Who will win the Masters? We ranked EVERY player at Augusta!

Who will win at Augusta? Read our Masters Power Rankings now!

There will be 96 players teeing up at Augusta National, so Alex Perry – with the help of stats-sidekick Tom Jacobs – pieced together his Masters Power Rankings to try and work out who will be the next Green Jacket winner…

This isn’t my first Masters Power Rankings. Indeed, the last one was almost the death of me. I didn’t see any family or friends for about two weeks. I’m pretty sure most forgot my name, and every time I looked at my kids I ended up ranking them in my head. (You all do it. Ranking your own kids, I mean. Not my kids – that would be weird.) So why am I at it again? Because, dear reader, I’m sick in the head. That’s why.

I have roped in some help this time around. My good friend and TG’s betting expert, Tom Jacobs, is on fire this year, so he’s thrown himself into the stats to help me organize the top 10. And there are a couple of surprises at that end of the order, too.

You can jump to there, if you like, but where’s the fun in that? Come on, we’ll start at the bottom, work our way to the top, and try to have some laughs along the way.

So, without further ado, here are all 96 players in the 2025 Masters field ranked from 96 to 1…

2025 Masters Power Rankings: Who will win the Green Jacket?

Let’s just get this out the way with…

96. Angel Cabrera

Masters record: MC-T10-T9-T15-MC-MC-T8-T37-T25-W-T18-7-T32-2-MC-T22-T24-MC-MC-MC
Rounds under par: 28/66
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-83
Scoring average: 72.71
Augusta earnings: $3,582,257

Hopefully the next entry on the Argentine’s record is “WD and never came back”. (Don’t @ me, we’re not arguing about this.)

Right, now let’s get on with the real thing…

95. Mike Weir

Masters record: T28-T27-T24-W-MC-T5-T11-T20-T17-T46-T43-MC-MC-MC-T44-MC-MC-MC-MC-MC-T51-MC-MC-MC-MC
Rounds under par: 21/74
Lowest and highest rounds: 68-82
Scoring average: 73.86
Augusta earnings: $2,024,428

Let’s have a quiz! We all remember the Canadian’s victory in 2003, but can you remember who he beat in a playoff? I’ll put the answer at a random spot in the next four million words to make sure you’re paying attention.

94. Charl Schwartzel

Masters record: T30-W-T50-T25-MC-T38-MC-3-MC-MC-T25-T26-T10-T50-MC 
Rounds under par: 16/50
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-81
Scoring average: 72.70
Augusta earnings: $3,012,281

Sorry, Charl. I’m sure you’re a nice guy. And I know you were one of 14 players to end up above Rory McIlroy that fateful year, but you’ll always be the guy who stole the Green Jacket from him. And, for that, I cannot forgive you.

93. Vijay Singh

Masters record: T27-MC-T39-T17-MC-T24-W-T18-7-T6-T6-T5-T8-T13-T14-T30-MC-MC-T27-T38-T37-54-MC-MC-49-MC-MC-MC-MC-MC-T58
Rounds under par: 33/101
Lowest and highest rounds: 65-82
Scoring average: 73.38
Augusta earnings: $2,678,117

That odd number of rounds is due to a withdrawal on day one of the 2020 Masters. It was chilly, to be fair.

92. Fred Couples

Masters record: T32-10-T10-T31-T5-T11-5-T35-W-T21-T10-T15-T7-T2-T27-T11-26-T36-T28-T6-T39-T3-T30-MC-MC-6-T15-T12-T13-T20-MC-T18-T38-MC-MC-MC-MC-T50-MC
Rounds under par: 57/140
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-81
Scoring average: 72.41
Augusta earnings: $2,874,115

You might not have Brooks Koepka on speed dial anymore, but you’ll always have the best swing in golf, Boom Boom.

91. Hiroshi Tai (a)

Masters record: Rookie

Probably going to write “just happy to be here” quite a few times. Let’s start here.

89. Noah Kent (a)

Masters record: Rookie

As if Noah Kent is the world’s 143rd-ranked amateur golfer and not a singer-songwriter from a sleepy surfer town in southern California. Still, it’s stick season for them both.

88. Davis Thompson

Masters record: Rookie

Grew up just down the road in Atlanta, which you’d think means something. But it doesn’t. I’m not falling for that.

87. Evan Beck (a)

Masters record: Rookie

There’s an awful long way to go guys. Keep it up.

86. Brian Campbell

Masters record: Rookie

Guys. Seriously. There is so far to go. Why are you wasting time here?

85. Nicolas Echavarria

Masters record: Rookie

Has gone off the boil since the storming end to last season that saw him earn his Masters spot. Will probably be the biggest difference between where he is on this list versus where he finishes at Augusta.

82. Jhonattan Vegas

Masters record: MC-MC-T38 
Rounds under par: 1/8
Lowest and highest rounds: 69-78
Scoring average: 74.12
Augusta earnings: $66,200

Booked a return to Augusta with victory at last year’s 3M Open – his first since 2017 and 13 years after his breakthrough at the Bob Hope Classic (now The American Express). Have I written “just happy to be here” yet?

81. Jose Luis Ballester (a)

Masters record: Rookie

I’m just not getting a vibe for any of the amateurs this year. Which is nothing on them, it’s just my head and heart are still pining for Neal Shipley. Ballester will finish the highest, though.

80. Joe Highsmith

Masters record: Rookie

Takes the baton from Lee Hodges as the ‘Masters Rookie Who Sounds Most Like a League 1 Left-Back’.

79. Laurie Canter

Masters record: Rookie

Was ranked 48th going into the final tournament ahead of the world ranking cut-off and could only sit and watch as people tried to snatch that spot from him, which he neatly summed up on Twitter with the green puking face emoji. Kids.   

78. Bubba Watson

Masters record: T20-42-T38-W-T50-W-T38-T37-MC-T5-T12-57-T26-T39-MC-MC
Rounds under par: 23/58
Lowest and highest rounds: 67-80
Scoring average: 72.47
Augusta earnings: $4,136,230

Shot in the 80s here for the first time last year on his way to a second straight missed weekend. Will likely go home early again, but he’ll sure as hell do it with a smile on his face.

