victories at this season’s Sony Open in Hawaii and WM Phoenix Open, bolstering his Official World Golf Ranking to as high as fifth in the world. As of this week, Gotterup resides at 11th in the OWGR and has recently posted impressive finishes at a few courses that resemble Augusta National. Specifically, his win at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale and a tied-sixth finish at the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course exemplify his ability to succeed at courses that favor the long ball and a swift short game.

Augusta National Golf Club measures around 7,500 yards for tournament play and features just under 1.5 inches of rough throughout, which is on the shorter side for professional golf setups. Neither TPC Scottsdale nor Memorial Park has harsh penalties for missed fairways, encouraging players like Gotterup to drive it deep; Augusta National fits this mold, as well. Also, like Augusta National, some greens at TPC Scottsdale and Memorial Park have dramatic run-off areas, requiring players to have a tight short game if they want to score well; Gotterup’s finishing positions at these respective golf courses speak for themselves. “I feel like my short game and putting have been pretty good this year,” Gotterup explained in his Monday Masters interview. “I feel like at times when I have not played my best, it has been poor tee-to-green play.”

Thanks to his third-place finish at last year’s Open Championship and multiple wins since the 2025 Masters Tournament, Gotterup finds himself among the top debutants at this year’s Masters. According to Data Golf, he gains two strokes in relation to the field in driving distance and gains 0.6 strokes around the green; this profile should serve Gotterup well. While he tends to bomb it off the tee, Gotterup has been known to modify his tee ball to suit particular holes, lowering his ball flight or using a club that is shorter than his driver. Another challenge that the Masters rookie may face off the tee is that, other than the four par-three holes, five out of the 14 other holes strongly encourage a draw, likely requiring Gotterup to alter his natural fade. “This place, obviously, is very demanding in some spots and requires the right tee ball on certain holes,” Gotterup said. Augusta National can burn even the best golfers if they are not careful; Gotterup’s versatility on the tee box will be tested.

Sam Stevens

Despite only logging one professional victory at the 2021 Holcim Colombia Classic on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica, Sam Stevens’ resume is an understated one, especially as of late. Since a T-23 finish at last year’s U.S. Open, Stevens has logged four top 10 finishes on Tour. His most recent fifth-place finish at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, along with making eight of his last nine cuts so far this year, have the Fort Worth native clicking ahead of his first Masters appearance. Furthermore, his well-rounded Data Golf profile is also a nice touch.

While his relatively stringy build may say otherwise, Stevens’ ability to beat the ball off the tee immediately jumps off the page. So far this season, he is eighth in total driving, 17th in strokes gained off the tee, and 26th in driving accuracy, all incredibly crucial to success at Augusta National; nothing calms the nerves quite like a steady tee ball. Like Gotterup, Stevens also posted recent successful finishes at courses that resemble Augusta, like last month at Memorial Park and this past November at The RSM Classic at Sea Island Golf Club. Memorial Park is a bomber’s paradise, but Sea Island is a tighter, tougher challenge off the tee. Also, Sea Island is a classic, swampy golf course in the southern United States, featuring overseeded ryegrass fairways and greens with tight run-off areas, just like Augusta; Stevens’ familiarity with classic golf courses in the south, their playing conditions, and tight tee ball should fare well.

Ethan Fang

While he may not have the chops that his professional counterparts may have, Ethan Fang sure stands out from the rest of the amateurs in this year’s Masters field. He is currently eighth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking system and is fresh off a 10th-place finish this past Sunday at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational at nearby Forest Hills Golf Club. If one does not have prior course knowledge of Augusta National, form will have to suffice; for Fang, his game is certainly in form. Other than his most recent finish, the Oklahoma State junior split the title at the Maridoe Collegiate and placed within the top 25 in both of his other two starts since the beginning of March. “I think that is kind of the best way I prepare is playing in tournaments and getting that competitive mindset,” Fang said in an interview earlier this week.

Other than raw talent, a calm and focused head on one’s shoulders is always a plus. Fang’s gutty performance at last season’s NCAA DI men’s golf national championship exemplifies his confident and collected nature. While competitive and driven, Fang also understands that winning the Masters as an amateur and first-timer is an incredibly lofty goal. “I don’t really like to set too many expectations going into the week; I feel like that can put unnecessary pressure on yourself,” Fang said. However, he does have his eyes set on another goal at Augusta National: the prestigious low amateur title.

Talent and hype come and go, but these three Masters newcomers aim to keep their names heard around the grounds of Augusta National for the foreseeable future. Stats and accolades attract the crowds, but precision and consistency keep them around. Each of Gotterup, Stevens, and Fang has the complete skill set necessary to navigate their first Master's, but mental capacity and strategy will need to accompany their physical capabilities. As for the beginning of their individual journeys at Augusta National on Thursday, Stevens tees off at 11:03 a.m. EDT, Fang tees off at 11:51 a.m. EDT, and Gotterup tees off at 1:08 p.m. EDT.