AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy will take to Magnolia Lane this week as Masters champion for the primary time in his profession.
And as McIlroy prepares for his first main championship of the season at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership, he’ll carry the burden of getting by no means gained a inexperienced jacket for the primary time.
Nearly a 12 months in the past, McIlroy made a 4-foot birdie putt on the 18th gap to beat England’s Justin Rose on the primary gap of a sudden-death playoff.
Together with his long-awaited Masters victory, McIlroy turned the sixth golfer to finish a profession Grand Slam.
“No, that is my first time driving down Magnolia Lane. It is all about having fun with the week,” McIlroy mentioned. “Being a Masters Champion enjoys the perks of securing a parking house within the Champions parking zone and use of the Champions locker room, in addition to internet hosting a dinner on Tuesday nights.
“Truly, I do know I can return to the Masters Event for the remainder of my life. It feels very liberating.”
Can McIlroy do it once more? Will Scottie Scheffler be capable to hit the bottom operating and don the inexperienced jacket for the third time prior to now 5 years? Or will LIV Golf stars Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm come out on prime?
Listed below are 91 golfers within the area, from those that can win to those that merely wish to win.
Tier I: Clear favourite
Whereas some might have doubts about Scheffler’s play heading into the Masters, he has already gained the inexperienced jacket twice and stays the very best golfer on the earth. McIlroy’s possibilities of enjoying once more are uncertain attributable to a again harm. Collin Morikawa was enjoying like top-of-the-line golfers on the earth earlier than he injured his again. Will DeChambeau’s success within the LIV Golf League carry over to the majors? Listed below are the golfers more than likely to put on the inexperienced jacket on Sunday.
Scotty Scheffler
The world’s No. 1 golfer has been struggling together with his driver in latest weeks, rating eightieth in strokes gained: strategy (.080). He hasn’t had a top-10 end since Feb. 12, when he tied for fourth on the AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am. This was the longest drought in virtually 4 years (three straight video games began!). He skipped the beginning in Texas as a result of his spouse, Meredith, was anticipating their second little one. Nonetheless, he stays the betting favourite and can turn out to be simply the ninth golfer to win three or extra jackets. Scheffler has a complete of 101 underneath par in main tournaments, the best ever, together with 111 underneath par since 2020. Based on ESPN Analysis, he was 45 strokes higher than another participant throughout that span.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy’s kind was stable this 12 months till he missed the Arnold Palmer Invitational in early March attributable to a again harm. At Gamers, he teed up with a touch-and-go, however completed 72 holes at even par and tied for forty sixth place. His three-week layoff is tied for the longest of his Masters profession, based on ESPN Analysis. Final 12 months, he joined Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Participant, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the one golfers to win all 4 majors through the Masters period. He’s the primary to win back-to-back titles since Woods in 2001 and 2002. He might want to enhance his placing to win once more. He ranks 104th in Strokes Gained: Placing (-.148). He was in ninth place going into the 2025 Masters.
bryson dechambeau
The slugging DeChambeau has gained back-to-back LIV Golf League occasions and is enjoying a few of the greatest golf of his profession. Taking part in with McIlroy within the closing Sunday draw finally 12 months’s Masters, he shot a 3-over 75 and completed tied for fifth at 7 underneath. He has unfinished enterprise at Augusta. On the previous two Masters, Scheffler was the one golfer to complete within the prime 10 of the leaderboard on the finish of every spherical.
Xander Schauffele
The 2-time main champion has completed within the prime 10 on the Masters in 5 of his final seven begins. He seems to have lastly recovered from the rib harm that derailed his 2025 season, ending solo in third place at The Gamers and tied for fourth on the Valspar Championship. Since his Masters debut in 2018, Shuffle has tied for essentially the most top-10 finishes with 5.