77. Zach Johnson

Masters record: MC-T32-W-T20-MC-42-MC-T32-T35-MC-T9-MC-MC-T36-T58-T51-MC-MC-T34-MC
Rounds under par: 16/62
Lowest and highest rounds: 68-81
Scoring average: 73.34
Augusta earnings: $2,068,855

Remember that time he hit his ball during a practice swing? And the time he told the patrons to “f*** off”. The personification of that famous scene in The Simpsons where Homer’s colleagues are watching him and one of them says: “Get ready everybody, he’s about to do something stupid.”

76. Kevin Yu

Masters record: Rookie

Tom Kim goes by that name because of a childhood obsession with Thomas the Tank Engine. So why does Chun-an Yu go by Kevin? Maybe he appreciates the works of Hart or Costner? Maybe he really likes Bacon? Maybe his parents always left him home alone?

75. Danny Willett

Masters record: T38-W-MC-MC-MC-T25-MC-T12-MC-T45
Rounds under par: 9/30
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-78
Scoring average: 73.03
Augusta earnings: $2,368,913

Other famous people from Rotherham include TV entertainers the Chuckle Brothers, footballer David Seaman, and Muse bassist Chris Wolstenholme. All of whom probably have as much chance of winning the Masters as Willett. What’s that? He did WHAT? What happened to Jordan Spieth? I turned off when he was five clear on the 12th tee…

• Danny Willett on the highs and lows of winning the Masters

74. Davis Riley

Masters record: Rookie

One of only a handful of players to beat Scottie Scheffler when the World No.1 was in that ludicrous run of form this time last year. If he does that again at Augusta, he’ll be a Masters champion.

73. Stephan Jaeger

Masters record: MC
Rounds under par: 0/2
Lowest and highest rounds: 74-80
Scoring average: 77.00
Augusta earnings: $15,000

One of only a handful of players to beat Scottie Scheffler when the World No.1 was in that ludicrous run of form this time last year. If he does that again at Augusta, he’ll be a Masters champion.

72. Matt McCarty

Masters record: Rookie

Is this the most left-handers in a single Masters? We’ve already had Bubba and Weir. Let’s count as we go along…

71. Brian Harman

Masters record: MC-T44-T12-MC-MC-MC
Rounds under par: 3/16
Lowest and highest rounds: 69-81
Scoring average: 73.69
Augusta earnings: $298,700

That’s four. We went 70-odd years without a left-handed Masters winner, and then we had six in 11. The last was Bubba Watson in ’14, so we are due one. It won’t be Harman, though, so this was all a waste of time.

70. Patton Kizzire

Masters record: MC-T18 
Rounds under par: 3/6
Lowest and highest rounds: 69-76
Scoring average: 72.33
Augusta earnings: $171,000

Back in the Masters for the first time since 2019 thanks to his win at the Procore Championship in September. Has missed eight out of 12 cuts since. Life.

69. Thriston Lawrence

Masters record: Rookie

Probably should have won The Open last year, but that lack of experience at getting the job done proved costly from the 63rd hole onwards. Strong ‘first-round leader before finishing T48’ vibes.

68. Bernhard Langer

Masters record: MC-T31-W-T16-T7-T9-T26-T7-T32-T31-W-T25-T31-T36-T7-T39-T11-T28-T6-T32-MC-T4-T20-MC-MC-MC-MC-MC-MC-T25-T8-MC-T24-MC-T38-T62-T29-MC-MC-MC
Rounds under par: 44/134
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-80
Scoring average: 72.84
Augusta earnings: $2,060,183

Forty – FORTY! – years on from his first win, Langer finally gets to bow out at Augusta on his terms, having missed last year after blowing his Achilles. Knowing him as well as I think I do, he’ll probably plot his way to a top 20.

67. Tom Hoge

Masters record: T39-MC
Rounds under par: 0/6
Lowest and highest rounds: 73-75
Scoring average: 73.83
Augusta earnings: $73,000

Everything about Hoge says he is a PGA champion elect. See you next month.

66. JJ Spaun

Masters record: T23
Rounds under par: 1/4
Lowest and highest rounds: 70-75
Scoring average: 72.75
Augusta earnings: $138,000

Calls himself “JJ” despite his name being John Michael Spaun, and for that reason I’m out.

65. Dustin Johnson

Masters record: T30-T38-T13-MC-T6-T4-T10-T2-W-MC-T12-T48-MC
Rounds under par: 23/50
Lowest and highest rounds: 65-79
Scoring average: 71.80
Augusta earnings: $4,652,235

Told TG at the start of the year that he definitely has more major wins in him, then went and finished DFL at the very next LIV Golf event. The quicker he misses the cut, the quicker he can get back to [REDACTED].

64. Christian Bezuidenhout

Masters Record: T38-T40-T44
Rounds Under Par: 4/12
Lowest-Highest Rounds: 69-77
Scoring Average: 73.00
Augusta Earnings: $145,300

Tried to think of a Bez/Happy Mondays joke but got distracted by a squirrel in the garden. Finished 28-under-par at last year’s American Express and didn’t win. That’s because…

63. Nick Dunlap

Masters record: MC
Rounds under par: 0/2
Lowest and highest rounds: 74-77
Scoring average: 75.50
Augusta earnings: $15,000

…this man shot 29-under. As an amateur, no less! Won his second title later in the year, but has had a miserable start to 2025 and heads to Augusta on the back of three missed cuts.  

62. Adam Schenk

Masters record: T12
Rounds under par: 1/4
Lowest and highest rounds: 71-73
Scoring average: 72.25
Augusta earnings: $405,000

Came to Augusta and strutted to a T12 on debut, which is pretty baller. Don’t really know anything about him, but his wife is funny on Twitter, so.

61. Daniel Berger

Masters record: T10-T27-T32-MC-T50
Rounds under par: 6/18
Lowest and highest rounds: 69-80
Scoring average: 73.33
Augusta earnings: $419,113

Genuinely think I’d forgotten about Berger. Turns out this is only his second major appearance since the 2022 US Open, which probably explains it.

60. Max Greyserman

Masters record: Rookie

His middle name is Alexander, so tick. Others that share that trait? Sir Nicholas Alexander Faldo, Jordan Alexander Spieth, and Scott Alexander Scheffler. And they’ve done alright around here.

59. Maverick McNealy

Masters record: Rookie

A qualified pilot who flew himself from his home in Las Vegas to the Genesis Invitational, where he finished 2nd.

58. Nick Taylor

Masters record: T29-MC
Rounds under par: 1/6
Lowest and highest rounds: 69-81
Scoring average: 73.83
Augusta earnings: $89,750

The Canadian used game-improvement irons when he finished T29 on debut here in 2020, but had upgraded to some big boy clubs when he returned last year and missed the cut. Read into that what you will. But I can’t ignore this opportunity for a plug, so here are the most forgiving irons in golf.

