Rory McIlroy will look to defend his title at the 90th Masters which takes place at Augusta.
However, the Northern Irishman is not in his best form and will face a strong challenge from a number of the world’s best.
Here the Press Association takes a look at some of the likely contenders.
Rory McIlroy
The Northern Irishman has to be included as defending champion and world number two but his game is not where he would want it after a back problem forced his withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a disappointing joint 48th at the Players on his return last month. McIlroy has said he will enjoy going back to Augusta and hopes it will free him up but the occasion may be bigger than he thinks.
Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler is looking to win a third green jacket in five years as Golf’s ‘Mr Consistent’ started the season with a win, a third and a fourth place in his first three starts but has been plagued by poor first rounds and his last two events he was well short of his best. However, the world number one knows his way around Augusta and has finished fourth, first, 10th and first in his last four appearances and cannot be discounted.
Bryson DeChambeau
One of two in-form LIV Golfers after winning back-to-back events in Singapore and South Africa. The American, who finished sixth in 2024, started last year’s final round in the last group with McIlroy but eventually dropped to joint fifth. His game appears to be trending in the right direction.
Jon Rahm
The other LIV golfer who will consider himself in with a chance. This year he failed to convert 54-hole leads in Saudi Arabia and Adelaide but won in Hong Kong and lost a play-off to DeChambeau in South Africa. He has had three top-10s in his last five major starts and has a win and four top-10s in nine Augusta outings.
Ludvig Aberg
The 26-year-old Swede saves some of his best performances for the Masters, finishing runner-up on his 2024 debut and seventh last year having jointly held the final-round lead late on Sunday. Two top fives in his last two events suggest he is starting to find his form again just in time for the ride up Magnolia Drive.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Aberg’s Ryder Cup team-mate is arguably the player with the best trajectory as he entered last year’s Masters outside the world’s top 70 but returns in a career-high fifth after two wins and nine other top-10s in his last 19 starts. Agonisingly lost the Players at the 72nd hole but bounced back the following week to win the Valspar Championship. Fitzpatrick has not missed a Masters cut since his debut 12 years ago and if he can find some form with the putter the 2022 US Open champion is in with a shout.
Xander Schauffele
After his double-major-winning 2024 the American struggled last year after being hampered by an early-season injury but has returned to something close to his best form. Has the ability to find a hot streak and shoot low, evidenced by rounds of 65 in five of his seven events this year. Five top-10s in eight appearances suggests he knows how to handle the course.
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