Can Rory McIlroy successfully defend his title at the Masters? Will Scottie Scheffler bounce back from his disappointment and the Englishman challenge for victory at Augusta National? Ahead of this year’s major opener, take a look at five storylines to follow…
McIlroy returns as Grand Slam champion
Rory McIlroy rarely feels a new experience heading into a tournament, but he’s really enjoying it this week as the Grand Slam winner makes his first major appearance at Augusta National.
McIlroy’s permanent exemption from the Masters was confirmed after his dramatic victory in last year’s playoffs, ending his 11-year wait for that elusive fifth major and giving him special privileges at this year’s contest.
McIlroy returns as defending champion at this week’s Masters
The Northern Irishman assumed the role of a spectator at the Augusta US Women’s Amateur and the Drive Chip and Putt National Final over the weekend, appearing in the green jacket at both matches ahead of hosting the Champions Dinner for the first time on Tuesday night.
McIlroy will have a chance to join another prestigious club if he successfully defends his title, something he hasn’t done since Tiger Woods defended it in 2002, while another win would see him equal Sir Nick Faldo’s record of six major titles.
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Watch the ups and downs of the Masters championship round, where McIlroy won his fifth major title last April.
There are question marks over McIlroy’s form and fitness heading into this tournament after withdrawing from last month’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and not competing at The Players, but the world No. 2 remains one of the favorites to win the tournament.
Although the pressure of completing a career Grand Slam and conquering golf’s Everest has been achieved, the golf world will want to see McIlroy continue to strive for even greater success. Don’t rule out that possibility this week either.
Will Scheffler stall before the major season?
While Scheffler’s lack of competition in recent starts is far from his traditional absolute best, it seems foolish to suggest that a player who hasn’t finished outside the top 25 in a tournament in 18 months is “out of shape.”
The world No. 1-ranked player enters this week with his worst performance in nearly four years, failing to finish in the top 10 in his past three PGA Tour appearances, but remains the favorite to win his fifth major this season.
Scottie Scheffler played practice rounds with Sam Burns (pictured) or Cam Young ahead of the Masters
Scheffler’s decline is largely due to his iron play (a key attribute at Augusta National), which currently ranks him 80th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach and outside the top 130 in proximity to the hole.
“He (Scheffler) seems a little frustrated on the course at times, but that’s a side of him that we haven’t seen (in recent seasons),” Butch Harmon said ahead of the Masters. “But he’s still Scottie Scheffler and he’s still a tremendous competitor.
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The Sky Sports Golf Podcast team discusses what will happen if Scotty Scheffler fails to resolve his current frustrations with the game
“It doesn’t matter if he has his A game, his B game or his C game, he’s going to give 110 percent. If you’re looking for an automatic favorite to win, I think it’s probably going to be Rory (McIlroy) and Scotty.”
Only eight players in history have won the Masters three or more times. Despite the recent downturn, it would be no surprise to see Scheffler, who became a father for the second time last month, add to that record.
Who is the new British winner of the Green Jacket?
This year will mark 10 years as the only British winner of the Masters, with Danny Willett taking advantage of Jordan Spieth’s back-nine collapse to join Faldo.
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Jordan Spieth ended his chances of winning the 2016 Masters with a quadruple bogey on the par-3 12th hole.
Willett returns among a strong squad of eight British players in this week’s field, with Justin Rose looking to improve on last year’s runner-up finish and claim that elusive second major title.
Rose has already won this season’s PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open and had a strong showing at Augusta National, while former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick also impressed with his Valspar Championship victory last month.
“He (Rose) pulled off Torrey Pines, which is a very difficult golf course, and won easily,” Harmon added. “He’s gotten some distance with his driver, he’s playing with a lot of confidence and he’s got a good track record here. If you’re looking for a player other than your two favorites, I think this is the one.”
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Sky Sports News reporter Jamie Weir counts down to the Masters in Augusta. What are the chances for this year’s English winner?
FedEx Cup champion Tommy Fleetwood has finished in the top 10 four times in his past five starts and previously finished tied for third at the Masters, while Harry Hall and Marco Penge are among the debutants looking to become the first to win since Fuzzy Zurer.
Tyrrell Hatton and Aaron Rye complete England’s line-up as they aim to become the first player to win their first major title at the Masters since Scheffler’s dominant victory in 2022.
England won the Soccer World Cup in 1966, but Faldo last won the Masters in 1996 and Willett in 2016. Is it possible that there will be another English champion in the year ending in six years?
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The most shocking moments in Masters history, including Jordan Spieth’s fall on the 12th hole and injury-plagued Tiger Woods being subdued by security.
As Rahm looks to take on more challenges, DeChambeau is ready for the challenge.
DeChambeau has won back-to-back games in his last two starts in the LIV Golf League and believes his game is in a “perfect position” to challenge for his first Masters victory, 12 months after losing to McIlroy.
DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open champion, has finished in the top 10 in six of the past eight majors, finishing sixth or better in the last two at Augusta National, and is gaining a lot of support as he looks to make amends for last year’s disappointing Sunday.
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Highlights from last year’s Masters when Bryson DeChambeau lost the final round with a 3-over 75
“You know, his game suits him over there (Augusta National) and he hits the ball a long way,” Harmon said of DeChambeau. “He’s a great competitor. He’s a good putt. When you look at guys going to Augusta, you look at who’s hot to get there, and obviously he is.
“The score he hit at LIV was a really low score to win. People say, ‘Well, the competition isn’t the same,’ but a win is a win. The more you win, the more confident you become.”
DeChambeau is just behind Jon Rahm in the LIV Golf League individual standings this season, and with his name among the 10 players on the circuit this week, Rahm feels confident in contending for his third major title.
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Paul McGinley explains why Jon Rahm is currently ineligible to represent the European team in the 2027 Ryder Cup
“I’m really happy with all parts of my game,” Rahm insisted on Monday. “I’m playing really good golf. My swing is great and I feel really good physically and mentally. At that point, it’s just execution.”
A new era without Woods and Mickelson
The last time the Masters was held without Phil Mickelson or Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player were still playing, and Scheffler wasn’t born yet.
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Relive the moment Tiger Woods won the Masters in 2019, earning him the fifth green jacket of his career.
Jose María Olazabal’s 1994 victory was the last time both of them were absent, with Woods “taking a break” from golf following a car accident last month and Mickelson sidelined due to “personal health issues” in his family.
Woods was aiming to play in his first official tournament since July 2024, but withdrew immediately after a car accident on March 27, missing out on the Masters for the second year in a row.The 15-time major champion will not be able to attend as McIlroy will host the Champions Dinner for the first time.
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Rory McIlroy reflects on the opportunity to host his first Champions Dinner and Tiger Woods’ absence
“Unfortunately, there’s going to be some players that won’t be able to be in that room, and that’s unfortunate,” Muckleroy added. “I want them to be recognized as well. They are two of the greatest champions in Masters history.”
Two of golf’s greats won’t be in attendance this week, but the opening round of this year’s major will feature a world-class lineup. Excitement is running high and it seems harder than ever to predict this year’s champion.
Who will win the Masters? Watch the opening round of this year’s Major exclusively live on Sky Sports from 9th to 12th April. Live coverage of the first round will begin on Sky Sports Golf from 2pm on Thursday. Get and stream Sky Sports without a contract.