57. Michael Kim

Masters record: MC
Rounds under par: 0/2
Lowest and highest rounds: 76-80
Scoring average: 77.00
Augusta earnings: $10,000

Went to Phoenix as the world No.162 and played eight straight weeks culminating in a T32 in Texas that saw him up to 50th. Has presumably been lying in a dark room since.   

56. Sam Burns

Masters record: MC-T29-MC
Rounds under par: 2/8
Lowest and highest rounds: 68-80
Scoring average: 73.88
Augusta earnings: $150,100

Shall we just make a Mr Burns from The Simpsons reference and move on? Excellent.

55. Rasmus Hojgaard

Masters record: Rookie

It’s hard to tip him to do well when I’m not convinced he’ll even be the highest-placed finisher in his family.

54. Austin Eckroat

Masters record: MC
Rounds under par: 0/2
Lowest and highest rounds: 74-77
Scoring average: 75.50
Augusta earnings: $15,000

Did you know players get 15 grand for missing the cut? Now you do.

53. Denny McCarthy

Masters record: T45
Rounds under par: 1/4
Lowest and highest rounds: 70-79
Scoring average: 74.25
Augusta earnings: $57,200

Bumped down a couple of places because when I looked up his finish at last year’s Masters I started humming “Denny McCarthy came T45” to the tune of ‘Brimful of Asha’ and now I can’t get it out of my head.  

52. Matt Fitzpatrick

Masters record: MC-T7-32-T38-T21-T46-T34-T14-10-T22
Rounds under par: 15/38
Lowest and highest rounds: 67-78
Scoring average: 72.32
Augusta earnings: $1,461,191

Will be interesting to see how Fitz gets on without Billy Foster by his side, but the Yorkshireman needs to do something more drastic than a change of caddie if he is to get back in the major winners’ circle. He went into last year’s Masters 10th in the world. He’s now outside the top 70.

51. Billy Horschel

Masters record: T37-MC-T17-MC-T56-T38-T50-43-52
Rounds under par: 7/32
Lowest and highest rounds: 70-79
Scoring average: 73.78
Augusta earnings: $411,425

Coming to Augusta in form after that huge TGL victory last month, but his record here is horrendous. The honorary Brit is more likely to win The Open. Or the World Darts Championship.

50. JT Poston

Masters record: MC-T34-T30
Rounds under par: 2/10
Lowest and highest rounds: 70-76
Scoring average: 73.30
Augusta earnings: $231,400

Is his nickname ‘The Postman’ because it’s close to ‘Poston’? If so that’s the worst nickname in golf. Maybe all sport. Wonder if he gave it to himself.

49. Byeong Hun An

Masters record: MC-MC-T33-MC-T16
Rounds under par: 2/14
Lowest and highest rounds: 70-78
Scoring average: 73.86
Augusta earnings: $392,150

Was the 21st-best player on the PGA Tour last year, yet still to win on the American circuit. Could honestly shoot anything between 20-under and 20-over and it wouldn’t be a surprise.

48. Wyndham Clark

Masters record: MC
Rounds under par: 0/2
Lowest and highest rounds: 73-78
Scoring average: 75.50
Augusta earnings: $15,000

There was a whole episode of Full Swing dedicated to Clark’s anger management issues and not once did they call him ‘The Wyncredible Hulk’. So, for that reason, I’m out.

47. Max Homa

Masters record: MC-MC-T48-T43-T3
Rounds under par: 4/16
Lowest and highest rounds: 67-78
Scoring average: 73.31
Augusta earnings: $1,166,650

Was in the top-10 in the world rankings as recently as the US Open but a brutal run of form has seen him fall to 78th. Just to put into context how bad Homa’s run is, he has fallen further than Jon Rahm, who has only played a handful of OWGR-ranking events in 16 months.

46. Sungjae Im

Masters record: T2-MC-T8-T16-MC
Rounds under par: 8/16
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-80
Scoring average: 72.13
Augusta earnings: $1,748,000

Will almost certainly look back and wonder ‘what if?’ about the Covid Masters. Finished T4 at the San Diego Open and then missed the cut at the Los Angeles Open a few weeks later on the very same course, which means nothing other than I found it slightly peculiar and I like using retro tournament names.

45. Tom Kim

Masters record: T16-T30
Rounds under par: 3/8
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-78
Scoring average: 72.38
Augusta earnings: $385,200

TK’s episode of Full Swing opens with a talking head telling us that “in just two months, he went from ‘who is that?’ to literal global superstar”. Still yet to break into the top 10 and has fallen outside the top 30 since that aired.

44. Tony Finau

Masters record: T10-T5-T38-T10-T35-T26-T55
Rounds under par: 11/28
Lowest and highest rounds: 64-80
Scoring average: 71.89
Augusta earnings: $1,308,101

If Milton isn’t careful, his biggest contribution to the Masters will be that time he popped his ankle during the Par-3 Contest…

43. Chris Kirk

Masters record: T20-T33-MC-T23-T16
Rounds under par: 5/18
Lowest and highest rounds: 68-77
Scoring average: 72.67
Augusta earnings: $662,360

A sneaky solid record around these parts and has found the winning formula again after an eight-year dry spell.  

42. Thomas Detry

Masters record: Rookie

A solid tip for top debutant. Won the Phoenix by seven after getting a dressing down from Gary Player of all people. Hope he doesn’t win, otherwise they’ll change his Wikipedia photo.

41. Russell Henley

Masters record: MC-T31-21-T11-T15-T30-T4-T38
Rounds under par: 13/30
Lowest and highest rounds: 67-81
Scoring average: 72.33
Augusta earnings: $1,534,650

Fair play for getting this far. Come on, you got this!

• We tried all the food at the Masters – here’s how we rated it!

40. Aaron Rai

Masters record: Rookie

Yes, he wears two gloves. And yes, uses iron headcovers. But no, I will not bump him down because it’s all for good reason and he’s a super nice dude.

39. Taylor Pendrith

Masters record: Rookie

Earned his first PGA Tour win a couple of weeks after last year’s Masters to set up the longest possible wait for an Augusta debut. A T16 at the US Open will have him believing he can ruffle some azaleas. Edges Rai for top rookie.

