Masters Odds 2014: Early Lines and Predictions for Top Sleepers in the Field

In his seven starts leading up to last year's Masters tournament, Marc Leishman had four missed cuts and no finishes better than a tie for 38th. That didn't stop the former PGA Tour Rookie of the Year from seizing a share of the first-round lead and hanging tough in his first taste of major contention to finish fourth at Augusta National Golf Club.

That just goes to show the type of sleepers that can emerge from such an excellent field at this event, and the 2014 edition should see at least one player who isn't a household name prove himself on these hallowed golf grounds.

Judging players on their recent form is a decent barometer to measure Masters success, but Leishman came out of almost nowhere to challenge for the green jacket in 2013. Thus, it's worth looking ahead at the odds and which world-class players can emerge from relative obscurity to the first page of the leaderboard.

Here is an overview of the top sleepers using the current odds from VegasInsider.com, along with analysis for some of the most notable ones ahead of the tournament's start on Thursday. 

Golfer	Odds
Harris English	40-1
Luke Donald	50-1
Bill Haas	60-1
Webb Simpson	60-1
Rickie Fowler	60-1
Ian Poulter	60-1
Graeme McDowell	60-1
Steve Stricker	75-1
Hideki Matsuyama	75-1
Fred Couples	100-1

Analyzing Notable Sleepers

Harris English (40-1) 

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

After a decorated collegiate career at the University of Georgia, the All-American has made a rather seamless transition to the big tour. Ranked fourth in the FedEx Cup standings, English has backed up his impressive stint in Athens with immediate success as a pro.

This marks English's Masters debut, though. It's always tough to gauge how a player will handle the big stage in his maiden appearance, but it seems the 24-year-old is up to the task.

He already made a hole-in-one on the par-three 12th hole during a practice round, per Augusta.com's Scott Michaux:

If not for the fact that Fuzzy Zoeller was the last one to triumph at Augusta in his first appearance in 1979, the odds may be more in English's favor.

But it shows how much respect he's been given, sharing company with past major champions in Keegan Bradley and Louis Oosthuizen along with Sergio Garcia and Hunter Mahan at 40-to-1.

Golf Channel's Will Gray noted how much better English's chances of winning increased in oddsmakers' eyes since this past August:

English has a strong all-around game, ranking first on tour with a 69.17 scoring average and a 73.03 greens in regulation percentage. He also drives it consistently at 300 yards.

A marginal putting week to go with that ball-striking should have English in the hunt.

Rickie Fowler (60-1)

Harry How/Getty Images

What better way could Fowler redeem some of the criticism leveled at him than by getting hold of the green jacket in Butler Cabin?

There is no doubt he has the ability. Detractors will continue to bash Fowler until he wins more, though. With just one win on the PGA Tour, Fowler leaves something to be desired on the course despite his savvy style sense, free-flowing swing and magnetic star power.

A sixth-place finish at the Shell Houston Open is a nice way for Fowler to enter the first major of the year. It was his best finish in a stroke-play tournament in 2013-14, and an appropriate tuneup for Augusta National.

The work he has done with renowned swing coach Butch Harmon is starting to pay dividends on his long game. Fowler shared his thoughts about picking up his first swing coach since 2011 in January, per PGATour.com's Brian Wacker:

"

I've spent a lot of time with Butch and been around with him and with the other guys that he's worked with. He's kind of seen me develop over the last few years and really felt that with the experience he has as a teacher he could help me reach my goals and aspirations and help me be the best player that I can be.

"

Putting problems have plagued Fowler this season. He ranks 165th in strokes gained-putting, compared to 24th last year.

Two double bogeys and a triple bogey hurt Fowler in the first 36 holes last year, but he still entered the last day at two under overall before carding a 78 on Masters Sunday. Fowler, for all his struggles this year, is actually still 24th in final-round scoring average.

If he can just put himself in a position where he's a few shots out of the lead entering the back nine, Fowler has the firepower and fearlessness to fire at flags, drain clutch putts and emerge victorious.

Fred Couples (100-1)

David J. Phillip

In stark contrast to the young guns broken down above, Couples has no shortage of experience at Augusta. Even though Couples is 54 years old, he still drives the ball long and straight enough to compete at golf's highest level.

Worse wagers could be made on a long shot, that's for sure. Galleries love Couples, and he hasn't finished outside the top 15 at this event since missing the cut in 2009.

With 11 top-10 Masters finishes, few have the resume Couples boasts at one of the game's premier tournaments. There may be an influx of young guns on tour these days, but Couples has proved he can find the fountain of youth often enough to contend.

Unfortunately, his perpetual back problems have reportedly flared up again, per Yahoo! Sports' Shane Bacon:

Couples has made just one start on the PGA Tour in 2013-14—a missed cut at the Northern Trust Open. That was his only appearance before teeing it up at the 2013 Masters, too, where Couples faded in the third round with a 77 but was under par on each of the other three days.

He did just win his 10th Champions Tour event at the Toshiba Classic in mid-March.

It's a risk to pick Couples if his back really is acting up again, but that's always been a problem for him. He's still managed to be in the running on the weekend frequently.

Projecting any of these sleeper picks comes with a massive element of unpredictability. Look no further than Leishman's case in 2013.

The depth of this field is excellent, and the elusive consistency all golfers search for is also a prominent theme for Leishman. Despite proving himself as the 2009 Rookie of the Year, he struggled mightily thereafter and caught fire during the majestic Masters week.

Perhaps English will be harmed by his lack of experience—or maybe he'll be unflappable in uncharted territory. Everything may finally click for Fowler, or it won't and he will leave Augusta disappointed again. Couples could contend again, or he could withdraw.

Golf is perhaps the most difficult sport to project in individual cases. These are three solid bets based on a myriad of factors, but don't be surprised if any of the other top sleepers make a serious run for the green jacket come this Sunday.

Note: All statistics are courtesy of PGATour.com.