The first golf major of the year, the 2026 Masters Tournament, is set to take place at Augusta National in Georgia, starting Thursday and continuing through Sunday.
Rory McIlroy is the defending champion.
Two-time winner Scottie Scheffler is the favourite, followed by Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and McIlroy.
Rahm, Scheffler, or Rose? Experts Weigh In
Matt Barrie believes Jon Rahm will win. He says Rahm has quietly been playing some of the best golf in the world this season, is in a great spot personally and professionally, and his recent form will awaken the roars at Augusta National this week.
Laura Rutledge and Mark Schlabach are backing Scottie Scheffler. Rutledge says he’s been working on his game at home, and she thinks he’ll be ready to go. Schlabach notes that Scheffler is ranked No. 1 in the world and nobody has been at Augusta National Golf Club over the past four years, suggesting not to overthink it and that Scheffler rides a hot putter to a third green jacket.
Jeff Darlington and Marty Smith are going with Justin Rose. Darlington says his head is telling him that Rahm is about to reemerge into the spotlight because he keeps hearing he’s playing great golf, but his heart is saying Rose gets his moment, adding that when it comes to the Masters, he’s always inclined to go with the heart. Smith notes that Rose is a three-time runner-up at Augusta, twice in a playoff, and that this is the year Rose earns the green jacket, adding that no one in Masters history has led more rounds without a win than Rose, and in 2026 he is playing consistent golf. He ranks 10th in strokes gained: approach this season.
DeChambeau’s Course Mastery
Michael Eaves and Andy North are picking Bryson DeChambeau. Eaves highlights that DeChambeau has won his last two worldwide starts and has finished T6 and T5 in his last two Masters appearances. Since 2023, he’s dropped two putts per round off his putting average at Augusta National, concluding that if he truly has the greens figured out, there’s no way he won’t be in contention come Sunday.
North adds that DeChambeau has finally figured out this course the past couple of years, is playing well and winning, and that distance is always such a big factor at Augusta National.
Koepka and Schauffele as Potential Winners
Tory Cabrera is picking Brooks Koepka. Cabrera asks if Koepka is an obvious favourite, then answers no. However, Cabrera says he is still “Big-Game Brooks,” the man who once said he thinks the majors are “the easiest to win”, adding she is banking on it and the fact he’s got some added financial incentive since the cost of rejoining the PGA Tour.
Peter Lawrence-Riddell is backing Xander Schauffele. He’s finished T-10 or better in five of past seven years, including T-8 last year and solo eighth in 2024. After a tough, injured-delayed season in 2025 he’s playing better this year, finishing T-7 or better in three of his last four starts, including solo third at the Players Championship.
The 2026 Masters Tournament promises excitement as golfers compete at Augusta National.