38. Lucas Glover

Masters record: MC-T20-T36-MC-MC-49-T42-MC-T30-T20
Rounds under par: 6/32
Lowest and highest rounds: 69-79
Scoring average: 73.94
Augusta earnings: $553,325

Enjoying a bit of a resurgence in recent years. He won twice in 2023, and has had four PGA Tour top-three finishes since October – including last month at The Players. Imagine if he won here. Go back to the Nike SQ driver, Glove!

37. Matthieu Pavon

Masters record: T12
Rounds under par: 1/4
Lowest and highest rounds: 70-74
Scoring average: 72.25
Augusta earnings: $405,000

Was the highest-placed rookie here last year after an electric start to his PGA Tour career. The Frenchman is having a bit of an odd season with no finish better than his T44 at the Genesis but also only two missed cuts. Sacré bleu!

36. Sahith Theegala

Masters record: 9-T45
Rounds under par: 2/8
Lowest and highest rounds: 67-75
Scoring average: 72.50
Augusta earnings: $579,200

Given how much hype surrounded this young-man-who-is-actually-almost-30, you’d think his career highlights would feature more than one off-season victory and a QBE Shootout win. Will probably finish top-five.

35. Cameron Young

Masters record: MC-T7-T9
Rounds under par: 3/10
Lowest and highest rounds: 67-77
Scoring average: 72.40
Augusta earnings: $1,130,500

Still hasn’t won on the PGA Tour and yet has five top-10s in 14 major appearances. Can’t shake the feeling that he will have a Shaun Micheel career.

34. Jason Day

Masters record: T2-WD-3-T20-T28-T10-T22-T20-T5-MC-MC-T39-T30
Rounds under par: 20/45
Lowest and highest rounds: 64-80
Scoring average: 71.98
Augusta earnings: $2,518,248

Let’s face it, after what happened last year, we’re all just looking forward to seeing what clothing he rocks up in.

33. Phil Mickelson

Masters record: T46-T34-T7-3-MC-T12-T6-T7-3-3-3-W-10-W-T24-T5-5-1-T27-T3-T54-MC-T2-MC-T22-T36-T18-T55-T21-T2-T43
Rounds under par: 60/118
Lowest and highest rounds: 65-79
Scoring average: 71.39
Augusta earnings: $9,853,117

Averaging below par from 118 rounds is a seriously underrated achievement, and Lefty passed Tiger Woods as the highest-ever earner in Masters history. His game may have fallen off a Saudi cliff, but he knows how to get the job done here. Don’t rule him out (of a backdoor top-10).

32. Cameron Davis

Masters record: T46-T12
Rounds under par: 1/8
Lowest and highest rounds: 69-79
Scoring average: 73.63
Augusta earnings: $451,500

The Aussie has only played in nine majors and has a T4 at the PGA and a T12 here on his resume. Won’t trouble the leaders. Won’t miss the cut. Next.   

31. Nicolai Hojgaard

Masters record: T16
Rounds under par: 1/4
Lowest and highest rounds: 67-76
Scoring average: 72.50
Augusta earnings: $310,000

Fun fact: Hojgaard made 21 birdies here on debut last year. Champion Scottie Scheffler made 20. Avoid bogeys, win the Masters. Easy.

30. Sepp Straka

Masters record: T30-T46-T16
Rounds under par: 3/12
Lowest and highest rounds: 70-78
Scoring average: 73.17
Augusta earnings: $460,750

Doesn’t get anywhere near the credit he should – probably because American fans aren’t interested as he’s not American and European fans aren’t interested because they think he’s American.

29. Harris English

Masters record: MC-T42-T21-T43-T22
Rounds under par: 5/18
Lowest and highest rounds: 70-77
Scoring average: 73.50
Augusta earnings: $418,700

English is American though, just to continue this little runner.

28. Adam Scott

Masters record: T9-T23-MC-T33-T27-T27-T25-MC-T18-T2-T8-W-T14-T38-T42-T9-T32-T18-T34-54-T48-T39-T22
Rounds under par: 30/88
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-80
Scoring average: 72.58
Augusta earnings: $4,031,957

Bumped up the ranking due to his form at the end of last year, then pushed back down a bit due to his form this year. Seems to be suffering from his PGA Tour board commitments getting on top of him. Now where have we heard that before? 

27. Akshay Bhatia

Masters record: 35
Rounds under par: 0/4
Lowest and highest rounds: 72-75
Scoring average: 73.50
Augusta earnings: $103,000

Became the first to compete in the Drive, Chip and Putt and the Masters Tournament proper last year. Definitely one to watch. And our sixth left-hander so far. 

26. Justin Rose

Masters record: T39-T22-T5-T36-T20-T11-T8-T25-T14-T2-T10-2-T12-MC-T23-7-MC-T16-MC
Rounds under par: 35/70
Lowest and highest rounds: 65-81
Scoring average: 71.90
Augusta earnings: $4,409,265

Other than Rory McIlroy, does anyone have a better record at this place without getting over the line? Answers on a postcard. Good vibes get you in my top 26, apparently.

25. Sergio Garcia

Masters record: T38-T40-MC-8-T28-T4-MC-46-MC-MC-T38-T45-T35-T12-T8-MC-T17-T34-W-MC-MC-MC-T23-MC-MC
Rounds under par: 25/80
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-81
Scoring average: 73.11
Augusta earnings: $3,461,530

Five missed cuts in six since finally getting over the line tells its own story, but Serg is a new man this year. Seems he’s realized he might actually play in the Ryder Cup again and as a result is shifting himself back into people’s good books.

24. Robert MacIntyre

Masters record: T12-T23 
Rounds under par: 3/8
Lowest and highest rounds: 69-76
Scoring average: 72.13
Augusta earnings: $356,500

Back at Augusta after missing the last two years. Good record from his couple of appearances so far, and has really taken his game to the next level since. (And a seventh lefty!)

23. Min Woo Lee

Masters record: T14-MC-T22
Rounds under par: 2/10
Lowest and highest rounds: 69-75
Scoring average: 73.20
Augusta earnings: $410,833

I like the kid, and congrats on finally winning a PGA Tour event, but I’m a middle-aged man now and I’m not sure I could stomach the “Let Him Cook!” #content around the Champions Dinner were he to win.

22. Tyrrell Hatton

Masters record: MC-T44-T56-MC-T18-52-T34-T9
Rounds under par: 5/28
Lowest and highest rounds: 68-80
Scoring average: 73.61
Augusta earnings: $916,310

Would love to see Hatton win the Masters – just so him and Danny Willett can have a naughty table at the Champions Dinner. He doesn’t like the golf course, as we know from his regular middle-finger salutes here, but will almost certainly add to his maiden top-10 from last year.  

