The Masters 2025 Preview — Augusta National (April 10-13)

The azaleas and dogwoods are blooming, Butler Cabin is glistening, and the green jacket is waiting for its winner. Make yourself comfortable… golf’s most glamourous week is finally here! Can Scottie win his third despite an unfortunate ravioli incident? Can Rory finally break his major curse? Or can Min Woo cook up something special?

We can’t wait to find out…

Who’s the defending champion?

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler is aiming to become just the fourth player to successfully defend at the Masters. If he does, he will join elite company, with Jack, Tiger and Sir Nick Faldo the only players to do so. Scottie blitzed his way to a second green jacket last year, beating Ludvig Aberg by four strokes. It was a highlight in a season featuring another seven PGA Tour wins and an Olympic gold medal. Scottie missed the first few tournaments of 2025 after slicing his hand open on Christmas Day while making ravioli. That unfortunate incident may explain why Scottie hasn’t won yet, but the 28-year-old appears to be gathering momentum for Augusta. He finished second at the Houston Open, firing a 62 on Friday and a 63 on Sunday. And you can’t help but respect the world No.1’s sense of humour: an entrée of ravioli bites features on his champion’s dinner menu.

How many Aussies are teeing it up?

Five. Cameron Davis, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott and Cam Smith.

Which Aussie has the best hope of winning the green jacket?

After his Houston Open win last week, it might be Min Woo Lee. He showcased his prodigious talent all week but the grit he displayed down the stretch, when hanging tough after an errant tee shot on the 16th, will fuel his belief in majors. Despite recording the equal-lowest front nine at Augusta, Min Woo has only carded one sub-70 round from his 10 attempts at the Masters. If he turns that alarming stat around this year, he’ll no doubt be contending on Sunday.

Who’s flying under the radar this week?

Blame the recency bias, but 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia appears a real smokey this year. Sergio has been playing better than ever, winning LIV Hong Kong last month and captaining the pace-setting Fireballs to three straight wins, and his petulant outbursts also appear a thing of the past. Chalk it up to mental maturity, but Sergio’s ball-striking prowess has always been his superpower. At the 2023 US Open 36-hole qualifier, veteran pro Scott Harrington described Sergio’s ball striking and shotmaking as “the most impressive I’ve seen”. High praise indeed.

Is Adam Scott a chance of snaring a late career major?

Scotty looks in great nick, but he always does. The 2013 Masters champ is currently riding a streak of 15 made-cuts at Augusta but hasn’t seriously contended in a major for a while now (although he did backdoor top 10 at last year’s Open Championship). Jack Nicklaus was 46 when he became the oldest Masters winner in 1986. Scotty is now 44 and while time clearly isn’t on his side, it would be pretty sweet if Scotty did notch a late-career miracle.

Is Joaquin Niemann the leading chance from the LIV Tour?

The Chilean is certainly on a career hot streak but the issue for Joaqo is he goes missing at majors. His T16 at the 2023 Masters is his highpoint in majors, which is rather surprising given his exceptional talent. He’s won twice from four starts on the LIV Tour this year and won the Saudi International late last year, performances that triggered a special invitation to the Masters. They say the six inches between a golfer’s ears is the most important yardage in golf and, as a regular winner, Joaquin has got that covered. But, as Max Homa knows all too well, your game can turn putrid in an instant. Joaquin might want to seize the moment if opportunity knocks as the Masters, because the hot streak he’s currently riding might not come around again.

Will LIV players have played enough golf? Only five official tournaments seems a bit light on?

Coming into the Masters with just five events under the belt since the start of the year probably isn’t ideal for the dozen LIV golfers playing the Masters. Nor is the three-week break between LIV Singapore last month and the LIV Miami lead-in event. But the lack of reps is probably the least of their concerns. To prepare for Augusta, players need to focus on developing touch around the greens, playing off pine straw and practising from side hill lies — preferably under tournament pressure. However, those drills are in short supply at Doral, LIV Miami’s host course. Yes, the Blue Monster is an exacting test and a big improvement on the 2023 LIV Orlando lead-in event at the nondescript Orange County National course. But taming Augusta’s wild greens is the key to winning at the Masters. For the LIV dozen, a heavy practise load early in the week is going to be absolutely essential to reacquaint themselves with the unique questions Augusta aks. The danger is they overdo it and are already cooked come Thursday.

