AUGUSTA, Ga. — The azaleas are blooming, the pimento cheese is being slathered on everything and there’s a green jacket sitting in the Augusta National clubhouse awaiting its new owner on Sunday. It’s the 2024 Masters, the kickoff to men’s pro golf’s major season and the biggest event of the year on the golf calendar.
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Scottie Scheffler comes in as a prohibitive favorite — probably the largest since Tiger Woods in his heyday. Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, won The Players Championship last month and is seeking his second green jacket — he was a runaway winner in 2022.
But the rest of the field will not just cede to Scheffler this week. Jon Rahm is the defending champion and determined to show his game off against many of his old PGA Tour peers. Rory McIlroy remains in pursuit of the career grand slam. Joaquin Niemann, Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland all want their first career major.
Will we get a classic Masters that does not begin until the back nine on Sunday, or will we continue a recent trend of dominant performances — Rahm, Scheffler, Hideki Matsuyama and Dustin Johnson all won with little suspense during the final round?
This is the most exclusive major field in golf for a reason, and so The Athletic wanted to show it off in a special way. This is our first Masters Big Board, breaking down all 89 participants, from Fred Couples to Jasper Stubbs. We hope you enjoy.
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Masters champions
Scottie Scheffler
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
27
The best player in the world right now and it might not be close, Scheffler’s game is reaching the kind of levels we haven’t seen in at least a decade. Now, he needs to solidify it with another major victory. He was one missed putt on 18 away from possibly winning a third-straight PGA Tour event at Houston, and while it’s naive to think his putting issues are completely solved, he’s been putting at an above-average level. With his historically incredible ball striking, many argue Scheffler just needs to be an average putter and he can go on Tiger Woods-esque runs of majors. He won here just two years ago, and he’s a 4-to-1 favorite to win this week. That’s the largest favorite since Tiger. — Brody Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
T2
Houston
Win
Players
Win
API
T10
Genesis
T3
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (2022)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
25-29
United States
PGA Tour
Masters champions
Jon Rahm
LIV
Spain
Age:
29
The defending Masters champion usually has some latitude in their return performance — only three men in history and no one since Tiger Woods (2001-02) has repeated as Masters champ, after all. But there’s unique pressure on Rahm this year, in his first major since he joined LIV. Suddenly the same question is being asked of him that was for the first generation of stars to break away to the rebel tour — can you win the big one when your prep is 54-hole, no-cut events? We’ll find out for Rahm, who lacks a win on LIV this year but has five top 10s in as many starts. — Hugh Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
T4
Miami
T8
Hong Kong
5
Jeddah
8
Vegas
T3
Mayakoba
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (2023)
Best previous major finish
2 wins
Strokes Gained
25-29
Spain
LIV
Masters champions
Hideki Matsuyama
PGA Tour
Japan
Age:
32
The 2021 champion is entering Masters week on a heater. First, Matsuyama won the prestigious Genesis Invitational but insisted he didn’t even play his best — he won with a historic final round 62 at Riviera. Then Matsuyama contended at both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship — two of the PGA Tour’s toughest tests and strongest fields. When Matsuyama is feeling healthy (he is currently struggling with on-and-off back pain), he is hard to beat. The global superstar is another player whose precise approach game will guide him at Augusta, and he has seen immense success at this venue. — Gabby Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
T7
Texas
T6
Players
T12
API
1
Genesis
T22
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (2021)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
30-35
Japan
PGA Tour
Masters champions
Jordan Spieth
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
30
Spieth is always something of a conundrum ahead of the majors, but it’s going to be especially difficult to predict what might transpire during his 11th Masters. The Texan got off to a fiery start in 2024 when he finished in solo third at the PGA Tour’s season opener and came in a tie for 6th at the Phoenix Open. But then things got messy — Spieth was disqualified at the Genesis Invitational for signing a wrong scorecard, despite being in contention at the elevated event, and he recently missed two cuts in a row on the PGA Tour. Regardless of this season’s results, the 2015 Masters champion possesses one of the strongest Augusta records in the field, with a victory, two runner-up finishes, two third-place finishes, and a T4 finish at last year’s tournament. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
T10
Texas
MC
Valspar
MC
Players
T30
API
DQ
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (2015)
Best previous major finish
3 wins
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Masters champions
Adam Scott
PGA Tour
Australia
Age:
43
The 2013 Masters champion has a pair of top-10 finishes so far in 2024, and a couple more top 20s. This is a fairly positive sign for Scott, who will be seeking to make another Presidents Cup team this fall. He could use a win — his last on the PGA Tour came back in 2020, and that was his first since 2016. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
T14
Texas
T45
Players
MC
API
T19
Genesis
T8
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (2013)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
40+
Australia
PGA Tour
Masters champions
Dustin Johnson
LIV
United States
Age:
39
The 2020 Masters champion was one of the first big-name players to join LIV Golf in June 2022, and for that reason, we haven’t seen quite as much of his game up close over the past two years. But Johnson is one of the best ball strikers in the world, and can block out the noise and go low under pressure like few others. He’s won three LIV events since joining the league, but his major record has suffered. Johnson posted a top-10 at the U.S. Open last summer, but otherwise, he’s underperformed. It remains to be seen whether Johnson’s game is sharp enough to keep winning at venues like Augusta National, but it’s certainly not out of the question for him to contend. The 39-year-old is making his 13th Masters appearance. He’s only missed the cut twice at Augusta. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
T24
Miami
T21
Hong Kong
T27
Jeddah
1
Vegas
T5
Mayakoba
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (2020)
Best previous major finish
2 wins
Strokes Gained
36-40
United States
LIV
Masters champions
Patrick Reed
LIV
United States
Age:
33
One of the more polarizing players in the sport, Reed also happens to be one of the best players at Augusta. On top of his 2018 win, he has three more Masters top-10s including the impressive T4 last April. His current form hasn’t been ideal without a single top-15 finish in the 54-man field LIV events this season. Still, he can’t be discounted at Augusta. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
T9
Miami
4
Macau
T29
Hong Kong
T37
Jeddah
T39
Las Vegas
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (2018)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
LIV
Masters champions
Sergio Garcia
LIV
Spain
Age:
44
It’s been seven years since Sergio Garcia dramatically won his first major, beating Justin Rose in a playoff to capture the green jacket.
Since then, he’s only made one cut at Augusta, finishing T23 in 2022. Garcia was one of several golfers who joined LIV Golf in 2022. His best individual finish at a LIV event was runner-up at Singapore in 2023. — Lukas Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
2
Miami
T38
Hong Kong
T15
Jeddah
T26
Vegas
2
Mayakoba
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (2017)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
40+
Spain
LIV
Masters champions
Zach Johnson
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
48
In 2007 Johnson won the Masters with a 1-over-par score, tying the record for highest winning tournament total that dated back to the 1950s. Johnson continues to play semi-regularly on the PGA Tour but it’s been three years since his last top 10 finish. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Texas
MC
Valspar
T21
Cognizant
T60
Phoenix
T25
AmEx
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (2007)
Best previous major finish
2 wins
Strokes Gained
40+
United States
PGA Tour
Masters champions
Bubba Watson
LIV
United States
Age:
45
One of the more iconic Masters players of the modern era with two epic wins in three years, the 45-year-old Watson has since gone to LIV and has fallen to No. 197 in the DataGolf rankings. He has just one top-10 finish in his two years at LIV. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
T32
Miami
T29
Hong Kong
T46
Jeddah
T15
Vegas
T21
Mayakoba
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
2 wins (2014, '17)
Best previous major finish
2 wins
Strokes Gained
40+
United States
LIV
Masters champions
Charl Schwartzel
LIV
South Africa
Age:
39
It’s been 13 years since Charl Schwartzel birdied the final four holes to win the green jacket, culminating one of the most dramatic Masters final rounds in the 21st century.
