Masters 2026: Top Favorites, Underdogs, and the Players to Watch (2026)

The 2026 Masters Tournament is shaping up to be a thrilling affair, with a diverse field of golfers vying for the coveted green jacket. Among the favorites, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Cameron Young stand out, but the competition is fierce, and the tournament promises to be a nail-biter. Here's a breakdown of the top contenders and their chances of success.

Scottie Scheffler

• World's Best Player: Scheffler, the current world number one, is a strong favorite. His consistent performance in recent tournaments and his experience at Augusta make him a top contender.
• Questions: However, Scheffler's recent form has been a bit shaky, with no top-10 finishes in his last three starts. A canceled tune-up due to family reasons might also impact his preparation.

Rory McIlroy

• Career Grand Slam: McIlroy, the defending champion, returns to Augusta with a newfound confidence after winning the career grand slam in 2025. His high-pressure shots and mental fortitude make him a strong candidate.
• Motivation: McIlroy's struggle to stay motivated in the past might be a concern, but the absence of a 'monkey on his back' after winning the grand slam could be a positive.

Cameron Young

• Hotstreak: Young is on a roll, having won his last two starts on the LIV Golf circuit. His clutch performances and recent success make him a dark horse in the tournament.
• Masters History: Young's history with the Masters is complicated, but his recent form and confidence boost him as a contender.

Xander Schauffele

• Consistent Performance: Schauffele has shown consistency in his recent tournaments, with top-three finishes and five top-10s in the last seven years. His experience and form make him a serious contender.
• Augusta Suitor: Schauffele's performance at the Masters has been better than his other majors, with a pair of top-three results and five top-10s in the last seven years.

Jon Rahm

• LIV Golf Transition: Rahm's move to LIV Golf has been criticized, but his recent top-15 finishes refute those doubts. His consistent performance and top-five finishes this season make him a contender.
• Confidence Boost: Rahm's confidence seems to be growing, with five top-five finishes in five starts this season, including a win and three runners-up.

Jordan Spieth

• Solid Form: Spieth has been in solid form, with three top-five finishes at the Masters since losing a five-shot lead in 2015. His ball-striking and mental fortitude make him a contender.
• Avoiding Double-Bogey: Spieth's ability to avoid untimely double-bogeys could be a key factor in his success this year.

** Ludvig Åberg**

• Rising Star: Åberg is a rising star, with a runner-up finish at the U.S. Open and a T-7 finish at the Masters last year. His mental toughness and consistent performance make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Åberg's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Matt Fitzpatrick

• Back-to-Back Success: Fitzpatrick's recent back-to-back performances at TPC Sawgrass and Innisbrook are impressive. His mental toughness and consistent performance make him a contender.
• Augusta Record: Fitzpatrick's record at the Masters is not indicative of his talent, but his current form and experience make him a serious contender.

Justin Thomas

• Rusty Start: Thomas had a shaky start to the season after offseason back surgery, but he seems to have shaken off the rust. His mental toughness and consistent performance make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Thomas's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Hideki Matsuyama

• Elusive Victory: Matsuyama has a reputation for having a lower ceiling than most superstars but a high floor. His single top-10 finish in nine career Masters starts makes him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Matsuyama's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Tommy Fleetwood

• Consistency: Fleetwood has shown consistency in his recent tournaments, with five top-10s in the past three years. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Fleetwood's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Brooks Koepka

• Major Champion: Koepka is a five-time major champion and has shown consistency in his recent tournaments. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Koepka's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Collin Morikawa

• Back Injury: Morikawa's recent back injury and withdrawal from The Players Championship raise concerns. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Morikawa's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Justin Rose

• Experience: Rose, a veteran golfer, has a wealth of experience and has won a U.S. Open, an Olympic gold medal, and a FedEx Cup. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Rose's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Patrick Reed

• Augusta Specialist: Reed has a history of bringing his best to Augusta, with four top-10 finishes in his last seven starts, including a solo third-place finish last year.
• Consistency: Reed's consistency and mental toughness make him a contender.

Chris Gotterup

• No-Nerve Closer: Gotterup has established himself as a no-nerve closer, with three victories in the last year. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Gotterup's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Robert MacIntyre

• Big-Event Specialist: MacIntyre tends to play his best golf at big events, with top-10 finishes at the other three majors. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: MacIntyre's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Russell Henley

• Rising Star: Henley has shown consistency in his recent tournaments, with five top-10s in the past three years. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Henley's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Viktor Hovland

• Consistency: Hovland has shown consistency in his recent tournaments, with top-six finishes in three of his last five starts. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Hovland's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Min Woo Lee

• Rising Star: Lee has been running hot during the first few months of the season, with top-six finishes in three of his last five starts. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Lee's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Sepp Straka

• Precision Golfer: Straka is a precision golfer, with a focus on iron play. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Straka's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Jason Day

• Consistency: Day has shown consistency in his recent tournaments, with a runner-up result at The American Express. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Day's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Jacob Bridgeman

• Rising Star: Bridgeman has followed a similar flight path to Ben Griffin, with a win at Riviera and top-20 finishes in all eight starts this season. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Bridgeman's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Shane Lowry

• Consistency: Lowry has shown consistency in his recent tournaments, with top-20 finishes in all eight starts this season. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Lowry's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Akshay Bhatia

• Consistency: Bhatia has shown consistency in his recent tournaments, with top-16 finishes in each of his last five PGA Tour starts. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Bhatia's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Jake Knapp

• Rising Star: Knapp has shown promise in his recent tournaments, with top-11 finishes in six of his last seven starts. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Knapp's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Adam Scott

• Consistency: Scott has shown consistency in his recent tournaments, with top-21 finishes in all eight starts this season. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Scott's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Harris English

• Consistency: English has shown consistency in his recent tournaments, with top-21 finishes in all eight starts this season. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: English's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.

Marco Penge

• Rising Star: Penge has shown promise in his rookie season, with top-five and top-20 finishes in his last five starts. His mental toughness and experience make him a contender.
• Augusta Experience: Penge's experience at Augusta and his ability to handle pressure make him a strong candidate for a top finish.