The greatest event in golf is now underway.
The 2024 Masters Tournament began at Augusta National on Thursday with all the biggest names in golf present for the major — that includes both PGA Tour and LIV Golf members because it’s a non-tour event. Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Wyndham Clark and more were all vying for a victory in the same field once more.
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As always, golf is unpredictable, and players we expected to compete saw their tournaments end after 36 holes with a missed cut. At the same time, several players who were seen as longshots to continue on to Saturday did just that.
Here were the biggest surprises on the right side of the six-over-par cut line after Friday’s Round 2.
All odds via BetMGM
Nicolai Hojgaard (-4)
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Pre-Tournament Outright Odds: +6600
Hojgaard is competing in his first Masters this week, and he’s arguably been the biggest surprise through two rounds. The 23-year-old turned in top 50 finishes at the PGA Championship and British Open in 2023, but after shooting 5-under on Thursday, he sits in fourth place despite a 1-over Round 2.
Danny Willett (-1)
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Pre-Tournament Outright Odds: +15000
A veteran who is competing thanks to a lifetime invitation from his Masters win in 2016, Willett has missed the cut in five of his seven trips to Augusta since that title. But after a four-under Round 1 and an even-par Round 2, he finds himself in contention entering Saturday as he sits T8.
Ryan Fox (-1)
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Pre-Tournament Outright Odds: +15000
The 37-year-old New Zealander made his very first Masters appearance in 2023, and he’s poised to improve upon last year’s T26 finish. He also had an impressive Round 1 at three-under, and he finds himself easily on the right side of the cut while currently sitting in the top 10.
Erik Van Rooyen (+3)
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Opening Odds: +15000
Van Rooyen didn’t make the cut in his first two Masters appearances in 2020 and 2022, but that changed this week in large part thanks to a 1-under opening round. Van Rooyen hasn’t made the cut at any major since 2022 with his best all-time finish being T8 at the 2019 PGA Championship.
Neal Shipley (+3)
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Pre-Tournament Outright Odds: +100000
Perhaps the most surprising player to make the cut was Shipley. The amateur from Ohio State is competing in his first Masters after finishing as the runner-up at the 2023 US Amateur. Shipley shot 1-over on Thursday before struggling more on Friday. He’s not in contention to win, but he’s certainly made an impression.
Akshay Bhatia (+3)
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Pre-Tournament Outright Odds: +9000
Bhatia has likely been the biggest non-amateur surprise at Augusta this week. The last man in the field, he only earned his spot thanks to a win at the Valero Texas Open last weekend. That victory was his second since earning his PGA Tour card last season, and the 22-year-old is competing in just his second major after finishing T57 at the 2021 US Open.
Vijay Singh (+4)
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Pre-Tournament Outright Odds: +100000
The oldest player to make the cut this week, the 61-year-old Singh is competing thanks to his Masters win in 2000. Singh has 34 all-time PGA Tour wins but has competed with the PGA Tour Champions since 2013. He has continued to compete in major events, but this was his first made cut at Augusta since 2018.
