PLAYERS TO WATCH
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER, USA
Age: 27
World ranking: No. 1
Worldwide victories: 9
Majors: Masters (2022)
Masters appearances: 4
Masters memory: Having such a large lead that he could 4-putt the final hole in 2022 and still win by three.
Backspin: Sheffler is the most overwhelming Masters favorite since Tiger Woods in 2013. He already has two wins this year and nearly had a third in a row at the Houston Open. His tee-to-green game is at levels not seen since Woods at his peak.
JON RAHM, Spain
Age: 29 World ranking: No. 3 (LIV )
Worldwide victories: 20
Majors: Masters (2023), U.S. Open (2021)
Masters appearances: 7
Masters memory: Rally to beat Brooks Koepka to win the Masters on the birthdate of Seve Ballesteros.
Backspin: Rahm will try to join Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus as the only backto-back winners. The focus will be stronger than ever after his decision to join LIV Golf in December. He has not won since the Masters last year.
RORY MCILROY, Northern Ireland
Age: 34.
World ranking: No. 2
Worldwide victories: 34
Majors: U.S. Open (2011), British Open (2014), PGA Championship (2012, 2014)
Masters appearances: 15
Masters memory: Losing a four-shot lead in the final round of 2011.
Backspin: Mcilroy decided to play eight tournaments this year leading up to the Masters, all the while trying to limit chatter about the one major that eludes him. This is his 10th chance at trying to complete the career Grand Slam. More telling is it’s been 10 years since he last won a major.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE, USA
Age: 29
World ranking: No. 5
Worldwide victories: 8
Majors: None.
Masters appearances: 6
Masters memory: Runner-up to Tiger Woods in 2019. Rallying against Hideki Matsuyama in 2021 until hitting 8-iron to the water on the 16th.
Backspin: Schauffele has not won since the summer of 2022. He has played in the final group at Riviera and The Players Championship, so his game is trending. He has had two chances at winning the Masters, in 2019 and 2021.
JORDAN SPIETH, USA
Age: 30 World ranking: No. 19
Worldwide victories: 16
Majors: Masters (2015), U.S. Open (2015), British Open (2017)
Masters appearances: 10
Masters memory: Going wire-to-wire to win the Masters in 2015.
Backspin: Spieth is coming up on two years since his last win and he missed two straight cuts at The Players Championship and Valspar Championship. But Augusta National suits him and his putting. He holds the record for leading after seven straight rounds and has played in the final group three times.
BROOKS KOEPKA, USA
Age: 33
World ranking: No. 31 (LIV )
Worldwide victories: 15
Majors: U.S. Open (2017, 2018), PGA Championship (2018, 2019, 2023)
Masters appearances: 8
Masters memory: Two runner-up finishes, most recently losing 54-hole lead to Jon Rahm last year.
Backspin: Koepka still burns over his lost chance from a year ago, when he lost a four-shot lead on a marathon Sunday and went 22 straight holes without a birdie. He got back his major mojo by winning the PGA Championship. But he now has two close calls at Augusta (2019 and 2023).
HIDEKI MATSUYAMA, Japan
Age: 32 World ranking: No. 14
Worldwide victories: 18
Majors: Masters (2021)
Masters appearances: 12.
Masters memory: Becoming the first Japanese man to win a major at Augusta National in 2021.
Backspin: Injuries have slowed his progress the last two years. He won at Riviera with a record 62 in the final round and has looked ready to return among the elite in golf.
WYNDHAM CLARK, USA
Age: 30
World ranking: No. 4
Worldwide victories: 3
Majors: U.S. Open (2023)
Masters appearances: None.
Masters memory: Flying private with Augusta National member Johnny Harris for his first practice round on March 5. He has never played in the Masters.
Backspin: The U.S. Open champion has two other wins against the strongest fields, and he might have more wins if not for finishing runner-up in consecutive weeks to Scottie Scheffler.