The final feeling within the {golfing} world is that if a participant finishes above each Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy this week then they’ll most likely be donning the Inexperienced Jacket.
American Scheffler is the world primary and turning into one thing of a Masters specialist. He’s searching for a 3rd victory in 4 years, whereas McIlroy is looking for to win the title for the primary time.
Scheffler had a standout 12 months in 2024, profitable 9 occasions together with the Masters, and whereas he has not loved the identical stellar begin to 2025, he’s but to complete outdoors the highest 20 in 5 earlier appearances within the first males’s main of the 12 months.
McIlroy, ranked second, wants this title to change into simply the sixth participant to win the profession Grand Slam of all 4 majors. It is going to be his eleventh try to affix a pantheon of greats together with Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen and Gary Participant.
For the primary time, the Northern Irishman has gained twice on the PGA Tour earlier than arriving at Augusta, together with final month’s prestigious Gamers Championship, which has solely intensified the hype.
However there are potential winners in every single place within the 96-man area.
Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg completed runner-up to Scheffler final 12 months in a debut main to recollect. Might he go on to emulate Jordan Spieth, who completed second in his debut 12 months, earlier than profitable the title 12 months later in 2015?
England’s Tommy Fleetwood will probably be inspired by his joint third final 12 months, whereas his compatriot Matt Fitzpatrick is a confirmed main winner and Wolverhampton’s Aaron Rai is making his Masters debut after rising by means of the rankings.
Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre is making his first begin in three years however made the reduce in his first two makes an attempt, with a finest end of joint twelfth. He arrives in Augusta with 5 top-15 returns in 2025.
Xander Schauffele has had 4 top-10 finishes in his earlier six Masters and is coming off the again of a breakthrough 2024 within the majors the place he gained his first and second titles.
Collin Morikawa, ranked one place under Schauffele at fourth on this planet, additionally enjoys Augusta and has had three top-10s in his previous three begins, ending joint third in 2024.
US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley is having fun with one thing of a renaissance in his profession and is 14th on this planet rankings.
The 38-year-old has by no means completed inside the highest 20 at Augusta however gained his seventh PGA Tour title ultimately 12 months’s BMW Championship and has had two top-10s this season, making the reduce in all seven occasions he has performed.
LIV Golf is nicely represented, with a dozen gamers from the Saudi-backed circuit heading to Georgia.
Jon Rahm gained this title in 2023 and maybe has a greater probability of including to his tally than Dustin Johnson (2020), Patrick Reed (2018) and Sergio Garcia (2017) who’re all current champions.
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann has gained twice on the LIV circuit this 12 months and is as soon as once more being touted as a possible winner, whereas Bryson DeChambeau confirmed enjoying the 54-hole LIV tournaments had not harmed his main aspirations as he gained his second US Open title final 12 months
And eventually… though he’s not a favorite to win, many eyes will probably be on Germany’s Bernhard Langer this week because the 67-year-old makes his forty first and last begin on the fortieth anniversary of the primary of his two wins.
