The 90th Masters Tournament tees off at Augusta National on Thursday April 9, and for the first time in a decade, it features a defending champion walking onto the first tee with a genuine chance of back-to-back victories. Rory McIlroy, who completed the career Grand Slam with an emotional playoff win over Justin Rose in 2025, returns as the man everyone will be watching — but World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the bookmakers’ choice, and for good reason.
Here’s our pre-tournament breakdown of the contenders, course changes for 2026, and what amateurs can take away from watching the world’s best navigate Augusta.
Course Changes for 2026
Augusta National has made two notable changes for the 90th edition. The 17th hole has been shortened by 12 yards — a subtle adjustment that may slightly increase birdie opportunities on a hole that has traditionally played as one of the easier approaches on the back nine. The club has also opened a new Player Services Building, addressing longstanding requests from players and caddies for improved locker room and preparation facilities.
The course itself remains essentially the same championship test described in our Augusta National hole-by-hole guide — fast greens, demanding pin positions in the final two rounds, and the perpetual threat of Amen Corner. Weather forecasts for the week suggest cool, relatively calm conditions, which typically produces lower scoring and more birdies than when the wind picks up.
The Contenders
Scottie Scheffler — World No. 1, Pre-Tournament Favourite
Scheffler won the Masters in 2022 and 2024, missed the cut in 2023, and finished runner-up in 2025. He has an extraordinary record at Augusta for a player still in his late twenties. His game is built precisely for the course: exceptional iron play that controls distance and trajectory, a reliable short game under pressure, and a mental temperament that appears impervious to Augusta’s psychological demands.
If you want to understand what makes Scheffler’s approach so effective, our breakdown of what amateurs can learn from his swing covers the technical foundations in detail. His setup, sequence, and through-impact position are models of controlled power — a pattern that Augusta’s tight fairways demand.
Rory McIlroy — Defending Champion, Sentimental Favourite
McIlroy’s 2025 victory was one of the most emotionally resonant moments in recent Major history. Coming in his late thirties, completing the career Grand Slam on the most storied course in golf, with a playoff win — it was as cinematic as the sport gets. The question for 2026 is whether that emotional release translates into pressure-free golf or whether defending at Augusta adds a different kind of weight.
McIlroy’s driving remains among the best in the field. His course management has improved markedly in recent years. He is a legitimate contender and would be a popular champion should he win back-to-back — an achievement last achieved by Jack Nicklaus in 1966.
Xander Schauffele — Overlooked and Dangerous
Schauffele has collected two Major victories and continues to be somewhat underrated by the betting market relative to his ability. He is an exceptional ball-striker who performs consistently in the biggest events, and Augusta’s emphasis on iron precision suits his game well. If Scheffler and McIlroy attract the attention, Schauffele is the player who could quietly assemble four rounds of 68–69 and walk away with the green jacket.
Ludvig Åberg — The Next Generation Threat
The Swedish prodigy finished runner-up at the 2024 Masters on just his second competitive round at Augusta, demonstrating a composure and ball-striking quality that suggested a multiple-Major career ahead. Now several years further into his professional development, Åberg arrives at the 2026 Masters with more experience and the technical foundation to seriously challenge. He’s one of the most compelling under-35 stories in the field.
Brooks Koepka — Form Unknown, Pedigree Undeniable
Koepka has won two Masters and continues to be one of the most dangerous Major players in any field he enters, regardless of his form in regular tour events. Augusta suits his patient, power-based game. He’s an impossible player to count out when the Majors come around.
What Amateurs Can Learn From Watching the Masters
The Masters is one of the most instructional tournaments to watch because Augusta’s demands are transparent. Every competitor must manage their game precisely — you’ll see the best players in the world making conservative decisions, choosing to miss in specific places, and leaving putts below the hole rather than above it.
Pay attention to:
- Tee shot placement over distance: Augusta’s fairways punish specific miss zones. The pros often lay back with irons where the temptation to hit driver is strong. This is course management you can apply on any course.
- Green reading on fast, tiered surfaces: Augusta’s greens are among the fastest in professional golf. Watching how the best players read and pace their putting — and where they aim to leave the ball — is directly applicable to how you approach fast greens at your home course.
- Pre-shot routine under pressure: The Augusta galleries are famously quiet and respectful, making it easier to observe each player’s preparation. A consistent routine is one of the most transferable skills in the game.
You can also use Masters week to review your own equipment choices. If you’ve been considering new irons or a driver upgrade, our guide to the best new drivers of 2026 covers the field ahead of the season’s most important week.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 Masters runs April 9–12 at Augusta National, with Scheffler as favourite and McIlroy defending.
- 17th hole shortened by 12 yards — slight birdie opportunity increase, minor course adjustment overall.
- Scheffler’s record at Augusta is exceptional (wins in 2022 and 2024); his iron play and mental game are a perfect match for the course.
- Schauffele and Åberg are the most dangerous under-the-radar challengers.
- Masters week offers the best instructional television in golf — watch course management, putting, and pre-shot routines closely.