Schwartzel, 39, won his last PGA Tour tournament in March 2016 at the Valspar Championship. His best finish at the Masters since winning in 2011 was third in 2017. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
T37
Miami
T41
Hong Kong
T2
Jeddah
T53
Vegas
T38
Mayakoba
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (2011)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
36-40
South Africa
LIV
Masters champions
Phil Mickelson
LIV
United States
Age:
53
What Phil Mickelson will we see? The guy who exists in the bottom third of LIV leaderboards most weeks, looking every bit of a 53-year-old who’s trying to wring every last bit of juice he has from his body? Or the one that popped up at Augusta a year ago and finished in a tie for second, and still not all that long ago won a PGA Championship. Complicating that equation is that Mickelson will be working with a new caddy, Jon Yarbrough, after brother Tim stepped away to focus on family. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
47
Miami
T52
Hong Kong
T6
Jeddah
T30
Vegas
T51
Mayakoba
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Wins (2004, '06, '10)
Best previous major finish
6 wins
Strokes Gained
40+
United States
LIV
Masters champions
Tiger Woods
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
48
The five-time Masters champion returns to Augusta National for the 26th time this week, but the state of both his body and his game remains a mystery. Following a single-car crash in 2021 that shattered Woods’s right foot, ankle and leg, the 15-time major winner miraculously returned to competition at the 2022 Masters and finished 47th. Since then, he has competed in just six official tournaments. After last year’s Masters, Woods underwent ankle fusion surgery to address complications from the accident. The surgery was a success, but Woods has said his ankle mobility is limited and his body is bearing the brunt of the injury elsewhere — including in his lower back. Woods’s most recent competitive appearance at Riviera would have been an opportunity to assess his health and sharpness on the course, but he withdrew after just 24 holes with a stomach illness. Hurdles aside, if his pain levels are manageable and he’s able to dust off some competitive rust, anything is possible for Woods at Augusta National. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
WD
Genesis
18
Hero
WD
Masters
T45
Genesis
MC
Open
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
5 wins (1997, '01, '02, '05, '19)
Best previous major finish
15 wins
40+
United States
PGA Tour
Masters champions
Fred Couples
Champions Tour
United States
Age:
64
Fred Couples won his first and only major at the 1992 Masters. His par save on No. 12, with the ball barely escaping Rae’s Creek, remains a career highlight.
Couples’ last top 10 at the Masters was 2010. After missing four cuts in a row, Couples finished T50 in 2023. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
WD
Champions
T43
Champions
T21
Champions
T37
Champions
T44
Champions
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (1992)
Best previous major finish
1 win
40+
United States
Champions Tour
Masters champions
Vijay Singh
Champions Tour
Fiji
Age:
61
Vijay Singh won the Masters in 2000, his second major win of three total. The former world No. 1 has been a staple on the Champions Tour, winning the Senior Players Championship in 2018.
Singh hasn’t made the cut at the Masters since 2018. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
T39
Champions
T27
Champions
T16
Champions
T4
Champions
T25
Champions
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (2000)
Best previous major finish
3 wins
40+
Fiji
Champions Tour
Masters champions
Mike Weir
Champions Tour
Canada
Age:
53
Mike Weir became the first Canadian (man or woman) to win a major championship when he beat Len Mattiace in a playoff to capture the 2003 Masters.
Weir is one of four Canadians in the field at Augusta, joining Nick Taylor, Corey Conners and Adam Hadwin. The last time Weir made the cut at the Masters was in 2020, when he finished T51. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
T14
Champions
T42
Champions
T27
Champions
T41
Champions
T18
Champions
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (2003)
Best previous major finish
1 win
40+
Canada
Champions Tour
Masters champions
Jose Maria Olazabal
Champions Tour
Spain
Age:
58
The two-time Masters champion is making his 35th start at Augusta National this week at 58 years old. A close friend of the late Seve Ballesteros, Olazabal is celebrating the 25 and 30-year anniversaries of his victories at the Masters. Olazabal has 29 worldwide wins and 13 top-15 finishes at Augusta, but he’s expected to miss the cut. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
T26
PGA Tour Champions
T15
Champions
T27
Champions
T75
Champions
T55
Champions
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
2 wins (1994, '99)
Best previous major finish
2 wins
40+
Spain
Champions Tour
Masters champions
Danny Willett
DP World Tour
England
Age:
36
Willett has yet to make a start in 2024 after shoulder surgery late in 2023, telling The Independent in February that his rehab would run close to The Masters. It’s been eight years since his green jacket win, and his last professional win was in 2021 (Alfred Dunhill Links Championship). — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
T64
BMW PGA
WD
Irish
MC
Euro Masters
MC
Wyndham
T68
Open
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
Win (2016)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
36-40
England
DP World Tour
Masters champions
Past majors winners
Rory McIlroy
PGA Tour
Northern Ireland
Age:
34
Nobody enters Masters week with more pressure — both internal and external — than Rory McIlroy. He thinks about it more than anyone and talks openly about his eager desire to finally complete the career grand slam. It’s been 10 years since McIlroy’s last major victory, but what makes it so frustrating is that he hasn’t fallen off in that 10 years. He’s a 34-year-old star coming off arguably the best two-year span of golf in his career. He just keeps falling agonizingly short in majors like the 2022 Open Championship and the 2023 U.S. Open, among others. From a pure golf perspective, McIlroy is one of the three or four favorites in the field. The question is whether he’s ready to close and grab another major when it’s there for him. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
3
Texas
T19
Players
T21
API
T21
Cognizant
T24
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
2 (2022)
Best previous major finish
4 wins
Strokes Gained
30-35
Northern Ireland
PGA Tour
Past majors winners
Collin Morikawa
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
27
Collin Morikawa made his professional debut at the 2019 Canadian Open. By the end of 2021, Morikawa had two major championships and was quickly becoming one of the young stars in golf.
It took Morikawa over two years to win his next event, the 2023 Zozo Championship. Now the 27-year-old, ranked seventh in the world by DataGolf, is trying to get back to being a contender in the majors.
At the Masters, Morikawa’s best finish was fifth in 2022. But he’s never felt truly in the mix at Augusta. His most notable moment came on the 18th hole in 2022 when he and Rory McIlroy both chipped in for birdie.
