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Five under-the-radar golfers who could crash Masters leaderboard
We're all expecting the Scottie Schefflers and Rory McIlroys of the world to play well at the 2025 Masters, but what about the lesser-known players in the field?
Here are five under-the-radar contenders who could pop up near the top of the leaderboard this week at Augusta National Golf Club.
Corey Conners
Yet ANOTHER Top-10 finish in 2025 for Corey Conners : pic.twitter.com/qWWRYV47Lx
— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) March 24, 2025
There aren't many golfers playing better than Conners. The Canadian has finished T18, T8, T6 and solo third in his past four starts, gaining strokes in all four major categories in three of them. The biggest difference for Conners this year has been a new putter that has led to him gaining strokes on the green in four of his past five starts.
Conners has three top-10 finishes in his past five trips to Augusta National, and his confidence is high entering the first major of 2025.
Maverick McNealy
McNealy is set to make his Masters debut this year, and it wouldn't surprise anyone if he found himself in contention in his first trip to Augusta. The California native quietly has four top-10 finishes this season, and he nearly won the Genesis Invitational thanks to a final-round 64.
McNealy is one of the best putters on the PGA Tour, and his iron play has been stellar this year outside of a poor performance at the Players Championship. Look for McNealy to vie for top debutant this week.
Patrick Reed
There's just something about Reed and Augusta National that creates magic every year. The former Masters champ has five top-12 finishes in his past seven trips to Augusta, and he has gained strokes from putting in four straight starts at this golf course.
Reed is heating up at the right time, notching three top-10 finishes in his last four worldwide starts. He had control of LIV Golf Miami until a final-round 74 knocked him back to T7, but his game is still trending in the right direction heading into the Masters.
Sepp Straka
Approach play is the name of the game at Augusta National, and Straka has been dialed in with his irons all season. The Austrian ranks fifth on the PGA Tour this year in strokes gained on approach and second in greens in regulation percentage.
Straka's precise iron play and accurate driving have led to a win and seven top-15 finishes in 10 starts this season. Coming off a T16 at last year's Masters, Straka is ready to contend for his first major championship title.
Michael Kim
Best scoring average on PGA Tour since WM Phoenix Open began (min. 12 rounds):
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 7, 2025
Michael Kim, 68.97
Scottie Scheffler, 69.15
Rory McIlroy, 69.44
Nicolai Hojgaard, 69.44
Kim will be making his second career Masters appearance after squeaking inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking right in the nick of time. He deserves the spot after recording four straight top-13 finishes earlier this season.
Kim is hitting his irons and chipping better than he ever has in his career. The 31-year-old ranks 22nd on the PGA Tour this season in strokes gained on approach and 12th in scrambling. Those are two of the biggest keys to conquering Augusta National, so Kim should feel good about his chances to contend this week.
More must-reads:
- Five LIV golfers with the best chance of winning the Masters
- Xander Schauffele confident and ready to conquer Augusta
- The '2023 NFL AP second-team All-Pro' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Keegan Bradley considers using Ryder Cup team captain's pick on himself
In what could be a first for a pre-tournament press conference, Keegan Bradley was asked only briefly on Wednesday about being defending champion of the BMW Championship, and about the course, Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md. Mostly, Bradley talked about his role as captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, the September event's course, Bethpage Black, and if he would use a captain's pick on the current No. 10 player in the Ryder Cup standings. That player is Bradley, making for a compelling narrative and much speculation as the FedEx Cup playoffs continue this week and lead to the Tour Championship. The top six players in the Ryder Cup points standings after this week's tournament will automatically qualify for the squad that faces Team Europe on Sept. 26-28 in Farmingdale, N.Y. Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun and Xander Schaufele have locked up three spots. Justin Thomas at No. 7, Collin Morikawa and Ben Griffin currently have more points than Bradley, who if he doesn't automatically qualify, could use one of six captain's picks on himself after the Tour Championship. "I've been saying all year, you can't expect to be on the team unless you're in the top six," said Bradley, 39. "My goal is to go out there, whether I was Ryder Cup captain or not this week, and play well and play well next week at the Tour Championship as well. "There's definitely a lot more on my plate here these next couple of weeks. The Ryder Cup has always been so far away, and now it's right there. Things are definitely amping up. I still have a lot to prove just as well as everyone around me on the list." It's not common for the team captain to also play. Arnold Palmer was the last playing captain in the biennial contest -- in 1963. