Rory McIlroy seeks a historic repeat victory beginning Thursday on the ninetieth Masters, whereas World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau lead a bunch of challengers in agency and quick situations.
Second-ranked McIlroy accomplished a profession Grand Slam by capturing the inexperienced jacket at Augusta Nationwide final 12 months, however solely Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods have gained back-to-back inexperienced jackets, Woods the latest in 2001-2002.
“Possibly not the biggest subject in golf nevertheless it’s the strongest,” McIlroy mentioned. “I do know that I can do it now, so that ought to make it a bit simpler for me to exit and play the golf I need to play.”
McIlroy suffered an harm scare final month when again ache prompted his withdrawal at Bay Hill. However he competed the next week and has rested since.
“I’ve taken the final three weeks to verify I’m 100% coming in right here, which I’m,” McIlroy mentioned.
“I really feel snug on the golf course, really feel snug with my sport. It has been a superb three weeks at dwelling preparing bodily and mentally and simply making an attempt to arrange for every little thing this week goes to throw at me.”
Scheffler, final 12 months’s British Open and PGA Championship winner, has failed in two Masters repeat bids.
“Defending can at all times be troublesome, however I believe that’s principally simply the chances of successful a event in back-to-back years,” Scheffler mentioned. “That’s simply extraordinarily difficult, particularly once you have a look at these main championships.”
Scheffler, the 2022 and 2024 Masters winner, has been off for 3 weeks as spouse Meredith gave beginning to son Remy on March 27.
“Recreation feels prefer it’s in a great spot,” Scheffler mentioned. “I really feel rested and able to go this week.”
DeChambeau, who edged McIlroy for the 2024 US Open title, was within the remaining Sunday group final 12 months on the Masters when the Northern Eire star made historical past.
“It’s nice if we will proceed to have a rivalry,” DeChambeau mentioned. “It type of helps create extra buzz across the sport of golf.
“It’s a kind of issues like I acquired him at Pinehurst, he acquired me right here, and I hope there’s extra of these to come back as a result of it’s nice for the sport.”
DeChambeau, ranked twenty fourth, gained LIV Golf titles in Singapore and South Africa final month and likes velocity at Augusta.
“If it’s agency and quick, the greens are going to be much more troublesome to hit than they already are,” DeChambeau mentioned. “I really feel actually good. It’s nearly going out and executing.”
‘Be extra exact’
Precision will probably be at a premium with no rain within the forecast to melt the course.
“It’s a must to be extra exact when it’s agency,” American Kurt Kitayama mentioned. “Each time it’s agency and quick makes any course troublesome, and particularly with how sloped the greens are, it’s going to be much more penalizing lacking your spots.”
Dustin Johnson, the 2020 Masters champion who holds the 72-hole Masters file rating of 20-under par 268, is already seeing sturdy bounces on the course.
“Makes it a bit bit tougher,” Johnson mentioned. “It’s a must to be spot on with just about all of your golf equipment and the place they’re going, particularly if it will get agency. The touchdown areas get actually small.”
Different contenders embody World No. 3 Cameron Younger, who gained The Gamers Championship final month; England’s fourth-ranked Tommy Fleetwood, final 12 months’s Tour Championship winner, and England’s ninth-ranked Justin Rose, final 12 months’s Masters runner-up.
Printed on Apr 08, 2026