Morikawa has just one top-10 finish in 2024, at the Sentry Tournament of Champions (T5). One concern with Morikawa is the putter. For Morikawa to contend at the Masters, his new putter, the Logan Olson he began using at the Players Championship, will need to be clicking. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
T75
Texas
T45
Players
MC
API
T19
Genesis
T14
Pebble
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
5 (2022)
Best previous major finish
2 wins
Strokes Gained
25-29
United States
PGA Tour
Past majors winners
Wyndham Clark
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
30
The reigning U.S. Open champion promised himself he wouldn’t accept an invitation to play Augusta National unless it was for the Masters. Arguably one of the most consistent players entering the tournament, Clark could be a force at Augusta with his length off the tee and aggressive strategy. The Denver native attributes much of his recent success to his work with PGA Tour sports psychologist Julie Elion. Clark has overhauled his mental game with daily meditations and goal-setting exercises. The pair’s relationship was documented closely in Netflix’s Full Swing. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
T31
Houston
T2
Players
2
API
MC
Genesis
T41
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Past majors winners
Matt Fitzpatrick
PGA Tour
England
Age:
29
Coming off a solo fifth place at the Players Championship, Fitzpatrick is in a great position to have a successful week at Augusta, where he’s produced incredibly consistent results. In nine Masters starts, Fitzpatrick has missed just one cut (in his debut) and his worst finish on the Allister Mackenzie design is T38. The Englishman is regarded for his meticulous statistics work — he documents every shot that he hits both in and out of practice. But Fitzpatrick recently let one piece of information slip his mind. He realized that there was an old weight in the grip of his driver that his team had inserted for testing back in 2023. Fitzpatrick discovered the piece of metal ahead of the Players Championship, removed it, and went on to post his best finish of the season. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
T10
Texas
5
Players
MC
API
T21
Cognizant
MC
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T7 (2016)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
25-29
England
PGA Tour
Past majors winners
Bryson DeChambeau
LIV
United States
Age:
30
The man who once threatened to bring Augusta National to its knees has missed the last two weekends, and has not had a top-25 finish since he was low amateur back in 2016. If you want to say that DeChambeau will never put on a green jacket, we won’t stop you. A huge part of the puzzle at Augusta will always remain position around the greens, and that’s traditionally an area that DeChambeau has struggled with.
That said, DeChambeau won twice on the LIV Golf Tour in August and September 2023, including a final-round 58 at Greenbrier. He’s coming off a T7 at LIV Miami. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
T7
Miami
T6
Hong Kong
4
Jeddah
T9
Vegas
T25
Mayakoba
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T21 (2016)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
LIV
Past majors winners
Brian Harman
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
37
Harman will play in just his fifth Masters this week, but the 37-year-old has all the tools to be in contention come Sunday afternoon. Winner of last summer’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, Harman’s game has proven to hold up on tricky major championship venues. Plus, Harman plays golf left-handed. Phil Mickelson, a three-time Masters champion, has said that Augusta National’s routing might be advantageous for lefties. Several tee shots require a right-to-left ball flight. That’s a controlled hook for right-handed players and a simple cut shot for lefties like Harman. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
T25
Texas
MC
Valspar
T2
Players
T12
API
T44
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T12 (2021)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
36-40
United States
PGA Tour
Past majors winners
Justin Thomas
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
30
The rollercoaster form of Justin Thomas remains a mystery. After winning his second major in 2022, he had a disastrous 2023 that left him outside the FedEx Cup Playoffs. This year looked promising after a run of seven-straight top-12 or better finishes, but now he looks as lost as ever with two missed cuts at his last four events and a T64 at Valspar. It appears the swing fixes remain fine, but his putter has dropped off drastically losing 0.37 strokes to the field. Thomas has also parted ways with caddy Jim “Bones” Mackay. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
T64
Valspar
MC
Players
T12
API
MC
Genesis
T12
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
4 (2020)
Best previous major finish
2 wins
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Past majors winners
Shane Lowry
PGA Tour
Ireland
Age:
37
Projecting Shane Lowry isn’t an easy thing to do. You know how good he can be, an Open Champion with two Ryder Cup appearances who on any given year can shift from a top-15 player in the world to missing cuts and ranking outside the top 50. He is somebody who could struggle mightily in his first five Masters and then thrive in his last four. Lowry is coming off a fantastic Florida swing including finishing third at the API Invitational. His ball striking is at an elite level right now. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
T29
Singapore
T19
Players
3
API
T4
Cognizant
T60
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T3 (2022)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
36-40
Ireland
PGA Tour
Past majors winners
Jason Day
PGA Tour
Australia
Age:
36
After several years out of contention, Day had a massive comeback campaign in 2023 with a win at Byron Nelson and 13 top-20 finishes. More importantly, he finished T2 at the Open Championship in July and then started this season with top-10 finishes at three signature events, proving he’s truly back to being a competitive player. He has a mixed track record at Augusta, consistently competing during his prime but struggling in his last three appearances. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
T35
Players
T36
API
9
Genesis
6
Pebble
CUT
Farmers
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T2 (2011)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
36-40
Australia
PGA Tour
Past majors winners
Brooks Koepka
LIV
United States
Age:
33
No LIV golfer has thrived in the majors as much as Koepka has, between his 2023 PGA win and a T2 finish at last year’s Masters. It was Koepka’s second runner-up finish at Augusta, but the green jacket remains elusive for the five-time major champion. Healthy and still 33 years old, he has time. But why not now? A sixth major would tie him 12th all-time, with Lee Trevino, Nick Faldo and Phil Mickelson.
When Koepka wins a major, he traditionally has played well the week before. Which makes his T45 at LIV Miami concerning. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
T45
Miami
28
Hong Kong
T12
Jeddah
T12
Vegas
T5
Mayakoba
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T2 ('23, '19)
Best previous major finish
5 wins
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
LIV
Past majors winners
Cameron Smith
LIV
Australia
Age:
30
Cameron Smith might not be at the level he was starting to reach when he won the epic 2022 Open Championship, but he’s also become one of the better players in the world on a big stage. He won a Sunday duel to take the 2022 Players Championship. Then the Open. He’s finished top 5 at the Masters three times with four top-10s. And right when people were doubting his game last summer, he went T9 and 4 at the PGA Championship and U.S. Open, respectively. He’s often considered the best short game player in the world, and this week will be a fascinating test for where he’s at. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
WD
Miami
T2
Hong Kong
T41
Jeddah
T15
Vegas
T8
Mayakoba
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T2 (2020)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
30-35
Australia
LIV
Past majors winners
Past major winners
Lucas Glover
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
44
Glover was the story of the end of last golf season, going from the yips with his putter to switching to a broomstick and winning back-to-back tournaments in August. Because the rest of his game has been consistent for 20 years, the question was whether the putter change would mean Glover stayed near the top of golf. He’s making cuts most weeks and playing fine, but he has just one top-20 finish this year. Safe to say the jury is still out. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
11
Valspar
MC
Players
T30
API
T35
Cognizant
T35
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T20 (2007)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
40+
United States
PGA Tour
Past major winners
Keegan Bradley
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
37
The 37-year-old Vermont native had a hot season in 2023, adding two PGA Tour victories to his resume of 12 professional wins. But Bradley hasn’t been particularly consistent since his T2 finish at January’s Sony Open. It will be difficult for him to find form at Augusta National, where he hasn’t managed to crack the top 20 in seven starts. However, the former major winner can certainly perform on the game’s biggest stages, and he boasts an accurate approach game. That strength will always come in handy at Augusta, which is widely known as a second shot golf course. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Valspar
MC
Players
T36
API
MC
Genesis
T11
Pebble
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T22 (2015)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
36-40
United States
PGA Tour
Past majors winners
Justin Rose
PGA Tour
England
Age:
43
The Englishman played his first Masters in 2003 and has since posted eight top-12 finishes in 18 finishes. Rose’s Augusta record cannot be ignored, but his form as of late has been subpar for the European Ryder Cup team member’s standards. He tied for 11th at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he won last year. But otherwise, Rose hasn’t cracked the top 40 on the PGA Tour this season and has missed his last two cuts. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Players
MC
API
T64
Cognizant
T11
Pebble
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
2 (2017)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
40+
England
PGA Tour
Past majors winners
Gary Woodland
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
39
Gary Woodland is one of the feel-good stories in golf. Last August, Woodland was diagnosed with a brain lesion. He underwent brain surgery in September.