Cameron Younger
Coming off the most important win of his profession with The Gamers, Younger can be a preferred decide for the Inexperienced Jackets. His tee-to-green sport fits him nicely at Augusta Nationwide, the place he has already began 4 video games and completed within the prime 10 twice.
patrick reed
He’s scheduled to return to the PGA Tour this fall, and will probably be attention-grabbing to see what sort of reception the 2018 Masters winner receives at Augusta, the place he performed faculty golf. Augusta Nationwide nonetheless looks like dwelling, ending within the prime 12 in 5 of his final six begins. Did we point out that Reed has already gained twice on this 12 months’s DP World Tour? He is at 39-under par for the Masters since 2018, trailing solely Scheffler (40-under).
Ludwig Aberg
Oberg was runner-up on the 2024 Masters and completed seventh alone final 12 months. He might want to bounce again from a hunch late within the Gamers, when he fell behind by three strokes with 9 holes left. Ultimately 12 months’s Masters, he tied McIlroy and Rose with two holes to qualify for the ultimate spherical. Oberg, 26, had a bogey to triple bogey and completed with a five-stroke lead.
Jon Rahm
The 2023 Masters Champion gained his third LIV Golf title on March 8 in Hong Kong. Regardless of discuss of not enjoying sufficient golf to compete within the majors, he has completed within the prime 10 in 5 of his previous 9 matches. Based on ESPN Analysis, since his first prime 10 end on the 2018 Masters, ‘Rhambo’ has posted 5 prime 10 finishes in eight matches and has essentially the most rounds of 60 (13) of any participant.
tommy fleetwood
The reigning FedEx Cup champion has completed inside the highest 25 in every of his previous two Masters begins and tied for third in 2024. Though Fleetwood has completed within the prime 10 in three of his 4 begins this season, his placing hasn’t been stellar. Based on ESPN Analysis, Fleetwood’s eight profession top-10 finishes are essentially the most of any participant at this 12 months’s Masters with no main title.
Tier II: Winners
Reliable candidates outdoors of the highest 9 are: They’ve the sport, the center, and the center to play 4 high-pressure rounds on one of the vital harmful golf programs on the earth.
matt fitzpatrick
The 2022 U.S. Open champion gained once more on the Valspar Championship on March 22, his first PGA Tour victory in almost three years. His ball putting is as soon as once more world class, hitting 69% of fairways, which ranks fourth on tour.
Justin Rose
Rose, 45, will come away with some damage at Augusta Nationwide in 2025 with a heartbreaking loss to McIlroy within the playoffs. However it was additionally proof that the British golfer was nonetheless able to profitable a serious. He has performed in 20 Masters matches and completed runner-up 3 times.
jordan spies
Certainly, Spieth hasn’t gained because the RBC Heritage in April 2022. Nevertheless, the 2015 Masters champion has put collectively a lot of good rounds this season, together with a couple of that knocked him out of competition. He completed inside the highest 5 in half of his 12 Masters appearances. Spieth’s profession scoring common (70.98) is the bottom in Masters historical past by a participant who performed a minimum of 25 rounds.
Sepp Straka
Straka gained twice on the PGA Tour final season and tied for second on the AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am on February twelfth. His putter might want to warmth up this week to compete for the inexperienced jacket.
Brooks Koepka
Koepka has been in first rate kind since returning to the PGA Tour in January, however few golfers play in majors like “Huge Sport Brooks.” The five-time main champion is a two-time Masters runner-up, most just lately profitable in 2023. He ranks third on tour in strokes gained: strategy (.913), however ranks one hundred and fortieth in strokes gained: placing (-.529).
Collin Morikawa
The 2-time main champion was anticipated to be among the many prime 5 candidates to put on the inexperienced jacket on Sunday earlier than being sidelined with a again harm. Morikawa had hoped to make a comeback finally week’s Valero Texas Open, however he wasn’t prepared. He has completed within the prime 10 in three of his final 4 Masters appearances. Since 2020, Morikawa has hit extra fairways (264) than anybody, whereas additionally making the second-most inexperienced pictures (291) behind Scheffler.
