Masters 2013: Golfers Who Made Names for Themselves at the Tourney

A big congratulations is in order to 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott.

Scott certainly did his home country of Australia proud.

Taking nothing away from Scott, there were a few players who exceeded expectations and have proven that they can compete on the biggest stage among the world's best golfers.

These are the players who turned some heads and opened some eyes at Augusta, asserting themselves as a group of golfers who will no longer be overlooked.

Marc Leishman

When Thursday night rolled around, a lot of people around the world were attempting to figure out who the golfer atop the leaderboard was after the first round.

It was the Australian Marc Leishman.

Leishman shot a six-under 66 in an outstanding opening round at Augusta.

Sure, it could have been lightning in a bottle, but Leishman hung around the top of the pack throughout the weekend, ending at five-under par. 

The 29-year-old finished tied for fourth with Tiger Woods—not bad company to be on par with.

For a golfer who has only one PGA Tour win to his name, finishing in the top five at the prestigious Masters should make his name relevant to any golf fan. 

Thorbjorn Olesen

Thorbjorn Olesen's opening round could not have been more starkly different than Marc Leishman's.

He shot a six-over 78 and looked to have no chance to make the cut, in turn continuing to progress as a golfer not many knew of.

Instead, the 23-year-old from Denmark rallied in a big way.

He shot a two-under 70 second round, which was good enough to make the cut.

But he wasn't done there.

Olesen shot a combined eight-under par in the last two rounds and proved to people it wasn't a fluke that he made the cut and that he was a serious contender.

Still searching for his first career PGA Tour victory, Olesen's sixth-place finish at the Masters is his best finish on the tour to date. 

Olesen did what all golfers strive to do at the Masters (aside from winning obviously): He hung around close enough to the top of the leaderboard to make people notice him, a definite positive for the future of the young and presumably up-and-coming Olesen. 

John Huh

No way he finished in the top 15 at the Masters. Yes, Huh!

John Huh, that's the name to remember. That's the 22-year-old who finished tied for 11th at the Masters.

The American was able to shoot under par in three of the four rounds, with a second-round 77 the only round in which he was over.

And who knows, if he had been closer to par in that second round, perhaps we might be singing a different tune about Huh.

Huh came into the Masters with one PGA Tour victory under his belt, so he knows what it takes to win.

But, inevitably, the stage that is the Masters is a different story.

John Huh's ceiling and potential is limitless.

His confidence should be sky-high headed into the 2014 Masters.

Huh ended his play in the final round by rattling off an impressive four-under 68 to help him finish the tournament at two-under par.

Branden Grace

Sure, Branden Grace wasn't flashy, nor did he finish in the top 15, but his remarkably consistent play following the first round made him noticeable.

After a rough first round in which Grace shot a 78, he followed up the next three rounds with scores of 70, 71 and 69, respectively.

The 24-year-old South African finished tied for 18th at even-par.

The top-20 finish is Grace's best finish on the PGA Tour in 2013. 

Grace, like the other golfers mentioned, failed to put together four complete and consistent rounds, instead stumbling out of the gates.

More consistent play throughout a tournament could see Grace at the top of more competitions in the near future.

Branden Grace to date has four European Tour victories.  

Tianlang Guan

Take a moment and think back to the sports you were competing in back at the ripe age of 14.

Little league, AAU basketball, travel soccer, the list goes on and on.

How about playing in the most prestigious golf tournament in the world?

Tianlang Guan has us beat. Not only did he play in it, but he excelled. 

Guan unexpectedly and remarkably shot a one-over 73 in the first round on Thursday and proceeded to turn heads after making the cut. 

He ended the tournament in 58th place with a total score of 12-over par.

His final standing does not do Guan's play justice, however. He stepped up to every tee box with the confidence of a player who has won multiple green jackets.

Tianlang Guan is a name to remember for the future of the game of golf.

The amateur from China will forever be remembered not only for playing in the Masters at 14 years old, but quite frankly proving he deserved to be there.