21. Keegan Bradley

Masters record: T27-T54-MC-T22-T52-T43-T23-T22
Rounds under par: 11/30
Lowest and highest rounds: 68-82
Scoring average: 73.10
Augusta earnings: $610,403

That Full Swing humiliation seems to have turned Keegs into a new man. Hard to believe he’s only made eight appearances – and just over half a million bucks – here, and yet he’s now firmly in the Outsiders Who Could Legitimately Win a Green Jacket group, May even qualify for his own Ryder Cup team.

• 9 big names missing from this year’s Masters

20. Patrick Reed

Masters record: MC-T22-T49-MC-W-T36-T10-T8-T35-T4-T12
Rounds under par: 18/40
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-79
Scoring average: 71.93
Augusta earnings: $4,032,851

Admit it, you’d forgotten about Patrick Reed, hadn’t you? Seems it’s hard to stand out in the villain role when the pantomime is a criminal underworld. Still knows how to get the job done here, though…

19. Will Zalatoris

Masters record: 2-T6-T9
Rounds under par: 8/12
Lowest and highest rounds: 67-77
Scoring average: 71.00
Augusta earnings: $2,313,250

Just look at that Masters record – and that T9 last year included a 77 on the card. Having an uncharacteristically consistent season so far but is yet to trouble the top 10. Maybe a return to his happy place will help…

18. Tommy Fleetwood

Masters record: MC-T17-T36-T19-T46-T14-33-T3
Rounds under par: 12/30
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-78
Scoring average: 72.07
Augusta earnings: $1,790,749

Can you think of anyone who would look better slipping into that Green Jacket on Sunday? There was a little glimmer of hope he might have won here last year, but then Scottie Scheffler did what Scottie Scheffler does on the back-nine. Blows my mind that Fleetwood is yet to win on American soil. At least he can rest assured that particular monkey will finally be off his back at Bethpage in September.

17. Corey Conners

Masters record: MC-T46-T10-T8-T6-MC-T38
Rounds under par: 12/24
Lowest and highest rounds: 65-80
Scoring average: 72.17
Augusta earnings: $1,287,700

A solid record around Augusta AND only 14 players have beaten him in his last three starts at Bay Hill, Sawgrass, and Innisbrook. Form is your friend at Augusta…

16. Justin Thomas

Masters record: T39-T22-T17-T12-4-T21-T8-MC-MC
Rounds under par: 15/32
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-79
Scoring average: 71.94
Augusta earnings: $1,694,100

MC, T65, MC, MC, MC, T8, MC, T31. Imagine telling someone that’s the most recent major form of the ninth best golfer on the planet. Absolutely can win here, though, and someone who just looks suited to owning a Green Jacket.

15. Cameron Smith

Masters record: T55-T5-T51-T2-T10-T3-T34-T6
Rounds under par: 16/32
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-82
Scoring average: 71.59
Augusta earnings: $3,411,668

Having a distinctly average season on LIV Golf, but his 71.59 scoring average here has only been bettered by five players in history. Is also the only player to card four rounds in the 60s during a single Masters Tournament – something even Tiger and Jack couldn’t manage.

14. Shane Lowry

Masters record: MC-T39-MC-MC-T25-T21-T3-T16-T43
Rounds under par: 7/30
Lowest and highest rounds: 68-79
Scoring average: 72.80
Augusta earnings: $1,490,313

Has a sneaky good record at Augusta and really thought he would take advantage of the awkward conditions last year. Can’t shake the feeling he has a Green Jacket in his future. There wouldn’t be many more popular winners.

13. Joaquin Niemann

Masters record: MC-T40-T35-T16-T22
Rounds under par: 7/18
Lowest and highest rounds: 69-78
Scoring average: 73.17
Augusta earnings: $565,763

The best player in the world, if you believe the LIV fanboys. The 8th best player in the world if you prefer a more data-led approach. That T16 a couple of years ago is the Chilean’s only top-20 in a major to date, which tells its own story.  

12. Hideki Matsuyama

Masters record: T27-T54-MC-5-T7-T11-19-T32-T13-W-T14-T16-T38
Rounds under par: 24/50
Lowest and highest rounds: 65-80
Scoring average: 71.72
Augusta earnings: $4,034,867

A frankly absurd record around this place and was ranked 4th in the world just a few weeks back. Sleep on Deki at your peril.

11. Jordan Spieth

Masters record: T2-W-T2-T11-3-T21-T46-T3-MC-T4-MC
Rounds under par: 23/40
Lowest and highest rounds: 64-79
Scoring average: 70.95
Augusta earnings: $6,030,828

Look, this is my list, and I’ll put him wherever I want. Guess how many players who have played 25+ rounds at ANGC have a better scoring average? That’s right. Zero.

If it wasn’t for my statsman Tom Jacobs spoiling my fun, he’d probably be No.1.

Speaking of which, here he is to join the party…

Masters Trends

Before we get into the top 10, Tom has chucked together a few trends that are worth noting when you’re picking your winner…

General Trends

Age: 10 of the last 12 winners were 27 or older
World ranking: 12 of the last 12 winners were ranked in the top 25
Position after Round 1: 11/12 winners were in the top 10
Position after Round 2: 12/12 winners were in the top 8
Position after Round 3: 11/12 winners were in the top 3
Career events: 10/12 winners had at least 140 previous career starts
Career wins: 12/12 winners had at least 4 previous career wins

Course Trends

Previous starts: 10/12 winners had played in at least 2 previous Masters
Previous wins: 3/12 winners had at least 1 Masters win
Previous top-5s: 9/12 winners had at least 1 previous Masters top-5
Previous top-10s: 9/12 winners had at least 1 previous Masters top 10 finish
Previous best finish: 11/12 winners had finished 22nd or higher in a previous Masters
Last appearance: 10/12 winners finished in the top 38 on their last appearance at the Masters
Opening round: 12/12 winners broke par in Round 1 (Tiger Woods, with a 74 in 2005, was the last to buck this trend)

Season Trends

Season Events: 10/12 winners had played in at least 6 previous events that season
Season Wins: 8/12 winners had at least 1 previous tournament win that season
Season Top 5s: 11/12 winners had at least 1 previous top 5 finish that season
Season Top 10s: 10/12 winners had at least 2 previous top 10 finishes that season
Previous Event: 11/12 winners finished 31st or higher on their last start before the Masters

10. Viktor Hovland

Masters record: T32-T21-T27-T7-MC
Rounds under par: 8/18
Lowest and highest rounds: 65-81
Scoring average: 72.17
Augusta earnings: $826,100

Yes, he missed the cut in three majors last year. And yes he shot an 81 here last year. And yes his game seems to have completely deserted him. But hear us out…

Tom says…

Let’s cut to the chase. Hovland has been all over the place this season and, as such, he looks terrible statistically. 