Seven months later, Woodland is teeing it up at the Masters. In eight PGA Tour events played in 2024, he has one top-25 finish (T21 at the Houston Open) and five missed cuts.
Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, had his best finish at Augusta during the 2023 Masters when he finished T14. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
T21
Houston
MC
Valspar
72
Players
MC
Cognizant
T39
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T14 (2023)
Best previous major finish
1 win
Strokes Gained
36-40
United States
PGA Tour
Past majors winners
Seeking first major
Xander Schauffele
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
30
Xander Schauffele may have existed for years in the “Wake us when he actually contends in a major” category, but we’re at least reasonably optimistic about his chances in 2024, starting with this Masters. Schauffele is trending as the second-best player in the world after Scottie Scheffler, with a litany of top finishes in signature events so far this PGA Tour season. Every part of his game is working after the switch to swing coach Chris Como. The only reason to think Schauffele, 30 and making his seventh Masters start, can’t contend this year is his track record. Which we get, but we’re willing to believe. We think. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
T5
Valspar
T2
Players
T25
API
T4
Genesis
T54
Pebble
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T2 (2019)
Best previous major finish
T2 (Twice)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Viktor Hovland
PGA Tour
Norway
Age:
26
At the end of last season, Viktor Hovland was playing like the best golfer in the world. He won the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship in back-to-back weeks, capturing the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Hovland went 3-1-1 at the Ryder Cup en route to Europe’s rout of the U.S. He also won the Memorial Tournament last June.
The next item for Hovland to check off …winning a major. No easy feat. But Hovland’s put himself in position the last couple of years. In 2023, he had two top-10 finishes, including runner-up at the 2023 PGA Championship, falling to Brooks Koepka. Hovland’s other top 10 was T7 at last year’s Masters.
Hovland is searching for his first win in 2024. While his strokes gained off the tee are solid (21st on tour), his strokes green approaching the green (105th) and around the green (183rd) are in the negatives. His chipping around the slopey Augusta greens will need to be strong if he wants to win his first major. — Lukas Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
T62
Players
T36
API
T19
Genesis
T58
Pebble
T22
Sentry
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T7 (2023)
Best previous major finish
T2 (PGA, 2023)
Strokes Gained
25-29
Norway
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Ludvig Aberg
PGA Tour
Sweden
Age:
24
The most exciting first-timer in the field, Åberg turned pro last June, immediately lived in the top 20 at PGA Tour events, won a Ryder Cup with Team Europe and became No. 9 in the world all before he played a single major. He was the first golfer to play a Ryder Cup before a major, making him the most fascinating player to predict this week. He is week in, week out already playing among the best and is one of the best drivers on tour, but we simply haven’t seen him in many high-stakes, high-pressure situations. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
T14
Texas
8
Players
T25
API
T19
Genesis
2
Pebble
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
N/A
Strokes Gained
20-24
Sweden
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Patrick Cantlay
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
32
Perhaps the top player with the most to prove this week, Cantlay has consistently been a top-10 golfer for the last six years but hasn’t had the major championship resumé to match. It’s not so much that he doesn’t step up in clutch situations — which he’s actually great in (Ryder Cup, FedEx Cup Playoffs) — as much as he doesn’t put himself in the mix at majors. The 2023 campaign was a step forward going T14, T9 and T14 in the first three, but it hasn’t truly felt like Cantlay was in the running to win one since 2019. Still, he’s a well-balanced, all-around elite golfer who should fair well. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
T68
Players
T36
API
T4
Genesis
T11
Pebble Beach
T56
Farmers
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T9 (2019)
Best previous major finish
T3 (PGA, 2019)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Joaquin Niemann
LIV
Chile
Age:
25
One of the most interesting players right now, Niemann is a new study in the LIV golf era. He’s arguably the first young player to become a star while playing at LIV and not gaining OWGR points. Niemann was already one of the more exciting young talents when he ran away with the Genesis Invitational at 23 before going to LIV. He’s now on fire. He traveled across the world to gain a Masters invite by winning the Australian Open, finishing fourth at the Dubai Desert Classic and third in Oman. Meanwhile, he won two of the first three LIV events this spring. He’s an elite golfer, and at 25 he wants to prove himself at majors. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
T9
Miami
T4
Hong Kong
Win
Jeddah
T30
Las Vegas
1
Mayakoba
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T16 (2023)
Best previous major finish
T16 (Masters, 2023)
Strokes Gained
25-29
Chile
LIV
Seeking first major
Max Homa
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
33
Max Homa will be making his fifth Masters appearance this year. His best finish at Augusta was T43 last year.
Homa, 33, has six PGA Tour victories. He’s won at some signature golf courses including Quail Hollow twice (Wells Fargo Championship), Riviera (Genesis Invitational) and Torrey Pines (Farmers Insurance Open). He memorably converted a clutch putt to beat Matthew Fitzpatrick at last year’s Ryder Cup, keeping Team USA’s hopes alive.
Now, Homa is hoping his PGA Tour success can translate over to the majors. He only has one top 10 at a major in his career, the 2023 Open Championship. The 11th-ranked golfer in the world hasn’t won yet in 2024 and has just one top 10. Homa is hoping the luck turns around at the first major of the year. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
T25
Texas
T64
Players
T8
API
T16
Genesis
MC
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T43 (2023
Best previous major finish
T10 (Open, 2023)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Tyrrell Hatton
LIV
England
Age:
32
“Unfair at times.” “I never do well here.” That’s how Hatton has described Augusta National and the Masters, and it is entirely fitting of Hatton’s, shall we say, mercurial personality that he’d light up the golf course and event that everyone else reveres. His best result at the Masters remains a T18 in 2021. He comes in off a top-five finish at LIV Miami. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
T4
Miami
T21
Hong Kong
T15
Jeddah
T12
Vegas
T8
Mayakoba
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T18 (2021)
Best previous major finish
T5 (Open, 2016)
Strokes Gained
30-35
England
LIV
Seeking first major
Sahith Theegala
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
26
Theegala defied the belief that first-time Masters participants cannot have success, finishing solo ninth a year ago. He has four top-10 finishes so far in 2024, two of them at The Players and Arnold Palmer Invitational. That’s despite a driver that still lacks accuracy off the tee. That can be a problem at Augusta National, where off the fairway can be deep in the pinestraw and leave you laying up, playing for bogey. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
T28
Houston
T9
Players
T6
API
T37
Genesis
5
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
9 (2023)
Best previous major finish
9 (Masters, 2023)
Strokes Gained
25-29
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Sam Burns
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
27
Burns, 27, has spent the last three years seemingly on the cusp. Five PGA Tour wins in three seasons deserves a tip of the cap and your respect, and you were very right at any point from 2021-23 to wonder when Burns would move up a tier in the pro golf ranks and become a star.
