World number one Scottie Scheffler again arrives at Augusta widely considered as the man to beat.

The 29-year-old American is already a two-time champion – in 2022 and 2024 – and goes into his seventh appearance still having never finished outside the top 20.

Rory McIlroy can never be discounted, of course, as he attempts to become only the fourth man to win back-to-back Masters.

The build-up for the 36-year-old from Northern Ireland has not been as smooth as it was 12 months ago, but he remains among the frontrunners despite a lack of competitive action.

The optimism of three top-10 finishes at the start of the season was replaced by concerns about a back injury, which forced him to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational and hampered him at the Players Championship, but he appears over that niggle.

Another American, Bryson DeChambeau, reignites his challenge for a first Green Jacket, hoping to have learned lessons from faltering last year when he went out alongside McIlroy in Sunday’s final pairing.

DeChambeau might still play on a LIV Tour which has its detractors, but his place among the favourites – given his ability and form shown in two recent victories on the breakaway circuit – cannot be questioned given he is also a two-time US Open champion.

Spain’s Jon Rahm is another LIV player expected to feature high on the leaderboard. Rahm, who won in 2023, is a perennial challenger at the majors and searches for a third major title buoyed by leading the LIV standings this year.

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open winner, comes into the tournament full of confidence after his recent runners-up finish at the Players Championship, while he has two Ryder Cup team-mates also hitting form heading into this week.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who was fourth at the Players and joint second in Texas last week has also hit form heading into Augusta, while Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg – who was runner-up on his debut in 2024 and seventh last year – clearly enjoys the test.