Hideki Matsuyama
Matsuyama hasn’t been feeling nice in latest weeks, dropping within the playoffs at Phoenix earlier this 12 months and tied for eighth at Pebble Seaside. He has been combating the motive force for a lot of the season. Matsuyama has not completed within the prime 10 since turning into the primary Japanese golfer to win a inexperienced jacket in 2021.
russell henry
The previous College of Georgia golfer will seemingly obtain loads of help from the gallery this week. He tied for fourth in 2023, his solely top-10 end in 9 begins. He is top-of-the-line putters on tour and his ball strike is stable.
robert mcintyre
Bobby Mack moved as much as eleventh within the Official World Golf Rankings and was the one participant in 4th place. The Scottish golfer can be making his fourth begin at Augusta. His greatest end was a tie for twelfth in 2021.
Akshay Bhatia
Bhatia has already gained 3 times on tour and simply turned 24 on January thirty first. His playoff win on the Arnold Palmer Invitational was the most important of his profession. He certified in his first two Masters appearances. His iron play and placing had been elegant.
Tyrrell Hutton
Hatton’s love-hate relationship with Augusta Nationwide tends towards the previous. The LIV Golf star tied for ninth in 2024 and tied for 14th final season.
Viktor Hovland
Hovland has solely completed within the prime 10 as soon as this season, dropping to twenty second on the earth rankings. Nonetheless, in case you can work out hit the green, it’s best to be capable to do nicely this week. Hovland tied for seventh in 2023.
harris english
English struggled a bit to start out the 2026 season. He has by no means completed outdoors the highest 30 within the seven tournaments he has competed in, however he has by no means completed inside the highest 20. He tied for twelfth finally 12 months’s Masters, his greatest end in a serious. He was runner-up on the 2025 PGA Championship and British Open.
Tier III: If all goes nicely
Listed below are the sleeper candidates to put on the inexperienced jacket. This listing options previous champions, rising stars, and different video games in growth this season. Will all of it come collectively in Augusta?
Chris Gotterup
Gotterup, 26, already has two tour wins this season on the Sony Open in Hawaii and the WM Phoenix Open. He hits the ball 1 mile (319.9 yards) from the tee and ranks seventh in strokes gained from tee to inexperienced (1.311). This can be his first Masters look.
Shane Lowry
Lowry had a tricky run after dropping the lead late within the Cognizant Basic in Palm Seaside and lacking out on spots at API and Gamers. He tied for third place on the 2022 Masters.
Jacob Bridgman
Bridgeman earned his first PGA Tour win on the Genesis Invitational with the bases loaded. He began the primary eight video games this season however failed to complete outdoors the highest 18. He ranks first on tour in strokes gained: placing (1.339) and second in strokes gained: complete (1.933). This can be his first Masters look.
Justin Thomas
Thomas tied for eighth in The Gamers, a optimistic signal as he continues his comeback from again surgical procedure in November. Augusta Nationwide hasn’t been a contented place for him these days. After lacking the reduce in fast succession, he tied for thirty sixth in 2025. Since 2023, JT has missed the reduce in seven of his 12 begins within the majors. Based on ESPN Analysis knowledge, the one participant within the majors to overlook extra cuts throughout this era is Nick Taylor (9).
Lee Min Woo
‘The Chef’ has been heating up in latest weeks, with 4 top-12 finishes in 5 consecutive tournaments. He ranks within the prime 10 on tour in strokes gained: complete (1.693), tee-to-green (1.236) and off the tee (.675).
Kim Si Woo
Kim began the primary eight video games this season and had 5 top-25 finishes, together with a tie for second on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open and a tie for third at Phoenix. He performed in eight matches and completed within the prime 15 on the Masters.
Nikolai Højgaard
Heigo completed runner-up on the Houston Open, securing a spot within the OWGR prime 50 and qualifying for the Masters. He tied for sixteenth in his first begin at Augusta in 2024.