But Burns’ next top 10 finish in a major will be his first — a T20 at the 2022 PGA Championship remains the Louisiana native’s best finish in one of the four biggest events of the year. He made the 2022 Presidents Cup and 2023 Ryder Cup teams, but struggled in both events.
His stumble at The American Express doesn’t help, either. We’re waiting to see if Burns is that guy, or just a guy. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Valspar
T45
Players
T30
API
T10
Genesis
T3
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T29 (2023)
Best previous major finish
T20 (PGA, 2022)
Strokes Gained
25-29
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Russell Henley
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
34
Henley has been a steady player on tour for 11 years, always among the better approach players in the game, but the 34-year-old had a breakout comeback year in 2023 with a fall win and 14 top-20 finishes. That got him into the Tour Championship for the first time in six years. Another thing to follow: He’s a very good Augusta player, finishing top 30 in each of his last six Masters starts and an impressive T4 in 2023. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Players
T4
API
T41
Cognizant
T24
Genesis
T58
Pebble
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T4 (2023)
Best previous major finish
T4 (Masters, 2023)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Tommy Fleetwood
PGA Tour
England
Age:
33
Tommy Fleetwood feels like the sort of player that should excel at the Masters, a shot-shaper that, given all his Ryder Cup success, clearly does not back away from the moment. But Fleetwood has had more success at the three other major championships than he has at Augusta, not that he’s won any of those. His best career pro win is probably the Dubai Invitational earlier this year. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
T7
Texas
T35
Players
MC
API
T10
Genesis
T31
Pebble
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T14 (2022)
Best previous major finish
2 ('18 US Open, '19 Open)
Strokes Gained
30-35
England
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Cameron Young
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
26
Young’s close call at the Valspar last month, sharing the lead on the back nine on Sunday, was the latest of its kind for the 26-year-old, considered a rising star on the PGA Tour but also still looking for his first tour win. Can it come in this major? He did finish T7 last year, his second trip to Augusta. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
2
Valspar
T54
Players
T36
API
T4
Cognizant
T16
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T7 (2023)
Best previous major finish
2 (Open, 2022)
Strokes Gained
25-29
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Tony Finau
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
34
It’s been a difficult year for Tony Finau. When he won the Mexico Open 12 months ago, he was a top-10 player in the world. Since? His putting has fallen off a cliff, he didn’t get picked for the Ryder Cup and he’s fallen to No. 30. Combine that with no top-25 finishes in his last eight major appearances, and optimism about his career isn’t what it used to be. The good news is he’s coming off a T2 in Houston, and his ball striking remains strong. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Valspar
T45
Players
T13
Mexico
T19
Genesis
T47
Pebble
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T5 (2019)
Best previous major finish
3 (Open, 2019)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Corey Conners
PGA Tour
Canada
Age:
32
Corey Conners is one of four Canadians in the Masters field. His best finish at Augusta was T6 in 2022.
It’s been a slow start to the season for Conners, who hasn’t recorded a top 10 yet. But Augusta rewards ball strikers and Conners is one of the best at that, evidenced by his strokes gained off the tee (15th on tour) and approaching the green (sixth).
The big question for Conners is the putting. Can he putt well enough on the slopey, fast Augusta greens? — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
T25
Texas
T13
Players
T18
API
T41
Cognizant
T24
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T6 (2022)
Best previous major finish
T6 (Masters, 2022)
Strokes Gained
30-35
Canada
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Si Woo Kim
PGA Tour
South Korea
Age:
28
Don’t look now, but Si Woo Kim is quietly playing some of the best golf of his career. His strokes gained off the tee and in approach are double his normal averages, and it’s led to a season in which he’s made every cut, and he’s finished top-25 in six of nine events. The putting is still an issue, and he’s not quite in the mix to win events, but don’t ignore Kim’s great form. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
T17
Houston
T6
Players
T30
API
T44
Genesis
T12
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T12 (2021)
Best previous major finish
T12 (Masters, 2021)
Strokes Gained
25-29
South Korea
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Harris English
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
34
Remember when Harris English was on the United States Ryder Cup team in 2021? Yeah, that happened. He was pretty good that week too. But English has struggled to reach the heights of his play that summer ever since, though he has some flashes of it (T8 at the 2023 U.S. Open, 7th at Genesis Invitational). — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Texas
T19
Players
T21
API
7
Genesis
T17
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T21 (2021)
Best previous major finish
3 (US Open, 2021)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Byeong Hun An
PGA Tour
South Korea
Age:
32
An earned his way back onto the PGA Tour for 2022-23 and made the most of it — four top 10s and a runner-up finish (Wyndham Championship) gave him a renewed opportunity in the majors. He started off 2024 strong with a fourth-place finish at The Sentry and losing in a playoff at the Sony Open. There was also a top-10 finish at another signature event, the Arnold Palmer Invitational. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Valspar
MC
Players
T8
API
T21
Cognizant
T16
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T33 (2017)
Best previous major finish
T16 (US Open, 2019)
Strokes Gained
30-35
South Korea
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Eric Cole
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
35
Eric Cole makes cuts. As a 34-year-old rookie in 2023 he made 27 cuts in 37 starts on the PGA Tour, with a pair of runner-up finishes. So far in 2024 he has made eight cuts in 12 events, including a pair of top 20s in signature events. He is making his Masters debut. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Texas
T33
Valspar
MC
Players
T21
API
MC
Cognizant
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
T15 (PGA, 2023)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
J.T. Poston
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
30
Poston is a consistent player, and has been for the majority of his professional career, but hasn’t necessarily broken through to becoming a major championship contender. The two-time PGA Tour winner started the season with two impressive weeks — a T5 finish at The Sentry and solo sixth at the Sony Open — and followed with a top-10 at Riviera. But Poston is one of the shorter hitters on Tour and just hasn’t proven himself on the game’s biggest stages just yet. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
T45
Players
55
API
66
Cognizant
T10
Genesis
MC
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T34 (2023)
Best previous major finish
T34 (Masters, 2023)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Stephan Jaeger
PGA Tour
Germany
Age:
34
Long considered a AAAA player on the PGA Tour — too good for the Korn Ferry Tour but not quite strong enough to last on the PGA Tour — Jaeger went a long way to remove that description two weeks ago, with a win at the Houston Open. The 34-year-old German held off Scottie Scheffler to do so, no small feat. Jaeger has added length off the tee, which has given him more of a chance to stick around on tour. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
1
Houston
MC
Players
T44
API
MC
Cognizant
T3
Mexico
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
T34 (US Open, 2020)
Strokes Gained
30-35
Germany
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Tom Kim
PGA Tour
South Korea
Age:
21
The 21-year-old three-time PGA Tour winner hasn’t exactly been putting up the results lately. His best finish this season is a tie for 17th and he missed the cut badly at last weekend’s PGA Tour event in San Antonio. But here’s one note that could give Kim an edge: He recently added veteran caddie Paul Tesori to his bag, who has looped in the Masters 21 times and will be an excellent sounding board during Kim’s second Masters. Kim also has a solid major record with three top-16 finishes in just eight starts. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Texas
WD
Players
T52
API
T62
Cognizant
T24
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T16 (2023)
Best previous major finish
T2 (Open, 2023)
Strokes Gained
20-24
South Korea
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Denny McCarthy
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
31
Denny McCarhty was already in the Masters before the Texas Open, but his thrilling play on the back nine, shooting a 28 with eight birdies to force a playoff with Akshay Bhatia, is the good stuff. It’s by far his best result of 2024, but what a momentum swing going into the first major. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
2
Texas
T35
Players
T48
API
MC
Cognizant
T39
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
TU (U.S. Open, 2022)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Adam Hadwin
PGA Tour
Canada
Age:
36
Fun facts: Adam Hadwin is more than the guy who got body-slammed on the 18th green at the Canadian Open last summer and whose finally routinely dunks on him via X. We swear!