74th in SG: Total, 125th in (Adjusted) Scoring Average, and outside the top 100 in SG: Putting and SG: Around the Green make this a tough sell for the Norwegian. But then we remember he won just a couple of weeks ago at the Innisbrook.

Hovland won that event out of nowhere, despite feeling uneasy with his swing and overall game. If anything, that just reminds of us how good he really is.

I’ve been high on Hov in recent years and he’s clearly capable of winning here.

And while that Valspar win papered over some cracks short term, and this Masters may have come too soon as he looks to rebuild his game to a more solid state, one thing to hold onto is the fact he ranks 13th in SG: Approach and he fits the trends from a course and current form perspective.

9. Patrick Cantlay

Masters record: T47-MC-T9-T17-MC-T39-T14-T22
Rounds under par: 12/28
Lowest and highest rounds: 64-79
Scoring average: 72.46
Augusta earnings: $1,080,250

No one outside the Cantlay family wants to say it out loud, but Patty Ice absolutely has it in his locker to win the Masters.

Tom says…

Alright, calm down. It’s hard to ignore Cantlay’s credentials.

Despite lacking any kind of a personality, Cantlay is statistically one of the best. And that’s why he’s perennially a top 10 player in the world.

While he hasn’t quite hit the heights of previous years, he has been solid across the board. He doesn’t rank better than 13th in any one Strokes Gained category, but there’s no obvious weakness, as his 47th place ranking in SG: Off the Tee is the worst of the bunch. 13th in SG: Total and 21st in SG: Tee to Green both suggest his all-around game is in good shape, and given he ranks 3rd in Greens in Regulation, there’s clearly a steadiness about him.

6th in Birdie Average and 13th in Scoring Average suggest there’s better to come from the American, and he’s already finished T5 here twice, crucially hitting one of the major Masters trends. 

And when you think about his T9 in 2019, he eagled 15 on the final day to tie the lead – but we forget that because of who actually went on to win that week. Let’s not forget he wasn’t far off at last year’s US Open, either.

Three years removed from his last win means there’s not a ton of noise about Cantlay right now – but, whether you like it or not, the numbers are telling us we shouldn’t be a tiny bit surprised if he were to go on and win.

8. Brooks Koepka

Masters record: T33-T21-T11-T2-T7-MC-MC-T2-T45
Rounds under par: 14/32
Lowest and highest rounds: 65-76
Scoring average: 71.81
Augusta earnings: $3,281,484

Like a certain Northern Irishman we haven’t yet reached, it feels more of a matter of when rather than if Koepka will ever win the Masters.

The man himself describes it as “statistically your best chance to win a major” and both times he was runner-up here he was a legitimate contender. Form is a concern, though.

Tom says…

Three LIV golfers crack the top 10 and not one of them is Niemann, who has won two of the first four events of the season. Whether this stems from the fear of leaving out one of the best major players of all time, or Koepka genuinely having a chance to win, remains to be seen.

After a couple of lackluster ball-striking weeks in Riyadh and Adelaide, Koepka hit his irons better in both Hong Kong and Singapore. Last time out, though, in Singapore, the former World No. 1 gained strokes in all four major categories but simply couldn’t keep up with the Chilean. One final week at Doral awaits for Koepka. Two years ago, he won in Orlando the week before finishing T2 at Augusta – can be set up similar this week?

After winning the 2023 PGA Championship, Koepka struggled in the 2024 majors, so he will quickly want to assert his dominance at a course where he’s clearly capable of winning.

This year, Koepka ranks 41st in Fairways Hit, and T46 in Greens in Regulation, but he’s getting by ranking 13th in Scrambling, and leading LIV in Putting Average. He also ranks 5th for birdies – and just four birdies behind the leader.

He’s always considered a threat, and more often than not you can throw stats out of the window as he so often leads the field in SG: Mental.

7. Ludvig Aberg

Masters record: 2
Rounds under par: 3/4
Lowest and highest rounds: 69-73
Scoring average: 70.25
Augusta earnings: $2,160,000

Took to Augusta like a duck to water last year, and he was very Jordan Spieth-like as he went toe-to-toe with Scottie Scheffler until a double-bogey at the 11th hole derailed his chances. The Swede bounced back brilliantly with birdies at 13 and 14 to at least make the World No.1 work for his second Green Jacket, and that’s a sign of a major winner in waiting.

Tom says…

That 2nd here last year was not only his Masters debut, but his major debut, and he has since added a T12 finish at the US Open. So there are plenty of good signs, especially after he doubled his PGA Tour win tally with victory at Torrey Pines.

A win on the season already ticks off a major trend, as does his performance here 12 months ago, and it’s only his slight dip in recent form that might put a bit of doubt in some people’s minds.

The problem with Aberg’s win is that it actually papered over some cracks. For someone like him, that’s probably OK. As we have just seen with Viktor Hovland, elite-level talents can overcome statistical deficiencies. But there are plenty when we look at Aberg currently.

The Swede ranks 12th in SG: Off the Tee, but he also ranks 64th in SG: Tee to Green, 98th in SG: Putting, 99th in SG: Approach, and 142nd in SG: Around the Green. Quite frankly, that’s disastrous for someone of his ability – especially when that takes into account a victory!

64th in SG: Total and a ridiculous 106th in (Adjusted) Scoring Average, Aberg doesn’t rate out as a great pick statistically.

I’m here to present these statistical facts, so don’t shoot the messenger – but on paper a Masters win looks unlikely.

Fortunately for Aberg the Masters isn’t played on paper, but Bermuda grass, and not many have played the game of golf better than him since he turned pro barely two years ago. We shouldn’t ignore the stats, but if anyone is going to defy a poor statistical profile, Aberg would be top of that list.

