Course Horses: Why Some Golfers Always Show Up at Augusta

When it comes to Splash Sports golf strategy at the Masters, course fit is king. Augusta National is a unique test that favors certain players year after year, making it crucial to factor in course history for Splash Sports’ Tiers and One & Done contests. Unlike other majors that rotate venues, the Masters is played on the same hallowed grounds each April – meaning past performance can predict future results. Some golfers just feel at home on Augusta’s rolling fairways and treacherous greens. Below, we highlight four players who have consistently thrived at Augusta in recent Masters tournaments, examining why the course suits their game and how their history should influence your picks.

Scottie Scheffler: A Modern Augusta Ace

Scottie Scheffler has rapidly become a course horse at Augusta National. The World No. 1 claimed two green jackets in the last three Masters, winning in 2022 and again in 2024. In 2024, Scheffler dominated with an 11-under total of 277, finishing four strokes clear of the field. That victory made him the second-fastest player ever to earn two Masters wins, underlining how quickly he’s figured out Augusta’s secrets. Even in the years he didn’t win, Scheffler was a factor – he debuted with a top-20 finish (T19) in 2020 and logged a T10 in 2023 as defending champion​. 

Why Augusta fits Scheffler: His all-around game is tailor-made for this course. Scheffler combines big driving distance with elite approach play and a creative short game. Augusta rewards long hitters who can hit high, soft iron shots into receptive greens, and Scheffler does exactly that. In 2022, he reached 10-under to win by three, showcasing superb iron control and calm putting under pressure​. He also has a knack for escaping trouble – a vital skill on a course where missed greens demand savvy recoveries. Scheffler’s scrambling ability was on full display in 2024, where he got up-and-down from the sand at key moments to keep momentum​. For Splash picking purposes, Scheffler’s rock-solid Augusta resume (two wins and no finishes worse than T19 in five starts) makes him a top-tier pick in any format. In Tiers contests, he’s the kind of elite you search for in the first tier, and in One & Done, using Scheffler at the Masters is a no-brainer given his proven upside here.

Jon Rahm: Power and Consistency on Augusta’s Canvas

Jon Rahm epitomizes consistency at Augusta, leveraging his powerful game and competitive fire to contend year after year. The Spanish star finally broke through with a Masters victory in 2023, shooting 12-under for a four-shot win. That triumph capped a run of strong Masters showings: Rahm had already posted top-10 finishes in 2020 (T7 at −10) and 2021 (T5 at −6)​. Even when he didn’t have his best stuff, Rahm usually hung around the leaderboard. (His title defense in 2024 was an outlier – a T45 finish – but it’s an exception to his Augusta rule of thumb.) Overall, from 2020 to 2024, Rahm has three top-7 finishes, including the win.

Why Augusta fits Rahm: Rahm is a high-ball hitter with elite ball striking, which is perfect for Augusta’s demands. He can overpower the par-5s with his length, but just as importantly, he’s a superb iron player who can land approach shots on Augusta’s tricky plateaus. In his 2023 win, Rahm’s tee-to-green excellence stood out: he navigated swirling winds and firm greens to post four rounds of par or better​. Rahm also brings a confident putting stroke on Augusta’s lightning-fast bentgrass greens – he led the field in greens in regulation in several Masters appearances, giving himself ample birdie looks. From a fantasy perspective, Rahm’s combination of current form and course comfort makes him a must-consider. In Tiers contests, he’s a top-tier anchor, and in One & Done, you won’t regret deploying him at Augusta (especially now that he’s proven he can seal the deal with a green jacket). His consistent high finishes provide a safe floor with tournament-winning upside.

Collin Morikawa: Iron Precision Yields Results

Collin Morikawa’s name might not be the first you associate with “Masters specialist,” but the young Californian has quietly put together a stellar Augusta record in recent years. Over the 2022–2024 Masters, Morikawa has finished 5th, T10, and T3, respectively​. In the 2024 tournament, he ended in a tie for third at 4-under, just one shot out of second place​. This consistency is impressive, especially considering Morikawa only debuted at Augusta in 2020. After a middling first couple of tries, he clearly learned quickly how to tackle this course. Three straight top-10s signal that Morikawa “always shows up” now when the Masters rolls around.