Hadwin, who is inside the top 50 in the OWGR, is making his third Masters appearance, but first since 2020, is a very good putter whose overall game does enough to keep him in most tournaments. The best result so far this season is a T4 at the Genesis Invitational. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
T5
Valspar
MC
Players
T52
API
T4
Genesis
MC
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T24 (2018)
Best previous major finish
T7 (US Open, 2022)
Strokes Gained
36-40
Canada
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Chris Kirk
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
38
One of the PGA Tour’s many Georgia guys, Kirk started 2024 with a bang, winning The Sentry with a 29-under performance. The 38-year-old has only four Masters starts to his name, but had a top-25 finish twice. The issue for Kirk is his putting game — Augusta demands that out of you, and he’s losing strokes on the green. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
T26
Players
T44
API
T28
Cognizant
MC
Genesis
T26
Pebble
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T20 (2014)
Best previous major finish
T5 (PGA, 2022)
Strokes Gained
36-40
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Matthieu Pavon
PGA Tour
France
Age:
31
One of the stories of the young season, the 31-year-old PGA Tour rookie Pavon broke out with a win at Torrey Pines to announce himself. It didn’t hurt that he followed it up with a third-place finish at the elevated Pebble Pro-Am. The Frenchman is having a career year in ball striking. Can he keep it going at his first Masters? — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
5
Singapore
MC
Players
T52
API
T28
Cognizant
3
Pebble
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
T25 (US Open, 2018)
Strokes Gained
30-35
France
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Emiliano Grillo
PGA Tour
Argentina
Age:
31
The Argentine has been one of the more consistent players on Tour this season, and it all comes down to his improved statistics on and around the greens. The two-time PGA Tour winner has made nine consecutive cuts in 2024, with two top-10 finishes, including a T8 at Bay Hill. Grillo has always been a world-class ball striker, but he has a sparse major championship record in recent years — this will be his first Masters since 2019. If the putter holds up, Grillo can hang in there at Augusta. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
T54
Players
T8
API
T33
Mexico
T44
Genesis
T22
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T17 (2016)
Best previous major finish
T6 (Open, 2023)
Strokes Gained
30-35
Argentina
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Nick Taylor
PGA Tour
Canada
Age:
35
Taylor might not have much major championship experience to lean on, but the Canadian has proven that he can handle pressure in the moments that matter the most. Last season Taylor headlined a highly successful season with a historic win on home soil at the RBC Canadian Open in a sudden-death playoff. Then Taylor won again this year — this time just miles away from his current residency in Scottsdale — at the Phoenix Open, again in a playoff. Taylor is ranked inside the top 15 on the PGA Tour in both strokes gained putting and approach to the green, and those strengths should serve him well on the revered Allister Mackenzie routing. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
T64
Valspar
T26
Players
T12
API
T39
Genesis
1
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T29 (2020)
Best previous major finish
T29 (Masters, 2020)
Strokes Gained
30-35
Canada
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Min Woo Lee
PGA Tour
Australia
Age:
25
Min Woo Lee is one of the more colorful personalities in professional golf. The 25-year-old is trying to become the second Australian golfer to win the Masters, joining Adam Scott (2013).
Lee is playing in his third Masters. Last year, he missed the cut. During his inaugural Masters appearance in 2022, Lee finished T14.
Lee’s last win came at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship last November. His best finish at a major was T5 at last year’s U.S. Open. Fans hope that Lee will captivate the highlight reels, as he did at this year’s Players Championship when he converted a 60-foot birdie putt on the island green 17th hole. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Valspar
T54
Players
T44
API
T2
Cognizant
T71
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T14 (2022)
Best previous major finish
T5 (US Open, 2023)
Strokes Gained
25-29
Australia
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Taylor Moore
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
30
Taylor Moore is playing in his second Masters. His first appearance was last year, when he finished T39.
Moore, 30, won his first PGA Tour event at the 2023 Valspar Championship. His lone top 10 in 2024 was finishing co-runner-up at the Houston Open. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
T2
Houston
T12
Valspar
T31
Players
T48
API
T31
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T39 (2023)
Best previous major finish
T39 (Masters, 2023)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Sungjae Im
PGA Tour
South Korea
Age:
26
Sungjae has been one of the more consistent players on tour for five years now despite still only being 26, and Augusta has turned out to be the one major he seems to thrive at. In four Masters appearances, he’s finished T2, MC, T8 and T16. It’s just worth keeping an eye on his form this year. He has only one top-20 finish in his last seven starts and missed two cuts. That’s very uncommon for Im as his ball striking is off to a tough start. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Valspar
T31
Players
T18
API
MC
Cognizant
T44
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T2 (2020)
Best previous major finish
T2 (Masters, 2020)
Strokes Gained
25-29
South Korea
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Erik van Rooyen
PGA Tour
South Africa
Age:
34
The South African and University of Minnesota product has yet to make a cut at Augusta National in three appearances, but his game is trending in the right direction. Van Rooyen won his second PGA Tour event during the fall swing at the World Wide Technology Championship, dedicating the victory to his former college teammate who soon after lost his battle with stage 4 cancer. Van Rooyen has posted impressive results since then, with all-around solid strokes gained numbers to back up his chances at Augusta. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Texas
MC
Players
T25
API
T2
Cognizant
T8
Mexico
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
T8 (PGA, 2019)
Strokes Gained
30-35
South Africa
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Will Zalatoris
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
27
Will Zalatoris made his Masters debut in 2021, where he finished in solo second place. Since then, Zalatoris has three runner-up finishes at major championships.
