The 89th Masters Tournament is just around the corner. The main questions are: Can anyone stop Scottie Scheffler? Which golfers from the LIV tour might contend for the coveted green jacket? And are there any Masters rookies who could surprise this week?
From prominent players to first-timers and potential dark horses, here are five key storylines to follow at Augusta National this week.
Who will be the center of attention this week?
Mark Schlabach: The spotlight will definitely be on the world`s top two players, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. A head-to-head battle between Scheffler and McIlroy on Sunday at Augusta National would be a thrilling event for a sport recently dominated by financial issues and division.
Scheffler has been the dominant force in men`s golf for a significant part of the last three years. He aims to join Jack Nicklaus (1963, 1965, and 1966) as the only golfers to win the Masters three times within four years. He also has the chance to become only the fourth golfer to win consecutive green jackets, following Nicklaus, Nick Faldo (1989-90), and Tiger Woods (2001-02).
Despite missing the first month of the season due to a right hand injury and not yet securing a win in 2025, some argue McIlroy has been the top golfer in recent months. However, few can match Scheffler`s ability to perform under pressure at Augusta National.
McIlroy has already secured two tour victories this season and is in excellent form. He will be attempting to win a green jacket for the 11th time to complete a career Grand Slam, which would also end his major championship drought of over a decade.
Paolo Uggetti: Much has been discussed and written about Scheffler and McIlroy at the beginning of this season, and rightly so. However, for this major, the element of the unknown draws me to focus on two LIV Golf players who should be considered among the favorites: Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.
Rahm is a past champion here, winning two years ago, and DeChambeau is coming off a U.S. Open victory last year, his second major, along with two other top-6 finishes in majors. Statistically, they are strong contenders. Yet, with LIV Golf in its third year, it remains uncertain how consistently players will perform in majors compared to the LIV tour. DeChambeau proved last year he can still contend in majors, but his last LIV win was in September 2023.
What does this mean for Augusta this week? It’s hard to predict, making DeChambeau`s performance particularly intriguing. The same applies to Rahm, whose worst LIV finish this season is a tie for ninth. Despite missing the cut at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January, his only non-LIV event, his overall game seems to be improving.
First-timers to watch
Schlabach: I`m leaning towards Thomas Detry, formerly a standout golfer at Illinois, who recently secured his first PGA Tour win with a dominant seven-shot victory at the WM Phoenix Open on February 9th. He also achieved a fourth-place tie in last year`s PGA Championship at Valhalla and 14th in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 the following month.
Detry is a strong putter, but his iron play has been inconsistent, and it’s questionable whether he will hit enough fairways to truly contend at Augusta National.
Aaron Rai from England is another player with recent major success, tying for 19th at both the 2021 Open Championship and last year`s U.S. Open. Rai ranks in the top 40 in strokes gained overall, off the tee, and approach, and is fifth in driving accuracy (70.3%). He also enters the Masters in good form, with top-15 finishes at the Mexico Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational, and Players Championship.
Uggetti: Maverick McNealy`s journey to the Masters has taken seven years, finally arriving after his RSM Classic win in November. He is currently playing some of his best golf. The Stanford alumnus has four top-10 finishes this season, including a runner-up at the Genesis Invitational earlier this year.
McNealy`s putting and approach game, both in the tour`s top 35, should help him stay competitive this week. If he can drive accurately and improve his short game around the greens, this course could be well-suited to his strengths.
Course Conditions
Schlabach: The course was playing firm and fast over the weekend during the final round of the Augusta National Women`s Amateur and Sunday practice rounds. However, heavy rain on Monday dropped over an inch of water.
There`s ample time for the course to dry before Thursday`s opening round. The club`s SubAir system, which efficiently removes water from the greens, is likely working intensely. High temperatures for the week are expected in the high 60s and 70s with minimal rain chances, except possibly Friday morning.
