7 storylines that will shape the Masters
Masters week is here. It's a glorious time for golf fans as the world's best descend on the iconic Augusta National Golf Club with the coveted green jacket at stake.
The year's first major is overflowing with narratives, many involving the game's top players and the tournament favorites. These are the seven storylines that will shape the 2026 Masters Tournament.
Uncertainty surrounds Scheffler
Months ago, it would have been inconceivable to predict world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler would head into this year's Masters surrounded by question marks, but that's where we are.
Scheffler's having a bizarre season. He won his first start at The American Express, then followed it up with two tournaments where he was derailed by horrible opening rounds. He hasn't looked like the same golfer when it comes to his iron play - he ranks 80th on the PGA TOUR in strokes gained: approach for the season, a stat he's led the last three years.
The two-time Masters champ then withdrew from the Houston Open as he and his wife, Meredith, prepared for the birth of their second child. That will make it a month off between starts for Scheffler, with his T22 showing at The Players Championship serving as his final tuneup for Augusta National.
Scheffler is obviously talented enough to overcome the lack of preparation, but his recent form is not what we've become accustomed to seeing during his run of dominance. His opening round will be extremely telling in terms of his chances at claiming a third career green jacket.
Bad backs
Two of the Masters favorites enter with injury concerns. Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a back ailment, then underwhelmed with a T46 result in his title defense at The Players Championship. Collin Morikawa withdrew from The Players after one hole when he tweaked something in his back and hasn't played since.
It's been a month since McIlroy's back gave him trouble in Orlando, so he may be fully healthy. However, he hasn't played since TPC Sawgrass, so rust could be a factor. Morikawa's back is a bigger worry: He was in the field for last week's Valero Texas Open but withdrew Tuesday due to lingering issues.
McIlroy also has the added pressure of trying to defend his green jacket, which no one has done successfully since Tiger Woods in 2002. The uncertainty surrounding Scheffler, McIlroy, and Morikawa makes this Masters feel as wide-open as any in recent years.
Bryson's redemption
You may not even remember that Bryson DeChambeau played in the final pairing alongside McIlroy at last year's Masters. The two-time U.S. Open champion posted a 3-over 75 to finish in a tie for fifth, so he wasn't particularly relevant on the back nine, but it marked DeChambeau's second straight top-six finish at Augusta. It seems he's finally figured out the iconic layout he once called a par 67.
DeChambeau has won back-to-back LIV starts, one of those coming in a playoff over Jon Rahm. He appears to be playing some very good golf and is consequently a top-five favorite in the Masters betting market. This may be DeChambeau's best opportunity to back up his "par 67" claim and secure the green jacket.
Time to prove it, Rahm
Jon Rahm won the 2023 Masters and then defected to LIV Golf in early 2024. Since then, he hasn't been competitive at Augusta and has really only had one shot to win a major: last year's PGA Championship. He finished T45 and T14 in his last two appearances at the Masters.
It's time for Rahm to prove that moving to LIV hasn't affected his play in the sport's biggest tournaments. Rahm should be a threat at every Masters since Augusta fits his game perfectly. He also appears to be in form after a recent LIV win that snapped a year-long drought and three runner-up results. There will be no excuses for the Spaniard if he doesn't have a late tee time Sunday.
Which Koepka will show up?
Brooks Koepka decided this offseason to leave LIV Golf and return to the PGA TOUR, becoming the first defector to jump back to the USA-based circuit. By no means has he lit it up in his six starts this year, but he's shown flashes suggesting he could still win more majors. Koepka finished T13 at The Players, where he gained over eight strokes tee-to-green and was fourth in the field in strokes gained: approach.
The five-time major winner has two runner-up showings at the Masters in his career, but he missed the cut in three of his last four appearances. However, health was a significant factor in those missed cuts, and Koepka seems as healthy as he can be heading into this week. Which Koepka shows up this week: the dominant major winner, or the golfer whose best days are behind him? The answer will shape the tournament's outcome.
1st major wins
Four top-10 talents without a major championship are all playing exceptionally well heading into the Masters: Tommy Fleetwood, Cameron Young, Ludvig Aberg, and Chris Gotterup.
Fleetwood is the reigning FedEx Cup champion and finally got off the schneid last year, capturing his first PGA TOUR win at the Tour Championship. He's finished inside the top 10 in four of five TOUR starts this year and currently ranks No. 4 in the world.
Young won The Players Championship and is the world No. 3. He already has two top-10s at Augusta in four starts.
Aberg was in command of The Players before crumbling Sunday, but his collapse doesn't negate his status as a serious contender at the Masters. He's played the tournament twice in his young career, finishing as the runner-up in his debut and placing T7 last year. Aberg has already figured out Augusta, so his chances Sunday should come down to whether he can manage his nerves.
Finally, Gotterup is a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR this season and will make his Masters debut this week. Historically, debutants haven't found much success at Augusta - the last first-timer to win was Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 - but that trend seems to be shifting with the recent success of Aberg and Will Zalatoris in their first starts. Gotterup has all the tools to perform well at Augusta.
Reed's resurgence
Like Koepka, Patrick Reed left LIV Golf, accepted the PGA TOUR's terms to return to the circuit, and is now playing a full-time DP World Tour schedule. And he's dominating.
Reed leads the Race to Dubai, having already secured two wins in six starts. The former Masters champ finished third last year and has five top-12 showings in seven starts at Augusta since his 2018 victory. Although he hasn't played since the middle of March, Reed must be considered a contender given his current form and his history at the tournament. Could golf's ultimate heel steal another green jacket?
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