The 27-year-old is on the path to getting back to the form that saw him in the mix of several majors. Zalatoris underwent back surgery in April 2023, forcing him to miss the rest of the PGA Tour season.
Zalatoris had a solid start to the 2024 season, with two top 10s, which included a co-runner-up at the Genesis Invitational. His play around the greens is one of the best in the world, evidenced by his 0.720 strokes gained: around the green (ninth).
If there’s one cause for concern, it’s Zalatoris’ putting. His strokes gained putting is -0.401 in 2024, ranked 146th in the world. But given Zalatoris’ success at the Masters — two top 10s in two appearances at Augusta — he should be ready to contend once again. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
T74
Houston
MC
Players
T4
API
T2
Genesis
T13
Farmers
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
2 (2021)
Best previous major finish
2 (3 times)
Strokes Gained
25-29
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Adrian Meronk
LIV
Poland
Age:
30
The Polish pro recently jumped over to LIV Golf and boasts an impressive resume of wins. Meronk has won a trifecta of national opens, including the Irish Open, Australian Open and Italian Open — three prestigious titles in professional golf. His game hasn’t shone in his major appearances thus far, his best start being last summer’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, but he definitely has the game to be in the mix at Augusta. The former DP World Tour player is coming off three top-15s in a row on LIV. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
17
Miami
T15
Hong Kong
T6
Jeddah
T9
Vegas
47
Mayakoba
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
MC (2023)
Best previous major finish
T23 (Open, 2021)
Strokes Gained
30-35
Poland
LIV
Seeking first major
Adam Schenk
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
32
The 32-year-old Masters first-timer can thank his stunningly consistent 2022-2023 run for the invitation to Augusta National: Schenk had six top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour last season. His 2024 hasn’t been quite as strong, though, and his strokes gained approach stats are by far his weakest category. An average iron player with no prior Augusta experience, Schenk could be in for a challenge this week. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
T5
Texas
T33
Valspar
T19
Players
MC
API
T56
Cognizant
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
T24 (US Open, 2022)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Nicolai Hojgaard
PGA Tour
Denmark
Age:
23
Nicolai Højgaard is playing in his first Masters. He has three DP World Tour victories, the most recent being the DP World Tour Championship last November.
Højgaard went 0-2-1 in his first Ryder Cup for Team Europe last year. The 23-year-old finished second at the Farmers Insurance Open, his first runner-up finish on the PGA Tour. Højgaard is trying to become the first since Fuzzy Zoeller (1979) to win the Masters on their first attempt. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
T75
Texas
MC
Players
MC
API
T52
Mexico
T39
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
T23 (Open, 2023)
Strokes Gained
20-24
Denmark
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Sepp Straka
PGA Tour
Austria
Age:
30
Straka had a bit of a come-up in 2023, with a T2 at the Open Championship, T7 at the PGA and a spot on the winning Euro Ryder Cup team. The results so far this year have been uneven, though a top-20 finish at The Players Championship was notable. Straka’s weakness around the greens is negative at this course in particular — he’ll have to hit a lot of greens to make the weekend. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Valspar
T16
Players
T57
API
MC
Cognizant
MC
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T30 (2022)
Best previous major finish
T2 (Open, 2023)
Strokes Gained
30-35
Austria
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Austin Eckroat
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
25
An up-and-coming talent on the PGA Tour, the Oklahoma State product snagged his first Tour win in March at the Cognizant Classic, solidifying his Masters invitation and future status. Eckroat has one strong major championship finish on his resume already, despite only having played in two. The 25-year-old came in a tie for 10th at the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club by shooting a front-nine 29 in his closing round. This will be his first Augusta National appearance. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
T33
Texas
T45
Players
T36
API
1
Cognizant
T38
Mexico
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
T10 (US Open, 2023)
Strokes Gained
25-29
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Kurt Kitayama
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
31
There was a stretch last spring when it appeared Kitayama was becoming a dude. He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, finished fifth at the Match Play and fourth at the PGA Championship. He was temporarily a top-20 player in OWGR. The rest of his year took a big step back, but 2024 has him back in good tee-to-green form with some promising play. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
T36
Houston
T19
Players
MC
API
T39
Genesis
T8
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
MC (2023)
Best previous major finish
T4 (PGA, 2023)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Akshay Bhatia
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
22
Bhatia claimed the final spot in this year's Masters field on Sunday, beating Denny McCarthy in a playoff at the Texas Open for the automatic qualifying spot. It was dramatic too — Bhatia complained his shoulder popped out of place during a celebration on the 18th hole. The 22-year-old gave up college golf to pursue his PGA Tour card coming straight out of high school and it has not always been easy, but he's made a huge jump in the last year or so. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
1
Texas
T11
Houston
T17
Valspar
MC
Players
MC
Cognizant
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
T57 (US Open, 2021)
Strokes Gained
20-24
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Ryo Hisatsune
PGA Tour
Japan
Age:
21
The Japanese pro received one of three special invitations to the Masters this year due to his impressive run as DP World Tour Rookie of the Year. At just 21 years old, Hisatune has four worldwide wins and has fared well on the PGA Tour this season — he earned his card through the top-10 DP World Tour standings after the season. The 2024 Masters will be his first major appearance. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
T78
Texas
T33
Valspar
MC
Players
T18
Puerto Rico
MC
Cognizant
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
N/A
Strokes Gained
20-24
Japan
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Luke List
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
39
Luke List last played in the Masters in 2022. That was his second appearance, with his first happening in 2005.
List earned his spot in the Masters field with his win at the 2023 Sanderson Farms Championship after draining a 40-foot birdie putt in a playoff. He finished T2 at the Genesis Invitational. List hopes he can translate some of that success at Riviera to Augusta. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Houston
MC
Players
56
API
MC
Cognizant
T2
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T33 (2005)
Best previous major finish
6 (PGA, 2019)
Strokes Gained
36-40
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Thorbjorn Olesen
DP World Tour
Denmark
Age:
34
Thorbjørn Olesen hasn’t played the Masters since 2019, when he finished T21. His best finish at Augusta was T6 in 2013.
Olesen, 34, won his eighth DP World Tour title in January at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship. In four PGA Tour events he’s played in 2024, he’s missed three cuts. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
T14
Texas
T45
Players
MC
API
T19
Genesis
T14
Pebble
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T6 (2013)
Best previous major finish
T6 (Masters, 2013)
Strokes Gained
30-35
Denmark
DP World Tour
Seeking first major
Lee Hodges
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
28
A wire-to-wire win at the 3M Open last summer brought Lee Hodges to the first Masters of his career. The 28-year-old has struggled so far this season, currently outside of the top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Texas
T26
Valspar
T35
Players
T12
API
MC
Cognizant
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
T55 (PGA, 2023)
Strokes Gained
25-29
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Jake Knapp
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
29
The mullet-bearing Californian is known for his buttery smooth golf swing. But Knapp’s relaxed tempo produces one of the fastest ball speeds on the PGA Tour. Although the rookie lacks major championship experience (this week will only be his second major start and first since 2015), don’t count Knapp out among the group of Masters first-timers. He’s recorded three top-three finishes in just nine starts on the PGA Tour this season, including a win at the Mexico Open. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Houston
T45
Players
T57
API
T4
Cognizant
1
Mexico
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
MC (US Open, 2015)
Strokes Gained
25-29
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Cameron Davis
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
29
Cam Davis has one PGA Tour victory, at the 2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic. His only Masters appearance occurred in 2022, when he finished 46th.
