The 90th Masters Tournament begins Thursday, April 9 at Augusta National Golf Club, and this year’s edition features the most compelling and deep contender field in at least a decade. With PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf players all competing in the same major for the first time in years, the question isn’t who might win — it’s how to narrow down a list of realistic contenders that stretches deeper than Augusta’s azalea beds. Here’s our breakdown of who has the best chance of slipping on the green jacket on Sunday evening.
The Clear Favorite: Scottie Scheffler (+500)
There’s a reason Scheffler is the betting favorite at every major he enters: he’s the most consistently dominant player in the world, and Augusta National suits his game almost perfectly. Scheffler’s combination of length off the tee, precision iron play, and an elite short game around firm, fast greens makes him the prototypical Augusta contender.
His two previous Masters victories (2022 and 2024) demonstrated different paths to the green jacket — one wire-to-wire, one from behind — showing the adaptability that separates great players from merely excellent ones. The world number one arrives in Augusta in excellent form, having won twice already in 2026, and his familiarity with the course means he knows exactly where to miss, where to take risks, and where patience is the better strategy.
The knock on Scheffler? He’s been so consistently good that he sometimes lacks the explosive low rounds that can blow a field apart. At Augusta, where weekend charges are legendary, a competitor posting a 63 on moving day could put even Scheffler under uncomfortable pressure.
The Defending Champion: Rory McIlroy (+1200)
Last year’s Masters was the culmination of a career-long quest for McIlroy — the career Grand Slam, completed in the most dramatic fashion possible at the one tournament that had haunted him for over a decade. The question now is whether he can channel that breakthrough into a sustained Augusta run or whether, as has happened to other Grand Slam completers, the psychological release leads to a letdown.
Concerns about McIlroy’s back injury add uncertainty. He hasn’t looked as sharp early in 2026 as he did in the build-up to last year’s triumph, and back issues for a player whose power is generated through aggressive rotational force are always worrying. That said, McIlroy’s track record at Augusta since his 2011 final-round collapse has been remarkably strong — multiple top-10 finishes and now a victory — suggesting that his game is simply well-suited to the course regardless of broader form.
The LIV Factor: DeChambeau and Rahm (+1000)
Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm share the second line of betting at +1000, and both represent the intriguing wildcard of LIV Golf players competing at a major. DeChambeau’s prodigious length is a massive asset at Augusta, where the course’s par-5s are reachable in two and certain par-4s can be overpowered. His improved short game and putting — the weaknesses that historically held him back in majors — make him a more complete contender than ever.
Rahm is arguably the most naturally talented ball-striker in the field. His 2023 Masters victory was a display of controlled aggression perfectly suited to Augusta, and his LIV Golf schedule has allowed him to manage his preparation with more precision than the grinding PGA Tour calendar permits. Whether the reduced competition level of LIV events dulls the competitive edge needed to perform under major championship pressure remains the central question around any LIV contender.
The Dark Horses
Xander Schauffele (+1600) has been knocking on the door at Augusta for years, with his T2 finish in 2023 and T3 in 2024 establishing him as a perennial contender. His recent major breakthrough at the PGA Championship and Open Championship showed he can close when it matters — the final barrier that had prevented him from adding a green jacket to his collection.
Ludvig Aberg (+1600) brings the fearlessness of youth. The 26-year-old Swede’s second-place finish on his Masters debut last year announced him as a future champion, and the question is simply one of timing. His ball-striking is among the best in the world, and Augusta rewards the kind of aggressive, high-trajectory iron play that defines Aberg’s approach.
Collin Morikawa deserves attention as a major championship specialist whose precise iron play and course management are tailor-made for Augusta’s demands. Brooks Koepka, with five major titles and a proven ability to elevate his game at the biggest events, can never be discounted when a green jacket is on the line.
For the first-timers at Augusta, the Masters presents unique challenges that experience normally mitigates — but every year, someone surprises. Keep an eye on players making their debuts who have proven they can handle major pressure elsewhere.
Course Strategy: What Wins at Augusta
Understanding Augusta National’s demands helps identify who’s best positioned to contend. The course rewards length (par-5 birdie conversion is essential), precise approach play to specific quadrants of the greens, elite putting on surfaces that are among the fastest and most severely sloped in championship golf, and emotional resilience across four days of the most pressurized golf in the sport.
The greens are where the Masters is ultimately won or lost. Augusta’s contoured putting surfaces punish imprecise approaches and reward players who control their distance with surgical precision. A player who can consistently leave approach shots below the hole — giving themselves uphill putts rather than treacherous downhill slides — has a structural advantage that compounds over 72 holes.
For amateur golfers watching the tournament, the course management decisions at Augusta are a masterclass in strategic thinking. Studying where the best players in the world choose to be aggressive and where they play conservatively is one of the best ways to improve your own approach to course management and pre-round preparation.
Our Pick
Scheffler is the rightful favorite, but at +500 his odds reflect his dominance. For value, Schauffele at +1600 offers the best combination of Augusta pedigree, recent major winning experience, and a game ideally suited to the course. DeChambeau at +1000 is the most interesting longshot — his distance advantage at Augusta is real, and his improved all-around game makes him a legitimate threat to win from any position on the leaderboard.
Tune in starting Thursday to watch what promises to be one of the most widely covered Masters in history, with 27 hours of live coverage spread across four networks. The green jacket race starts now.