6. Jon Rahm

Masters record: T27-4-T9-T7-T5-T27-W-T45
Rounds under par: 16/32
Lowest and highest rounds: 65-77
Scoring average: 70.97
Augusta earnings: $5,120,217

Last year’s Masters was not only Rahm’s first public appearance after joining LIV but his return as defending champion. It all seemed to get the better of him as he sulked his way to a tie for 45th.  

It wasn’t just Augusta he struggled on the major stage either, with a missed cut at the PGA Championship and a no-show at the US Open only rescued by another top-10 at The Open.

Tom says…

Ranking LIV golfers is hard, and ultimately that’s Alex’s job – but I’m here to see what the data says.

We do get Strokes Gained numbers on Data Golf for LIV players now, but the league themselves don’t rank the players so we need to infer some of it.

On first look, Rahm has gained 1.08 strokes per round in SG: Approach in Riyadh, where he finished 2nd, and that was both his best finish and his best iron week. He’s gained strokes on approach in two of his three starts since, gaining 0.93 per round in Singapore, so he’s clearly hitting his irons well enough.

Overall he’s gained strokes in all four categories in each of his last two events, and an extremely poor iron week in Adelaide is the only blemish on an otherwise good LIV season so far.

He’s finished 2nd, 6th, 6th, and 5th in his four LIV events so far, so Rahm is playing solidly without hitting top gear, and he’s got one more chance at Doral to pick up a win before he goes for a second Green Jacket in three years.

With 62, no one has made more birdies on LIV this year than Rahm, but he has been outplayed by Niemann, who has won two of the four events.

In terms of the traditional stats, Rahm ranks 23rd in Fairways Hit (61.90%), 9th in Scrambling (68.63%) and a pleasing 4th in Greens in Regulation (76.39%) – so he’s doing the right things.

He didn’t play very well when defending his Masters title last year, though that’s not uncommon for defending champions. But it does put him on the back foot in terms of trends, which suggest a finish of 38th or better the year before you win here is required. Happy to let that go as it’s generally aimed at those looking for their first win at Augusta though, rather than a player who has a win and four top-10 finishes in his last six Masters starts.

Rahm is clearly not in the form he was when winning here in 2023, but he is being a bit overlooked, even if we don’t make him the leading contender from LIV Golf…

5. Collin Morikawa

Masters record: T44-T18-5-T10-T3
Rounds under par: 11/20
Lowest and highest rounds: 67-75
Scoring average: 71.35
Augusta earnings: $2,274,400

Tied for the lead on the 9th tee last year before a double bogey meant he had to settle for third. But he has two majors under his belt and he’s arguably the best iron player on the planet, so expect to see him right in the mix on Sunday.

Tom says…

Is Morikawa back? Ultimately, he never really went away, he just won at an unsustainable rate early in his career – particularly with those two major wins – but he’s certainly looked like winning again this year, which would be his first win since the 2023 Zozo Championship.

Morikawa is 5-for-5 for made cuts here, with three straight top-10 finishes, so he’s he’s figured out how to compete at Augusta. 

That showed when he went into the final round last year just one shot back of the lead, and he clearly enjoyed himself on Sunday back in 2023 when he climbed four spots into 5th place thanks to a 67 when playing with McIlroy.

The Californian isn’t the longest, but he might be the deadliest when it comes to ball striking, as he leads the PGA Tour in both SG: Approach and SG: Tee to Green, while also ranking 2nd in SG: Total. When he’s playing like this, he must be considered.

Despite struggling for distance, he still ranks 15th in SG: Off the Tee, and given he ranks 33rd SG: Around the Green, it’s likely just his flatstick we need to keep an eye on. 

And while he currently ranks 64th in SG: Putting on the PGA Tour, Morikawa has gained strokes on the greens in every Masters from 2021 to 2024 – while last year he was as high as 7th in that particular category.

Morikawa has already finished runner-up twice this year, and both times he was a bit unfortunate not to win.

Given his major prowess and the fact he ticks off the major Masters trends nicely, we would be foolish not to consider him a genuine contender for the Green Jacket.

4. Xander Schauffele

Masters record: T50-T2-T17-T3-MC-T10-8
Rounds under par: 13/26
Lowest and highest rounds: 65-78
Scoring average: 71.38
Augusta earnings: $2,793,637

Was very much in the mix in ’19 but, like several others, allowed Mr Woods (and us) to have that fairytale finish, and could – perhaps should – have won in ’21 when he sent his ball for a swim at 16.

Now, though, he’s learned how to get it done at the majors. There’s one thing that worries me, though. Will he be fully fit in time?

Tom says…

Schauffele came of age in 2024 with those two major wins, and one of the statistical darlings of recent years finally paid back his patient backers. Now, though, we need to read between the lines.

Schauffele has been struggling with a rib injury this year and has spent a lot of time on the sidelines.

A 40th-place finish at Bay Hill and a 72nd at Sawgrass are huge concerns, but he hit his irons well at Arnie’s place, ranking 20th that week in SG: Approach. He then bettered that in a big way by leading the field in the same category at the Valspar, where he also ranked 5th in SG: Tee to Green.

Maybe – just maybe – he’s found fitness and form in the nick of time.

His injury-affected year so far prevents him from hitting the important season trends, but he has already finished T2 and T3 at Augusta, and has posted back-to-back top-10 finishes in the last two years. Schauffele is one of the best fits for this event, and as such, I’m willing to overlook his statistical struggles, as he bounces back from injury.

He ranks 3rd in SG: Approach this season, but just 69th in SG: Tee to Green, and 123rd or worse in SG: Total, SG: Off the Tee, SG: Around the Green, and SG: Putting. This can largely be put down to playing a couple of events before he was ready, and we should instead focus on his ball-striking efforts at the Valspar.

Out of sight and mind, the price is slightly bigger on Schauffele than expected, and he might present an opportunity, if you believe the injury woes are behind him.

I appreciate I am being far more forgiving when it comes to Schauffele’s stats over Aberg’s, but I think it’s warranted.

3. Bryson DeChambeau

Masters record: T21-T38-T29-T34-T46-T6
Rounds under par: 7/28
Lowest and highest rounds: 65-80
Scoring average: 72.75
Augusta earnings: $935,003

Leading the line for LIV Golf is our favorite YouTube star.

Ludicrous to think he had only banked $240,000 on a golf course he once called a “par-67” before he rocked up and finished T6 last time out. Bryson DeChambeau is one of the favorites to win the Masters. There I said it.

Tom says…

I’m higher than others on DeChambeau, and that paid off at last year’s US Open, but many are not convinced he can pull off a win at Augusta.