Corey Connors
His placing and work across the greens this season has ruined Canada’s ball-striking machine. He has completed within the prime 10 in 4 of his previous six Masters appearances.
adam scott
Simply when it regarded just like the 2013 Masters champion’s greatest golf was within the rearview mirror, he took solo fourth place on the Genesis Invitational and tied for eleventh on the API. He ranks fourth on tour in strokes gained: approaches (.912).
sam burns
Burns had a rocky begin to the 2026 season, lacking three cuts and ending tied for sixth at Pebble Seaside and tied for thirteenth at The Gamers. He failed to complete inside the prime 25 in any of his first 4 Masters appearances.
Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay hasn’t gained on tour in additional than three years, lacking out on three of the 4 majors final 12 months (tied for thirty sixth on the Masters). It is time for “Patty Ice” to show issues round.
Jason Day
After a tricky stretch, Day tied for sixth place on the Houston Open and located momentum. His iron play has saved him up to now this season. He tied for eighth place finally 12 months’s Masters.
jake knapp
Knapp shot an 8-under 62 within the closing spherical of the Houston Open, a low-scoring tie at Memorial Park Golf Course. He tied for sixth place, breaking into the OWGR prime 50 and incomes an invite to his second Masters.
Daniel Berger
Berger almost accomplished a exceptional comeback from a debilitating again harm whereas dropping to Bhatia on the primary gap of the API playoffs. He tied for twenty first finally 12 months’s Masters, making his first main begin since 2022.
ben griffin
Griffin, who gained 3 times on tour final season, has struggled together with his swing and missed the reduce in three consecutive video games in March. This can be his first begin at Augusta Nationwide.
gary woodland
His return from mind surgical procedure and a battle with PTSD to win the Houston Open is without doubt one of the sport’s biggest tales in years. He tied for 14th on the 2023 Masters, his greatest end in 12 video games.
alex noren
After profitable twice on the DP World Tour final 12 months, Noren is ranked nineteenth on the earth. He hasn’t completed within the prime 10 at a serious since 2017, showing as soon as at Augusta and aiming for No. 62 in 2019.
JJ Spahn
The reigning US Open champion has struggled mightily this season, lacking the reduce 4 occasions in his first seven begins. He was 114th in strokes gained (-.450 complete) and 159th in placing (-.875).
cameron smith
From 2020 to 2024, Smith’s identify appeared to be on Augusta Nationwide’s leaderboards as typically as Pollen. He tied for sixth in 2024, however has since didn’t qualify for the final 5 majors.
Im Sung Jae
The Korean golfer has completed within the prime eight in three of his six Masters appearances and tied for fifth final 12 months. A proper wrist harm delayed the beginning of the 2026 season, however he is nonetheless catching up.
zach johnson
The 2007 Masters champion gained his first PGA Champions Tour victory on March 8 on the James Hardy Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame Invitational. Ultimately 12 months’s Masters, the 49-year-old tied for eighth, capturing a 6-under 66 within the third spherical, his greatest rating at Augusta Nationwide.
Tier IV: Miracles do occur.
They seem to be a lengthy shot. This tier contains previous champions, a couple of gamers combating kind, and a handful of gamers attempting to unravel the Augusta Nationwide puzzle.
keegan bradley
Wyndham Clark
Nico Echavarria
ryan fox
ryan gerard
Max Glaserman
harry corridor
brian herman
Rasmus Højgaard
Max Homa
casey jarvis
dustin johnson
michael kim
Kurt Kitayama
matt mccarty
maverick mcneely
andrew novak
aaron rye
nick taylor
Bradley, Clark, Herman and Johnson are main champions. Bradley remains to be processing the U.S. group’s loss to Europe in final 12 months’s Ryder Cup, and hasn’t performed nicely.
A sluggish begin to the season left Herman tied for eleventh within the Gamers Division, however he missed the spot in three of his previous 4 begins on the Masters. Johnson, the 2020 Masters champion, has missed the reduce in six of his previous 9 begins on the majors.
