Stats reveal the secrets of an Augusta champ and this year’s unlikely favourite

THOMAS PIETERS will win The Masters... and that's official.

Well, certainly according to analysis using performance and personal data of every Augusta champion since 1934.

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The 26-year-old Belgian, ranked 46th in the world, was tied fourth last year.

This time , the UK's largest golf insurance specialists, say put your money on him for the Green Jacket.

For after calculating the average statistics of a Masters champion they have discovered the winner needs to be right-handed, weigh 181lbs, married and can hit the ball 276 yards.

And that's Pieters...well, almost.

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Also taking into account fairways hit, average under score under par, greens in regulation, average winning score and number of putts, Pieters is definitely your man with 85per cent compatibility with the average winner.

Other winning criteria over the years dictates that on average the winner is an American aged 32 who turned pro at 21, has brown hair, is right-handed and weighs in at 181lbs.

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He also has three children.

Pieters, at 6ft 4ins and 187lbs, is obviously not an exact fit. He's certainly not American and he is an Aquarius.

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But, overall, the man with three European tour wins under his belt, comes out on top ahead of England's Tommy Fleetwood 83 per cent), defending champion Sergio Garcia (Spain, 82 per cent), world No1 Dustin Johnson (American, 80 per cent) and another Englishman in Paul Casey (80 per cent).

As a matter of interest the Golf Care stats suggest the Augusta winner drives an average 276.7 yards, hits 79 per cent of fairways and 68 per cent of greens in regulation, whilst taking a total of 114 putts.

He will suffer nine bogeys, but no double double bogeys.

Along the way he will enjoy one eagle, 17 birdies and 45 pars in 72 holes.

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WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO WIN THE MASTERS?

1 Thomas Pieters (Belgium) 85%

2 Tommy Fleetwood (England) 83%

3 Sergio Garcia (Spain) 82%

4 Dustin Johnson (US) 80%

5 Paul Casey (England) 80%

6 Marc Leishman (Australia) 80%

7 Jordan Speith (US) 79%

8 Justin Rose (England) 79%

9 Rory McIlroy (N Ire) 79%

10 Ricky Fowler (US) 79%

For the likes of Pieters, a right-handed, Augusta demands the ideal shot shape is a draw, where the club attacks the ball from inside the target line to produce topspin.

The result is a shot that arcs from right to left. The ball travels a little further than a straight shot but is harder to control.

Because the course has been toughened up, the average winning score has reduced by only six since 1930s, despite improvements in ability and equipment.

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Tiger Woods' emphatic 270 in 1997 may be the Holy Grail but the average winning score is actually 280.

And to highlight just how competitive the tournament is, one shot is the most common margin of victory.

So, over to you Mr Pieters. It's time to see if all the key criteria you obviously hold adds to becoming the 2018 Masters champion.