Hurricane Helene, a Category 1 storm that passed through the area on September 27, 2024, caused significant damage to Augusta National and the surrounding region. The tree density on holes 1 and 9 has decreased. For long-time patrons, the tree loss is mostly visual, unlikely to alter player strategy. The 16th green needed rebuilding after a tree fell on it, and greens on holes 1, 8, and 15 were also redone, according to McIlroy.
Uggetti: When Xander Schauffele played the back nine at Augusta National on Sunday, he immediately noticed the missing trees, especially on the par-3 16th.
`It almost felt like playing the back nine for the first time,` Schauffele said. `Walking down 10, you can see so much more of the course. It’s surprising and a bit sad to see how many trees are gone.`
Schauffele explained that these trees previously served as aiming points for tee shots. While some are now gone, he doesn`t anticipate a significant change in course play.
`For the most part, the course will probably play very similarly,` Schauffele noted. `You might lose a specific aiming point. For example, the three trees past the 11th green, but you can now use the bridge as a reference instead.`
McIlroy echoed Schauffele`s observations.
`From the tee, some shots feel less visually intimidating,` McIlroy said. `Some overhanging trees are no longer there. But overall, it’s largely the same. However, a few tee shots definitely look different.`
Expectations for LIV Golfers
Schlabach: There are twelve LIV players in the field, and it wouldn`t be surprising to see two or three finish in the top 10. However, predicting who those might be is challenging, as many of the top LIV players have been inconsistent in 2025. The recent tournament at Trump National Doral in Miami was the first demanding course they`ve played in a while, and several big names struggled over the weekend.
DeChambeau was still adjusting his game leading up to Miami, carding a 75 on Sunday and finishing fifth. Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion, shot a 74 in the final round and tied for ninth. Cameron Smith has a strong Augusta record, and Patrick Reed usually performs well there. They could certainly contend for a top 10 again.
Uggetti: As mentioned earlier, LIV performance should come with a disclaimer: `Past results are not indicative of future performance,` in both directions. Despite limited visibility from players like Brooks Koepka this year, he could easily turn on his major form and compete at Augusta. The same goes for Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, and Smith, whose games are well-suited to this course.
However, one LIV player I have higher expectations for this week is Joaquín Niemann. The Chilean golfer has two LIV wins this season, plus a victory at the PIF Saudi International in December, performing like a top-10 player recently. (Data Golf ranks him at No. 11.) Niemann’s talent is undeniable, and some, like Mickelson, are even touting him as a potential world`s best, though his major record is lacking. In 22 major attempts, he has never finished in the top 10. Given his current form, this Masters is a prime opportunity for Niemann to achieve a high finish.
Under-the-radar Player to Watch
Schlabach: While perhaps not truly “under the radar” given he`s a five-time PGA Tour winner, Russell Henley isn’t getting enough recognition for being ranked No. 7 globally. He secured his fifth tour victory against a strong field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 9th, one of his four top-10 finishes in seven starts this season.
For a Masters that often rewards accurate drives and precise second shots, Henley is exceptionally well-equipped. He ranks third on tour in greens in regulation (72.8%) and 11th in driving accuracy (66.2%), and he is also a strong putter.
Henley has improved in majors over the last two seasons, finishing in the top 15 in four of eight starts, including a tie for fourth at the 2023 Masters. Growing up in Georgia and attending the University of Georgia, winning a green jacket would be a dream come true.
Uggetti: Collin Morikawa seems to be flying under the radar. While not entirely ignored, the world No. 4 (No. 3 by Data Golf) and current leader in strokes gained: approach isn`t getting as much buzz this week. The two-time major champion hasn’t won since the 2023 Zozo Championship but has been close, including a near-win at this year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Last year, Morikawa had a chance on Sunday but faded as Scheffler took control. This year, his game appears stronger, his putting is improved, and like McIlroy, he has strong motivation to end his winless streak. Don`t be surprised if he`s contending again on Sunday.
For a longer shot, consider Akshay Bhatia. After his Masters debut last year, Bhatia is now a top 25 player. If not for putting struggles at the Players, he might have been in the playoff with McIlroy and J.J. Spaun. If his putter is hot this week, Bhatia could have a very good tournament.