McNeely is ranked No. 27 on the earth, however has began 12 video games within the majors and hasn’t completed within the prime 10. Gerald, Corridor, Jarvis and Novak are all first-timers. Fuzzy Zoller was the final golfer to win the Masters in his first look in 1979.
Tier V: I am glad I handed.
They don’t seem to be anticipated to affix the candidates until one thing particular occurs. For quite a lot of causes, simply being at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership for the weekend counts as a win.
michael brennan
brian campbell
Sergio Garcia
Naoyuki Kataoka
Johnny Keefer
Haotong Li
Tom McKibbin
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
carlos ortiz
marco cash
aldrich potgieter
Christopher Reitan
davis riley
sam stevens
Sami Valimaki
Garcia, 46, has missed the reduce in six of his seven begins since profitable the Masters in 2017 and is tied for twenty third in 2022. He has one top-10 end in 5 begins within the LIV Golf League this season, and tied for eighth in Hong Kong.
McKibbin, who performs on the Area XIII group with Rahm, will make his first Masters begin alongside Brennan, Kataoka, Kiefer, Neergaard-Petersen, Penge, Reitan, Stevens and Valimaki.
Kataoka was ranked No. 500 on the earth when he unexpectedly gained the Japan Open on October 19, incomes him invites to the Masters and British Open at Royal Birkdale in July. Present world rating is 366th.
Tier VI: Previous Champions
They enter this week having earned the inexperienced jacket and the correct to return to play, however barring one thing fully sudden, their days of competing for an additional main championship are over.
angel cabrera
fred couple
Jose Maria Olazabal
charles schwarzel
vijay singh
bubba watson
mike weir
Danny Willett
It would not be stunning to see a minimum of one previous Masters champion put collectively some good rounds to qualify. A few of them nonetheless have one thing left within the tank. Final 12 months, Watson shot a 4-under 68 within the closing spherical to tie for 14th place at 3-under.
Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson introduced on social media Thursday that he won’t play, citing well being points in his household. 5-time Masters champion Tiger Woods additionally hasn’t performed, asserting on Tuesday that he would take an prolonged go away of absence to bear therapy following his March 27 rollover crash and arrest for drunk driving in Florida.
That is the primary time since 1994 that neither Mickelson nor Woods will play within the Masters.
Tier VII: Novice
They’re the newcomers to the crow’s nest and essentially the most gifted (and luckiest) novice gamers on the earth. They’re attempting to do what Ryan Moore (tied for thirteenth in 2005), Matsuyama (twenty seventh in 2011) and DeChambeau (twenty first in 2016) did as amateurs earlier than turning professional.
Ethan Fang
jackson herrington
Brandon Holtz
mason howell
FIFA Laopakdee
Matteo Pulcini
Howell, 18, is enjoying in his second main after qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Open with a 63-second qualifying time at Piedmont Driving Membership in Atlanta. The Thomasville, Ga., native missed out on a spot within the U.S. Open at Oakmont Nation Membership.
In August, Howell turned the third-youngest winner of the U.S. Novice Championship, defeating Herrington 7, 6 within the closing 36-hole match. The victory earned him invites to this 12 months’s Masters, U.S. Open and British Open.
Howell performed a follow spherical with Rose at Augusta Nationwide on Wednesday and almost aced the par-3 fourth.
Holtz, 39, gained the U.S. Mid-Novice on Sept. 18 at Troon Nation Membership in Scottsdale, Arizona. This was his first USGA championship begin. Holtz was a guard on the Illinois State College basketball group and performed on the mini-tour for six years. He regained novice standing in 2024.
In case you’re searching for an everyday golfer to root for this week, Holtz is the man for you. The Bloomington, Illinois realtor is ranked #3,263 within the World Novice Golf Rankings.
Fang, 20, gained the novice championship at Royal St. George’s in England lower than a month after serving to Oklahoma State win the NCAA nationwide title. The Plano, Texas, native was named PING’s All-American Participant of the 12 months and Huge 12 Newcomer of the 12 months.
