THE
DEBUTANTES
AT the time of going to press, 13
fi rst-time players had received invites to
this year’s Masters.
History suggests they are at long odds to
capture the green jacket.
Only three players have ever won the
Masters at their fi rst attempt – Horton Smith
at the inaugural tournament in 1934, Gene
Sarazen the following year and Fuzzy Zoeller
in 1979.
Of the 13 debutantes, a tick over half
are professionals, with the highest ranked
players including Americans Tony Finau,
Patton Kizzire, Xander Schauffele and
Wesley Bryan.
There will be plenty of interest from China
in this year’s Masters, with World No.40
Haotong Li getting his fi rst taste of Augusta,
alongside countryman Yuxin Lin – the big-
hitting teenager, who won the Asia Pacifi c
Amateur in New Zealand last October.
Lin will be favoured to win the leading
amateur title, while Li will be hoping to
match his play at the Open Championship
golf australia | APRIL 2018 37