Masters Tournament 2025 Preview: Scheffler Eyes History, McIlroy Hunts Slam at Augusta National

The 89th edition of the Masters Tournament promises a thrilling showdown at Augusta National Golf Club, where reigning FedExCup champion Scottie Scheffler leads a star-studded field into the year’s most iconic event. Scheffler returns to Augusta with history within reach. The 2024 Masters champion and current world No. 1 is seeking his third green jacket in four years, a feat that would cement his legacy in the Masters pantheon.

With a T2 finish at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, Scheffler has found form at just the right time, even after a delayed start to the year due to a hand injury. A win would make him the first player to successfully defend his Masters title since Tiger Woods in 2001-02.

Rory McIlroy once again arrives at Augusta with the career Grand Slam on the line. The Masters remains the lone major missing from McIlroy’s collection, but his form is undeniable. The Northern Irishman has already captured two TOUR titles in 2025 — the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and THE PLAYERS Championship — and leads the PGA TOUR in Strokes Gained: Total and Scoring Average. With seven career top-10s at Augusta, including a runner-up in 2022, McIlroy is more determined than ever to finally slip on that green jacket.

Xander Schauffele has quietly become one of the sport’s most consistent major performers, winning two of the last three. He enters the Masters off a T12 at the Valspar Championship, showing promising signs after dealing with a rib injury earlier this season. Meanwhile, Collin Morikawa has posted three straight top-10s at Augusta and ranks No. 1 in Strokes Gained: Approach, making him a prime pick for another strong run.

Last year’s surprise runner-up, Ludvig Åberg, returns with a full season of experience and a win at The Genesis Invitational. The young Swede nearly shocked the world in his Masters debut in 2024, finishing second to Scheffler. He’s joined by other first-time major hopefuls like Viktor Hovland and Georgia native Russell Henley, both seeking a breakthrough on the biggest stage.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since a 21-year-old Jordan Spieth lit up Augusta National with a dominant wire-to-wire victory. The former champion is back, having shown glimpses of brilliance this spring after recovering from a wrist injury. His recent form is erratic — T3-MC-T4-MC in his last four Masters — but with Augusta, Spieth is always a threat.

A total of 21 players will make their Masters debut in 2025, including first-time TOUR winners Joe Highsmith, Brian Campbell, and Thomas Detry. Augusta can be a brutal teacher, but as Åberg proved last year, there’s room for fearless fresh faces to make an immediate impact.

Augusta National, playing as a 7,555-yard par 72, endured damage from Hurricane Helene last September, including the loss of several trees and four green renovations. But Chairman Fred Ridley confirmed the course is in prime condition: “I don’t think you’re going to see any difference in the condition for the Masters this year,” he said. The storm may have altered the landscape slightly, but the challenge remains the same — a demanding test of precision, patience, and poise.