How will Bryson fare at Augusta National’s par 67*?

The reigning US Open champ deserves to be one of the top fancies. However, Augusta hasn’t been particularly kind to him ever since he said the course — for him at least — should be a par 67. That was back in 2020 and after a run of missed cuts, Augusta showed Bryson a little love last year. He led into the third round before finishing T6, his best finish at Augusta. Bryson suggested the reduced schedule of the LIV Tour would actually be a “blessing” heading into this year’s Masters. We’ll wait and see…

Who is going to be the next honorary starter at the Masters?

When Jack says he’s had enough, it’s gotta be Freddy Couples.

Will the par 3 curse be broken this year?

Probably not. No-one has ever won the Wednesday par three contest and the Masters in the same year. However, the par three contest has lost its relevance ever since it was overrun with WAGS and kids. Once a cool, semi-serious shootout that saw players prepping their wedge games, the par three has descended into an Insta-shoot for glamourous WAGS and a bunch of overstimulated toddlers running across Augusta’s sacred greens in mini Masters overalls. Yes, it’s fun for the kids and WAGS and shows a lighter side of the game. But it’s the freakin’ Masters! Please!

Can Rory figure Augusta National out this year?

Can he figure it out isn’t the question. Rather, can he execute? This year will be Rory’s 17^th straight Masters and the lad from Northern Ireland knows just about every part of the course by now, including that bit way up near Butler Cabin (see McIlroy, R, 2011 Masters). He’s got the tools but previous Masters have revealed Rory’s inconsistent wedge play is a major issue. However, a switch to TaylorMade’s softer TP5 ball in January appears to have delivered a lower ball flight with more spin. Rory confirmed he felt more in control of his short irons and won at Pebble Beach the week he switched before following up with the Players Championship title last month. If he can stay out of his way, the TP5 might be a factor in Rory clinching his first major win in 11 years.

If Scottie Scheffler wins this year, who will finish second?

It could only be Rory, obviously.

Top five Masters favourites?

Scottie, Rory, Sergio, Collin, Bryson. Despite winning two majors last year, Xander would be next in. Honourable mentions to Rahm, Koepka and Hatton.

What’s the secret to scoring at Augusta?

Power is always an advantage but insight from Kiwi gold medallist Lydia Ko provides perspective. Last month, Ko played Augusta two days in a row and shot rounds of 71-70. Ko is nowhere near the longest hitter on the LPGA Tour but she expressed disbelief at how hard the course was; in particular, how difficult it was to get close to the pins. The required landing areas for the tightest pins during Masters week are literally only as big as a coffee table; hence, the Masters winner will need a dialled-in approach game and a bit of luck to set up enough birdie chances.

Who is the most likely to do a Fuzzy this year?

Fuzzy Zoeller was the last player to win the Masters on debut. That was in 1979 and everybody thought the drought was going the end last year when Swedish star Ludvig Aberg poked his nose in the frame. Ludvig eventually finished runner-up and looks one of the standouts this year. Of the 21 debutants in 2025, Thriston Lawrence and Aaron Rai might ruffle the most feathers. Big-hitting South African Lawrence was in contention on the weekend at last year’s Open Championship, finishing fourth to Xander Schauffele. England’s Rai won the Wyndham Championship last year to secure his start and you can never discount the X-factor of a guy who plays with gloves on both hands.

Is Tiger playing this year?

No. Tiger’s social media post last week suggested he would be playing the Masters following a miracle recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon. But it was a silly April Fools’ prank, underlining Tiger’s sense of humour that seemingly has never graduated from high school (case in point, his interaction with Justin Thomas at the 2023 Genesis Invitational). Tiger’s latest post came hot on the heels of his “love is in the air” despatch regarding his fledgling relationship with Vanessa Trump. Tiger probably won’t be playing competitive golf this year, but can someone please keep him off the socials during his injury rehab?

Who’s the highest-finishing lefty this year?

Six lefties will tee off at Augusta this year and half of them are previous winners: Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Mike Weir. American lefty Matt McCarty will make his Masters debut while Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre returns to the Masters after playing in 2021 and 2022. However, 2023 Open champion Brian Harman looks the best hope of pulling off a lefty heist. He seems to always bob up at the Masters and has reeled off some solid early season form that included an impressive pipe opener at the Valero Texas Open.

Who’s going to win then?

Rory beats Matthieu Pavon in a play-off.