Rory McILroy flies in shape, Scottie Scheffler hunts his third green jacket and a width of rising stars, old heads and certain foreigners all pursue the most coveted price of Golf this week in Georgia, in the United States.
After a brilliant start of the 2025 PGA Tour season, European players also have an excellent chance of winning in Augusta National, with five players who have already taken titles on the American circuit this year.
Meanwhile, some big names from Liv Golf come back for the first major of the year.
Bryson Dechambeau is in the shape of red heat and has already struck golf balls on the range this week.
At Mail Sport, we have read and have chosen six players, you have to keep an eye on this year’s masters.
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McILroy
Let’s face it, it would be nothing less than Epic to see these two fight on 18 holes Sunday afternoon in Augusta.
Currently, it is the two best golfers in the world and it is difficult to call who would win if they were going to a shooting on the last day.
While McILroy has more departures at Augusta than Scheffler, the American was best successful, after having won twice on this track, but never finished outside the Top 20 during his five appearances at the Masters.
It is, however, the North Irishman who was better formed this year – winning the PGA Tour twice in 2025, winning his second title of players last month.
Interesting, we watch another McILroy play golf this year. He looks much more installed, at home with his swing and as he says, it is simply “blocking all the noise” surrounds him. It is a pleasure to see him enjoy his golf course.
This comes after a turbulent year which saw him turn around in the divorce of his partner Erica Stoll and approaching victory in the United States in Pinehurst.
On Wednesday, you could not wipe the smile of his face while he was walking around three to Augusta National with his daughter Poppy and his wife Erica.
Can the question for McILroy keep his mind away from the pressure that always follows him to this illustrious event? In the past, we have seen McILroy fight under the weight of expectations around Augusta – taking in particular a second place between two missed cuts in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
But from all the noises from McILroy, this week is promising.
“These are just stories. It’s noise. He just tries to block this noise as much as possible. I need to treat this tournament like all the other tournaments I play throughout the year, “he said on Tuesday.
“Listen, I understand the story and the noise, and there is a lot of anticipation and accumulation in this tournament every year, but I just have to keep my head down and focus on my work.”
Scheffler faces a slightly different challenge. A new father, things are a little different for Scottie this time, while he is looking to join an illustrious club of players who includes Sam Snead, Mick Faldo, Phil Mickelson and Gary Player, to win three green jackets.
It is very difficult not to call these two as favorites who arrive this week, with McILroy bordering the world n ° 1 for the form at the beginning of the year.
But with regard to masters, it is the reigning champion who has the best record, despite less departures from Augusta than the Northern Irishman.
In his five departures in Augusta, Scheffler never finished outside the Top 20 at the Masters. He knows how to do it. He was without peer in 2024, winning seven times on the PGA Tour.
And even after missing games of 2025, after having undergone a bizarre hand injury while trying to cook ravioli at Christmas, Scheffler, unless a hay cold is ready to play his best golf again.
“Yeah, this rain and this pollen here. I leave my car in the morning, my eyes are starting to water. It’s a bit worse than normal years. But I feel good ”, said to Scheffler with the eyes linked journalists earlier in the week.
“Yeah, I feel good, ready to roll.
Regarding statistics, McILroy can just lead Scottie for its implementation on the PGA Tour, ranking 10th for the blows obtained on the Greens, but the scramble of Scheffler was superb. It is third so far this year for having saved it by difficult places in the course and that will undoubtedly fill it with confidence if it finds itself in a place to disturb the pine straw.
It is difficult to call between the two. On the form, it’s McILroy. But as we have seen before, when Scheffler shoots all cylnders, he is almost unbeatable.
Min woo lee
The former winner of the PGA championship, Jason Day, believes that Lee “has the world at his feet at the moment” and that could not be more true.
Lee is on fire this season, with the affable and humble Australian entering this week from the rear of a huge victory during Texas Children’s Houston Open last week – his very first victory of the PGA Tour.
Bookmakers have it on ratings a little longer than Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele, which are all the best choices for the week. But that means that it could be an outsider of great value.
What many golf fans and coaches like about Lee is its excellent putting capacity. Currently classified as the fifth best putter in the PGA Tour this season, this confidence with the flat stick on the winding greens of Augusta will undoubtedly be beneficial for the 26 -year -old.
Keegan Bradley
Captain of the United States Ryder Cup has a huge headache this year when he explores how to keep the Team Europe biannual trophy in New York.
The winner of the 2011 PGA championship was absolutely exceptional during the tour this season, and although he did not win a tournament, he must make the difficult decision to play both playing and captain of the US Ryder Cup team when they arrive at Bethpage Black in September.
Its brilliant shape was obvious during the tournament by three, where Bradly struck a beautiful hole in one on the sixth hole of 144 yards.
It was also his third ace this season and given the composition of his approach game, he is with a huge play of play to garnish the ranking this weekend.
“You get this buzz, even starting a Monday,” said Bradley on his hole in one.
“It’s an incredible week. I try to absorb everything. Super excited to start everything tomorrow morning. Yeah, it’s the best.
Having this level of confidence in the week, it is difficult not to pass beyond Bradley as at least a higher finisher.
Collin Morikawa
Xander Schauffele had the title of being “golf almost man”.
For the start of the 2025 season, this title goes to Collin Morikawa.
The American has played with his skin so far on the PGA Tour, but has missed a scary to win a title with two finalists at the Sentinel and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
He certainly strikes the door this year and, in reality, it is only a matter of time before making the code crack to win what will be his seventh title PGA Tour.
On this note, Morikawa finished T3 at 2024 Masters and knows how to play around this course.
“I learned to prepare a little better in this week knowing what you really need to hit well,” he said while giving his verdict on how to play Augusta National.
“You have to hit your irons very well. You must have control of your irons.
In other words, something, Morikawa is perhaps better than many other PGA Tour players. His work with his corners, less than 150 meters from the green is phenomenal.
Even in difficult weather conditions, as he showed in the swirling winds of the strait of straits during the Ryder Cup 2021, he was clinical with his ironics and short irons.
There will be wind this week in Augusta and many players will find it difficult to control the ball in the air, but Morikawa, who is the best classified player of the PGA Tour so far this season for the approach game, should be convinced that he can manage this comfortably.
Sahihth Theegala
Theegala enters the tournament as an outdoor shot, but many from the golf world are enthusiastic by the 27 -year -old, some reflecting on his beginnings in the tournament in 2023, Aberg shone on the field to finish Masters during his beginnings.
It is a brilliant talent and has an excellent short and creative game too, which can see it play a variety of different blows with its corners and long irons.
This shine around the course could put it in large place to publish a few low scores this week.