A lot of the negativity revolves around his lack of touch around the greens here, and I understand the concern, but he wasn’t actually as bad in that department last year. According to Data Golf, DeChambeau lost 1.47 strokes per round around the greens before missing the cut here in 2022, and in 2023 he lost 0.8 strokes per round in the same department, suffering the same fate. Last year, he still lost strokes, but it was far less severe at 0.18 strokes per round, and that no doubt helped him finish T6 – by far his best finish at the Masters.

Some golfers take a bit longer than others to figure out Augusta, and given his style of play it’s no real surprise Bryson has perhaps struggled to find the right formula.

DeChambeau led through 18 holes last year, co-led after 54, and was still within four of the lead going into Sunday. That was the first time he had truly been in contention for an extended time here, but he was also within four of the lead at halfway as an amateur in 2016 and was the first-round leader in 2019, so he’s conquered day 1 on two occasions now and shown at least a reasonable liking for the layout.

Unsurprisingly, DeChambeau led the field in SG: Off the Tee last year, and was 7th in SG: Tee to Green, as well as ranking inside the top 23 in both SG: Approach and SG: Putting. Clearly his around-the-green play held him back, ranking 44th in that category, and that’s what he will need to get absolutely right here.

On LIV Golf, DeChambeau ranks 7th for Fairways Hit at 66.67%, so not only is he driving it long, he’s keeping it straight as well. If he can continue to hit greens at a good clip, as he’s done so on LIV this season, he should be a threat just by limiting the number of times he misses the green.

He’s not been at his brilliant best so far in 2025, but he finished T10 in Singapore and has another shot at Doral this week, where he finished T7 last year before his career-best effort here.

Nine of the last 12 Masters winners had posted a previous top 10 at Augusta before winning their first Green Jacket, while 11 of those 12 had also posted a top-5 finish worldwide before winning here. DeChambeau’s 2nd in the International Series event in India counts, even if it feels a bit of a loose link.

Another top-5 at Doral would certainly enhance his chances.

2. Scottie Scheffler

Masters record: T19-T18-W-T10-W
Rounds under par: 15/20
Lowest and highest rounds: 66-75
Scoring average: 70.40
Augusta earnings: $7,037,325

It’s simple, really. If you beat Scheffler at Augusta National, there’s a pretty good chance you’re the new Masters champion.

Tom says…

Heading into the Houston Open, there were actually question marks over Scheffler’s form and it was widely discussed that Scheffler needed a big week while McIlroy had the luxury of two wins under his belt and could instead use the tournament as a tune-up.

Well, we have become so numb to Scheffler’s dominance in recent years that we sometimes mark his work with too much red pen. Statistically, the World No.1 is playing plenty well enough to defend his title at Augusta – and while no one has done that since a certain T. Woods back in 2002, Scheffler’s T2 in Houston is a good indicator.

Looking at the Strokes Gained metrics, Scheffler ranks 3rd in SG: Tee to Green, 7th in SG: Off the Tee, 8th in SG: Approach, and 3rd in SG: Total.

Crucially, it’s been Scheffler’s short game, specifically his putting, that has held him back this year. He ranks 42nd in SG: Putting for the season – a noticeable jump from 86th with that runner-up in Houston – and 49th in SG: Around the Green. 

Last year, Scheffler ranked 1st for SG: Around the Green and SG: Tee to Green, 2nd in SG: Off the Tee, 14th in SG: Approach, and 22nd in SG: Putting in another complete performance, and that is why he donned the Green Jacket for a second time. 

Scheffler finished 10th when defending here in 2023, how will he fare this time?

• What is Scottie Scheffler serving at the Masters Champions Dinner?

And your 2025 Masters Power Rankings No.1 is…

1. Rory McIlroy

Masters record: T20-MC-T15-T40-T25-T8-4-T10-T7-T5-T21-T5-MC-2-MC-T22
Rounds under par: 34/58
Lowest and highest rounds: 64-80
Scoring average: 71.60
Augusta earnings: $4,343,021

We’ll still be backing him to win a Green Jacket until he gives it all up. (Which, if what he said in a recent interview is to be believed, is in 14 years’ time.)

We know what you’re thinking. McIlroy? No.1? Well get over it. How can we not? Those missed cuts in ’21 and ’23 aside, his record here is ludicrous. There is not one person who can argue that he isn’t playing the best golf of anyone on the planet right now.

He’s already won twice on US soil in 2025 – the first time he’s done that before the Masters in his career – and he has just become the first player second player (after you-know-who) to break the $100 million earnings barrier on the PGA Tour.

Oh and Mr Ridley, just so you know, his jacket size is 44 long and hid right arm is a bit longer than his left.

Tom says…

There’s never been a reason McIlroy can’t win here other than the six inches between his ears, but what do the stats say?

Well, he’s dominating the game right now – and the numbers back him up.

So far this season, McIlroy ranks 1st in SG: Off the Tee, 2nd in SG: Tee to Green, 12th in SG: Putting, 17th in SG: Approach and, crucially, 1st in SG: Total. 

Not only that, he’s 30th in SG: Around the Green – a significant improvement in recent weeks and a really good indicator heading to Augusta.

Ultimately, we will know by the end of Thursday’s opening round whether or not McIlroy is going to contend. On the two occasions he’s had a real chance to win on Sunday, he opened with a sub-70 round – 65 in 2011 and 69 in 2018 – while in 2016 he started 70-71 to sit one back at the halfway stage, only to play his way out of it with a Saturday 77. At the very least, he needs to start with an under-par round, which he’s managed in seven of his 14 Masters starts.

Nine of the last 12 winners were inside the top-four after 18 holes, and all 12 were 11th or better going into the weekend.

A fast start is crucial for McIlroy, and that’s what he’s lacked in the last six years – where he’s been 44th, 77th, 60th, 31st, 37th and 14th after the opening round.

Sure, Rory’s career-best 2nd place finish in 2022 was impressive, but it papers over some very obvious cracks that quickly appear on Thursday.

All the data points to Rory contending, and now that he’s been in the mix at the last three US Opens and shown he’s ready to win another major title, it is simply a case of getting over the mental wall that stands between him and a Green Jacket.

By the way, because I know Alex has forgotten about it, the answer to that quiz question about Mike Weir was Len Mattiace. Well done if you got that at home.

• You can follow Alex and Tom on X: @byAlexPerry and @TomJacobs93