\n<\/p>\n
World number one Scottie Scheffler<\/b> again arrives at Augusta widely considered as the man to beat.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old American is already a two-time champion – in 2022 and 2024 \u2013 and goes into his seventh appearance still having never finished outside the top 20.<\/p>\n
Rory McIlroy <\/b>can never be discounted, of course, as he attempts to become only the fourth man to win back-to-back Masters.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Another American, Bryson DeChambeau<\/b>, 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.<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 cannot be questioned given he is also a two-time US Open champion.<\/p>\n
Spain’s Jon Rahm<\/b> 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.<\/p>\n
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, <\/b>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. <\/p>\n
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre,<\/b> 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<\/b> \u2013 who was runner-up on his debut in 2024 and seventh last year – clearly enjoys the test.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n