Why Augusta fits Morikawa: In a word – ironplay. Morikawa is arguably the best pure iron striker on tour, and Augusta National heavily rewards that skill. The course’s famous undulating greens are easiest to manage when you hit precise approaches to the right sections, and Morikawa’s high fade irons tend to zero in on flags. Even when conditions get tough, his control over distance and trajectory keeps him around par or better. For example, in 2022, he shot a final-round 67 to climb into solo fifth​, draining clutch putts but only after laser-guided approaches set up those chances. Augusta’s forgiving fairways also play to Morikawa’s strength – he’s not the longest off the tee, but length isn’t as critical when you’re consistently hitting 8-irons into greens that others attack with 6-irons. In fantasy contests, Morikawa offers high upside with less fanfare than the very top names. That can make him a savvy Tier pick if he’s grouped below the ultra-elite, or a strong One & Done choice if you want a contender that others might overlook. His track record suggests you can count on a solid finish – and if his putter heats up on those Augusta greens, he’s shown he can push for a win.

Cameron Smith: Short-Game Wizard and Augusta’s First 4×60s Man

Few players can claim a more impressive Masters streak than Australia’s Cameron Smith from 2020 to 2022. Smith finished tied for 2nd in the autumn Masters of 2020 with a 15-under total – remarkably becoming the first player in Masters history to shoot all four rounds in the 60s (67-68-69-69)​. He followed that feat with a top-10 in 2021 (T10) and nearly won in 2022, taking solo third at 5-under​. Those three straight high finishes proved that Smith has Augusta figured out. While his last two trips (2023 and 2024) saw more modest results (T34 both years as his form dipped after moving to LIV Golf), Smith’s Augusta pedigree from 2020–2022 remains unquestioned.

Why Augusta fits Smith: Smith is a short-game magician, and Augusta National is a canvas that rewards creativity on and around the greens. His putting, in particular, has shone at Augusta – the Aussie reads the greens and drills slippery putts that leave others shaking their heads. In 2020, this touch was on full display as he matched the tournament scoring record for a runner-up at 15-under​, draining birdie putts and scrambling brilliantly to keep bogeys off his card. Smith’s high ball flight with irons also helps him attack pins tucked behind Augusta’s bunkers. But when he does miss, his flop shots and deft chips have saved countless pars on the course’s closely-mown run-offs. For fantasy players, Smith can be a difference-maker pick. In tiered contests, he might slot in as a mid-range option with upside higher than many peers, given his Masters track record. In One & Done, using Smith at Augusta is a high-risk/high-reward play – if he recaptures the magic he had in 2020-22, you’re looking at a top finish (and if not, you still usually get made cut points). His history suggests that whenever Smith tees it up at Augusta, you should give him a long look for your lineup.

Course Fit as a Winning Strategy

The above four players have very different styles – from Scheffler’s power and poise, to Rahm’s full-throttle ball striking, Morikawa’s precision, and Smith’s short-game brilliance – yet all have thrived at Augusta. That drives home an important fantasy lesson: course fit comes in many forms, but when a player’s game matches the demands of Augusta National, it shows in the results. Whether it’s the confidence of past champions or the comfort of knowing the green complexes, some golfers simply elevate their performance at the Masters.

When setting your Splash Sports Tiers or One & Done picks for Masters week, don’t just chase the world rankings or recent form – weigh those alongside Augusta history. A balanced approach could be, for example, selecting a proven horse-for-the-course (like the names above) in a Tier where others might opt for a trendier but unproven choice. In One & Done, deploying a player at the Masters who always seems to contend there can pay off handsomely (you get a big chunk of prize money points at a major).

In the end, the Masters is as much about mental comfort and course knowledge as it is about pure skill. The roars of Amen Corner, the slick downhill putts, and the risk-reward par-5s have undone many great golfers, but not our highlighted four in recent years. They bank on course fit to gain an edge, and so should you. By targeting players who consistently show up at Augusta, you’ll be banking on a strategy that has proven to produce fantasy gold (and in real life, a few green jackets). Here’s to making the most of Masters course fit – and may your picks be littered with green this year!