The 89th Masters is set to tee off this week at Augusta National Golf Club, and while Tiger Woods is absent due to a ruptured left Achilles tendon, the storylines are still stacked higher than Magnolia Lane.
With the return of the sport’s biggest stars from both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf League, fans are in for a drama-filled week at golf’s first major of the year. From career Grand Slam chases to rising stars ready for a breakout, here’s your complete guide to the 96-player field at The Masters 2025.
The Favorites
Scottie Scheffler
The world No. 1 is eyeing history. After back-to-back strong finishes and leading the field in strokes gained: approach, Scheffler could become just the fourth player to win the Masters in consecutive years. He’s also chasing a third green jacket in four seasons—something only Jack Nicklaus has done.
Rory McIlroy
Playing some of the best golf of his career, McIlroy is back for his 11th attempt at completing the career Grand Slam. With two big wins already in 2025, he may finally be ready to claim that elusive green jacket.
Collin Morikawa
Leading the Tour in strokes gained from tee to green, Morikawa has the statistical profile of a champion. Despite a recent drought, his game looks ready to peak.
Jon Rahm
The 2023 Masters champ and LIV Golf’s reigning individual season champ enters with five top-10s in eight starts at Augusta. Despite questions about LIV prep, Rahm is as reliable as ever on the big stage.
Ludvig Åberg
After finishing solo second in his Masters debut last year, the Swede is back with more experience. Though recent form is shaky, he’s proven he can contend at Augusta.
Bryson DeChambeau
His past comments about Augusta may haunt him, but DeChambeau’s sixth-place finish last year suggests he’s finally cracked the code.
Xander Schauffele
Back from a rib injury, Schauffele has quietly strung together impressive stats, including 11 strokes gained on approach at the Valspar.
The Contenders
This group has the pedigree and momentum to win if things break their way.
- Justin Thomas: Resurgent in 2025 and almost broke a three-year winless streak at the Valspar.
- Cameron Smith: Quiet lately, but five top-10s at Augusta say otherwise.
- Brooks Koepka: Three top-10s in his past six Masters starts make Koepka a perennial threat. After a collapse in 2023, he’s more focused and less emotionally attached—dangerous for the field.
- Jordan Spieth: There was a time when he seemingly couldn’t lose at Augusta. Spieth has been showing flashes early this season and the familiar confines of Augusta National could trigger a memorable week for the 3-time major champion.
- Tommy Fleetwood & Tyrrell Hatton: Both former contenders with Augusta experience and solid recent form.
- Joaquín Niemann, Hideki Matsuyama, Russell Henley, Sepp Straka: Tour winners with varied success at Augusta.
- Viktor Hovland, Min Woo Lee, Patrick Reed, Justin Rose, Daniel Berger, Keegan Bradley, Robert MacIntyre, Will Zalatoris, Patrick Cantlay, Shane Lowry, Maverick McNealy, Harris English, Nicolai Højgaard: A wide mix of youth, veterans, and global talent all capable of making Sunday headlines.
More Players To Watch
These players need a hot week—but stranger things have happened at Augusta.
- Wyndham Clark, Sungjae Im, Dustin Johnson, Lucas Glover, Brian Harman, J.J. Spaun, Akshay Bhatia, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala, Thomas Detry, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tom Kim, Corey Conners, Chris Kirk, Sam Burns, Michael Kim.
The Darkhorses
Call them long shots, but every Masters has a surprise name on the leaderboard.
- Davis Thompson, Cam Davis, Aaron Rai, Tom Hoge, Billy Horschel, Denny McCarthy, Taylor Pendrith, J.T. Poston, Phil Mickelson, Nick Taylor, Cameron Young, Sergio Garcia, Danny Willett, Laurie Canter, Byeong Hun An, Nick Dunlap, Rasmus Højgaard, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Stephan Jäger, Matthieu Pavon, Adam Schenk.
Happy to Make the Cut
These players are just hoping to be around for the weekend.
- Max Homa, Joe Highsmith, Brian Campbell, Rafael Campos, Nico Echavarria, Austin Eckroat, Max Greyserman, Patton Kizzire, Thriston Lawrence, Matt McCarty, Davis Riley, Jhonattan Vegas, Kevin Yu.
Past Champions
Their chances of winning are slim, but they’ve earned the right to return.
- Ángel Cabrera, Fred Couples, Zach Johnson, Bernhard Langer, José María Olazábal, Charl Schwartzel, Vijay Singh, Bubba Watson, Mike Weir.
Note: This is expected to be Langer’s final Masters appearance.
Amateurs
Young talent with dreams of making the cut—and maybe more.
- Josele Ballester, Evan Beck, Justin Hastings, Noah Kent, Hiroshi Tai.
Ballester, the U.S. Amateur champ from Spain, leads a class of bright hopefuls who could make a surprise run into the weekend.
Masters Week Is Here!
With familiar favorites, returning champions, and new contenders all vying for golf’s most iconic prize, The Masters 2025 promises to be unforgettable. As Phil Mickelson said, “It’s a week that we all cherish the most… History is made there every year.”
Let the chase for the green jacket begin.
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