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, the No. 2 player in the world, said Wednesday that he considers Bradley one of the United States' 12 best players. But McIlroy also believes there's too much on the plate -- as Bradley might say -- of a Ryder Cup team captain during the event to add playing duties. "(McIlroy) might be right," Bradley said. "We don't know. No one knows. Yeah, like everybody's telling me to start the year that a player can't be captain and have a good year. For me, I feel like this is one of my best years that I've ever had." Bradley is currently No. 14 in the FedEx Cup standings and No. 12 in the Official World Golf Ranking. He has eight career wins on the PGA Tour, including the 2024 BMW Championship and this year at the Travelers Championship on June 22. He also had five top-10 finishes and made 17 of 19 cuts. He has made a habit in his career of asking others for advice who have gone through an experience such as playing in a major, playing the last tee time on Sunday or facing the media. But for this question, no one has personal experience. "I certainly have a lot of concerns, as well as everybody else, but I have the most incredible vice captains, including Jim Furyk, who's been on these teams and been captain a bunch of times," Bradley said. "Quite frankly, I've been leaning on them more than any other captain ever anyways, even if I'm not playing. "We're ready for this if it happens. I'm not sure it's going to. I can truly sit here right now and say I don't know what's going to happen. I have to look at myself just like any other player trying to make the team. I'm 10th in points right now, and that's not sixth." He has gratitude for his peers' support no matter his decision, including McIlroy and World No. 1 Scheffler, who said on Wednesday, "I think he's a guy we'd all love to have on the team. The intensity that he's brought as a captain -- I mean, he has definitely exceeded my expectations as far as a captain. He's done a great job." Rickie Fowler and Patrick Cantlay also joined the chorus of supporting Bradley as a playing captain. "I can tell you, honestly, it means the world to me to hear that. I haven't ever really felt that in my career," Bradley said. "It's really touching. It really means a lot. I really have -- the thing I've enjoyed most is getting to know these guys better. I was really a closed-off player for most of my career. "Getting to know the guys more and getting to learn who they are, and then I think as a golfer, or as an athlete or a businessman, whatever it is, when you feel the respect of your peers, that's the ultimate. To hear that from two players of that caliber really means a lot."
Oregon suspends former five-star WR recruit indefinitely
Oregon wide receiver Jurrion Dickey has struggled to live up to expectations in his first two seasons with the Ducks, and he is now in a terrible position heading into 2025 as well. Dickey has been suspended indefinitely by Oregon, head coach Dan Lanning announced on Tuesday. Lanning also suggested that Dickey may not play for the Ducks again. "We have two team rules; that’s respectful, be on time,” Lanning said, via James Crepea of The Oregonian. “There’s some pieces of that where I felt like he needed a break from us and we needed a break from that so we could focus on what’s in front of us right now. "Wishing him nothing but the best, as far as success and want to see him get back to where he can be a contributor somewhere; that might be here that might be somewhere else.” Dickey was a five-star recruit and rated as one of the top wide receivers in the country when he came out of Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, California, in 2023. He suffered an injury in his senior year in high school and redshirted as a freshman at Oregon. Dickey has two catches for 14 years during his time with the Ducks. Oregon went 13-1 in Lanning's third season with the program last season. The Ducks lost to eventual national champion Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Phillies superstar may be building Hall of Fame case
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is in the midst of another impressive season. Schwarber entered Wednesday having posted a .249/.373/.578 batting line in his 528 plate appearances this season, hitting 42 homers while driving in a National League-leading 97 runs. The Phillies slugger was named to his third All-Star Game this season and, according to NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, he should be the NL MVP. Schwarber has been one of baseball's premier power hitters since establishing himself in the majors in 2017. He's in his eighth season of hitting 30 or more homers and has reached the 40-homer plateau three times in his four seasons in Philadelphia. The 32-year-old Schwarber may find himself in elite company when his career comes to an end. He has already hit 326 homers in his career, potentially giving him a chance to reach the 500-home run plateau. If Schwarber does hit 500-plus homers, the narrative around his career may change. There have only been 28 players in MLB history to reach that plateau, 19 of whom are in the Hall of Fame. Two players — Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera — are not yet eligible and are expected to be enshrined on the first ballot. The seven players who have not been inducted into the Hall of Fame have been linked to PED use, torpedoing their candidacy. At the same time, his entire candidacy may be based on his home run total. Schwarber has a lifetime .232/.346/.499 batting line over 5,188 plate appearances; although batting average no longer carries much weight for the voters, he would have the lowest batting average of any non-pitcher in the Hall. His 20.7 fWAR has been dragged down by his defense and is unlikely to make him a favorite among the younger voters who put more emphasis on such metrics. Schwarber is marching toward the 500-home run plateau. If he does reach that mark, he could be a polarizing Hall of Fame candidate.