In eight events played in 2024, Davis has six cuts made and three top-25 finishes. His best finish at a major was T4 at last year’s PGA Championship. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
T21
Houston
MC
Players
T18
API
49
Genesis
T20
Pebble
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
46 (2022)
Best previous major finish
T4 (PGA, 2023)
Strokes Gained
25-29
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Rickie Fowler
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
35
The last time Rickie Fowler teed it up at Augusta was during the November Masters in 2020. Fowler played well at the Masters in the past — he has three top-10 finishes including a runner-up result in 2018.
Last year, Fowler ascended back to the forefront of the pro golf scene, winning at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, his first victory since the 2019 Phoenix Open. He was back in the final group on Sunday at the U.S. Open before finishing T5 and made the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Fowler is currently trying to rekindle that magic. In 2024, he’s played eight events, making six cuts but zero finishes in the top 25. His negative strokes gained off the tee (171st on tour), approaching the green (146th) and putting (120th) are concerning at a golf course like Augusta. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Texas
T68
Players
T36
API
T41
Cognizant
T35
Genesis
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
2 (2018)
Best previous major finish
2 (3 times)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Peter Malnati
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
36
What a story. Malnati was starting to get flack for earning sponsor’s exemptions to signature events because of his role on the PGA Tour policy board (he was outside the world top 200). What did Malnati do? He finished T14 at Pebble, made the cut at the Players and won at Valspar to earn himself a Masters invite. He broke down in tears after the win, the second of his career and earning his first Masters invite at 36. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
T36
Houston
Win
Valspar
T68
Players
T9
Cognizant
MC
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
MC (3 times)
Strokes Gained
36-40
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Ryan Fox
PGA Tour
New Zealand
Age:
37
Ryan Fox will be teeing it up in the second Masters of his career. Last year, Fox finished T26.
Fox, 37, is predominantly a DP World Tour golfer. He has four DP World Tour wins, his latest being the BMW PGA Championship in September 2023. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Texas
T78
Houston
MC
Valspar
MC
Players
T35
Cognizant
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T26 (2023)
Best previous major finish
T16 (Open, 2019)
Strokes Gained
36-40
New Zealand
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Nick Dunlap
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
20
Dunlap is one of the more exciting young prospects in golf, and his win as an amateur at the American Express in January skyrocketed his career and gave him a PGA Tour card at age 20. While it was a no-brainer business decision to turn pro, it also thrust Dunlap into a tough situation earlier than most. The reigning U.S. Amateur champ has struggled since that win (understandably), but rounds like his 63 two weeks ago in Houston remind he has the goods. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Players
T48
API
T53
Cognizant
MC
Genesis
80
Pebble
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
MC (US Open, 2023)
Strokes Gained
20-24
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Grayson Murray
PGA Tour
United States
Age:
30
Murray won the second week of 2024, beating the field at the Sony Open for his second career PGA Tour win. It was a strong personal moment for Murray, who had to go down to the Korn Ferry Tour amid personal demons. But he has not been able to continue that momentum, with four missed cuts and one top 25 finish in the seven starts since Hawaii. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Texas
T42
Players
T25
API
MC
Genesis
MC
Phoenix
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
T22 (PGA, 2017)
Strokes Gained
30-35
United States
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Christo Lamprecht
Amateur
South Africa
Age:
23
Christo Lamprecht is making his Masters debut. This is Lamprecht’s second major appearance, his first happening last year at the Open Championship where he finished T74 (the low amateur).
Lamprecht, 23, rose to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking last September. His notable victory last year came at the Amateur Championship at Hillside Golf Club in England.
Lamprecht will be among the amateurs competing for the Silver Cup (the trophy presented to the low-scoring amateur to make the cut at the Masters) and a chance to be in Butler Cabin for the green jacket presentation. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
11
NCAA
16
NCAA
9
NCAA
2
NCAA
14
NCAA
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
T74 (Open, 2023)
20-24
South Africa
Amateur
Seeking first major
Camilo Villegas
PGA Tour
Colombia
Age:
42
Villegas is a great story, refocusing himself on golf amid the tragedy of losing his young daughter in 2020 and working his way back to the PGA Tour. In November that journey culminated in the Bermuda Championship win, his first tour win since 2014. It was an emotional, uplifting sight, one that those who witnessed it will not forget. It also got him back in the Masters, his first major start since 2015. — Kellenberger
Performance last 5 tournaments
MC
Texas
WD
Valspar
MC
Players
MC
Puerto Rico
T67
Cognizant
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T13 (2009)
Best previous major finish
T4 (PGA, 2008)
Strokes Gained
40+
Colombia
PGA Tour
Seeking first major
Neal Shipley
Amateur
United States
Age:
23
Neal Shipley is currently a graduate student on the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s golf team. He will be one of the amateurs chasing the Silver Cup at the Masters.
Shipley was a runner-up at last year’s U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills. He finished fourth in the 2023 Elite Amateur Series. — Weese
Performance last 5 tournaments
57
NCAA
4
NCAA
45
NCAA
11
NCAA
1
NCAA
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
N/A
20-24
United States
Amateur
Seeking first major
Stewart Hagestad
Amateur
United States
Age:
32
The 32-year-old amateur from California is something of a known commodity at this point, making the cut at the 2017 Masters and earning low amateur status. He’s won the U.S. Mid-Am Championship three times now, with his 2023 win getting him back into the Masters field. He’s also played on four winning U.S. Walker Cup teams. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
5
Amateur
T32
Amateur
T37
Amateur
T9
Amateur
T65
U.S. Amateur
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
T36 (2017)
Best previous major finish
T36 (Masters, 2017)
30-35
United States
Amateur
Seeking first major
Jasper Stubbs
Amateur
Australia
Age:
22
Jasper Stubbs has never ranked higher than the No. 259 amateur in the world, yet the 22-year-old Australian won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne last October in a playoff to get himself into the Masters and the Open Championship. — Miller
Performance last 5 tournaments
T69
New Zealand
MC
Australia
MC
Australia
MC
Australia
T32
Australian Amateur
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
N/A
20-24
Australia
Amateur
Seeking first major
Santiago de la Fuente
Amateur
Mexico
Age:
22
One of five amateurs teeing it up at the Masters this year, de la Fuente won the Latin American Amateur Championship in Panama to earn his spot in the field at Augusta National. A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, Fuente is currently a senior at the University of Houston and is ranked 27th in the world amateur rankings. He earned low amateur honors at the PGA Tour’s Mexico Open in February, finishing T46. — Herzig
Performance last 5 tournaments
13
NCAA
3
NCAA
14
NCAA
46
PGA Tour
5
NCAA
Past Performance
Best previous Master finish
N/A
Best previous major finish
N/A
20-24
Mexico
Amateur
Seeking first major
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb; Photos: James Gilbert, Leslie Plaza, David Cannon / Getty Images)