Green Bay Packers 4th Round Rookie Heralded As Steal Of The Draft
The Green Bay Packers’ front office has made a habit of unearthing underappreciated talent in the NFL Draft, and rookie Barryn Sorrell might be their latest gem. A fourth-round pick out of Texas, Sorrell has turned heads in training camp and delivered a standout performance in the Packers’ preseason opener against the New York Jets. It’s early, but the buzz is building—Sorrell could be the steal of the entire 2025 NFL Draft. Here’s a closer look at Sorrell’s impressive week, why coaches are raving about him, and what his role on the team could look like as the season unfolds. Green Bay Packers Barryn Sorrell: Preseason Debut Though the Green Bay Packers fell short against the Jets in their preseason opener, Sorrell’s debut was nothing short of promising. Lining up on the defensive edge, the rookie flashed the explosiveness and technique that made him a standout for the Texas Longhorns in college. Pro Football Focus gave Sorrell a team-best pass rush grade of 87.9 for the game, showcasing his ability to generate pressure. While Green Bay didn’t record a sack as a team, Sorrell came close on multiple occasions, recording two quarterback hits and two pressures. On one notable snap, he effortlessly tossed Jets tackle Max Mitchell aside before delivering a clean shot on quarterback Brady Cook, demonstrating a pass rush technique well beyond his years. “He looked sharp out there—really sharp,” Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said after the game. “For a young guy stepping into this environment, his ability to impact the game with consistent pressure is what we want to see moving forward.” The Work Ethic That Sets Him Apart What has impressed coaches just as much as Sorrell’s on-field performance is his relentless effort and commitment to improvement. Practice reports continually highlight his hustle during drills and scrimmages. From chasing down plays to perfecting minor details in his technique, Sorrell has demonstrated the kind of mindset that coaches love to see in young players. “He’s got a motor that doesn’t stop,” linebackers coach Sean Duggan said. “When you see a guy like Barryn putting in that level of effort, it elevates the whole group. That’s been his reputation since he arrived in Green Bay.” That reputation has driven Sorrell to stand out during training camp and preseason, setting him apart despite a crowded defensive rotation. Why Sorrell Is Being Dubbed a Steal Draft analysts have been quick to call Sorrell one of the smartest picks of the 2025 Draft, though hindsight reveals just how much of a sleeper he was going in. Coming out of Texas, Sorrell had been productive at the collegiate level, showcasing a knack for disrupting plays in the backfield. However, concerns about his relatively modest size (6-foot-4, 255 pounds) for an every-down edge rusher caused him to slide to the fourth round. It’s now becoming clear that those concerns were overstated. General manager Brian Gutekunst, who has built a reputation for finding value in the mid-to-late rounds, once again seems to have struck gold. Sorrell’s early success highlights why many now believe that he should have gone much earlier in the draft. “There’s zero reason he should’ve fallen that far,” said one AFC scout. “The Packers got a guy with Day 2 talent in the fourth round, and it won’t take long before he proves it.” Eyes on the Future The Packers’ philosophy of building through the draft has rarely been more evident than in their approach to Barryn Sorrell. With veteran leadership guiding him and coaches invested in his development, the rookie appears to be in a near-perfect situation to succeed. For a team looking to solidify its defensive identity, finding a player like Sorrell is invaluable. His work ethic, playmaking ability, and high football IQ give him every chance of being a long-term cornerstone for Green Bay’s pass rush. Final Thoughts It’s far too early for definitive conclusions, but Barryn Sorrell’s introduction to the NFL has Green Bay Packers fans excited. His performance in camp and the preseason has already exceeded expectations, offering a tantalizing glimpse of what could be an immensely bright future. If his current trajectory holds, Sorrell won’t just be a steal of the draft—he’ll be a key piece in the Packers’ ongoing pursuit of greatness.
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