The Masters 2025 Preview, Picks & Analysis

And finally we arrive at Augusta National for the season’s first major. Once again all the focus will be on Rory McIlroy as he attempts to complete the career grand slam by winning The Masters and ending his near 11-year major drought.

This will be the Northern Irishman’s 17th start in the world’s most iconic major and the truth is that his best chance to win was way back in 2011 when he went into the final round leading by four shots before one of the last-day implosions for which Augusta National is famous. He ended up shooting a final round of 80 and finished in a tie for 15th place before bouncing back two months later by winning the US Open in sensational fashion.

Everybody thought it would only be a matter of time before he won The Masters, but although there have been several near-misses in the years since 2011 he has never really looked like winning. Yes, he finished second in 2022 after a final round of 64, but he had started the day in ninth place and was never really in contention.

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And there is another stark reality that the Northern Irishman is going to have to face. He will be 36 years old next month - and time is running out for him. I believe that with each and every passing year the pressure on him to win here is growing and McIlroy would not be human if he did not feel it.

There is widespread optimism about his chances this time around based on his early-season form. He won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Players Championship and will draw comfort from the fact that he claimed both those titles while nowhere near his best.

I expect a strong European challenge this week. 

Apart from McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Sepp Straka and Thomas Detry have all won on the PGA Tour this year, while Tyrrell Hatton won the Dubai Desert Classic and has all but secured his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team. And Jon Rahm is, of course, a former winner.

There have also been hugely encouraging performances from Robert MacIntyre, Shane Lowry, Aaron Rai, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood.

You may remember that when Aberg teed it up at Augusta National 12 months ago, it was his major debut played on a course that is notoriously difficult for first-timers. You would never have known it as he went on to finish second behind Scottie Scheffler. There was a lot of good golf in the months that followed but he had to wait for this year’s Genesis Invitational before claiming his second PGA Tour title. The Swede is a big-time player and there is not the slightest doubt in my mind that he will win majors, including this one. 

Quite apart from possessing a world-class game, Aberg is blessed with a wonderful temperament. No course puts that to the test quite like Augusta. No matter how well you play you are going to have to accept that there will be bad breaks along the way. There will also be some horrible putts. One thing you can guarantee is that Aberg will shrug those off and move on.

Now if only we could say the same thing about Hatton. His recent form has been scintillating. He won the Dunhill Links Championship in October and the Dubai Desert Classic in January, as well as finishing second at the Abu Dhabi Championship and sixth at the DP World Tour Championship. 

However, there were the usual temper tantrums along the way. Hatton insists that it is the only way he can play but I believe that his temperament ensures he will never win The Masters - and that is a real shame because he clearly has the game to do so.

Other than McIlroy and Aberg, I fancy the chances of Lowry putting up a really strong showing this week. 

He went toe to toe with McIlroy at Pebble Beach before finishing second, was tied 11th at the Cognizant, seventh at Bay Hill and tied eighth at the Valspar. The former Open champion is playing with what seems to be a new-found sense of self-belief. He possesses a wondrous touch on the greens and is a fabulous wedge player - key elements for anybody with designs on a Green Jacket.

Scheffler comes to Augusta having chosen exactly the right time to return to something like his best at the Houston Open in what was his final competitive appearance before making his title defence. Be under no illusions though - he probably remains the man to beat. If there is a concern for the world number one it revolves around his putting. By his own admission, this has always been the weakest part of his game and he has certainly struggled on the greens since returning from his hand injury.

There will be several American golfers who will seriously fancy their chances at Augusta.

US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau once said that Augusta was a par 67 for him. But in eight starts he has missed the cut twice and has a best finish of tied sixth, which he achieved in 2024. He has managed to equal or better his "par 67" only three times and has since admitted that his view was seriously misguided. DeChambeau has done a lot of growing up in recent years, on and off the course. I was in awe of his play and demeanour at last year’s US PGA and US Open. Do I think he will win this week? No. Do I think he can win? Without a doubt. No matter what happens, it will be fun to watch.

Collin Morikawa has been at the wrong end of some sensational play at both the Tournament of Champions, where he finished second to Hideki Matsuyama, and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where Russell Henley pipped him thanks to a barnstorming finish that included a chip-in for an eagle. He has done well at Augusta in the past but will be carrying some scar tissue.

The likes of Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Sahith Theegala, Sam Burns and Tony Finau will figure in many conversations but Henley is the golfer I believe could surprise many. He is a ruthlessly efficient player who goes about his business with the minimum of fuss. He has quietly climbed the world rankings. Apart from his victory, he finished tied fifth at Pebble Beach, tied sixth at the Cognizant and tied 10th at the Sony Open. He drives the ball well and, like Lowry, has a superb short game.

There will not be a dry eye in the house when two-time champion Bernhard Langer walks up the 18th fairway for the final time. Injury prevented him from making his final appearance in 2024 and he has made it clear that, at the age of 67, this will be the final times he competes. The German legend says that Augusta National is simply too long for him now. It would surprise nobody, however, if he were to find a way to make the cut one more time.

The Course:

Augusta National has been extended to 7,555 yards and is a par 72. It is one of the most beautiful golf courses on the planet, famous for its slopes, water hazards, well-placed bunkers and lightning-fast putting surfaces.

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2015 by Jordan Spieth, in 2016 by Danny Willett, in 2017 by Sergio Garcia, in 2018 by Patrick Reed, in 2019 by Tiger Woods, in 2020 by Dustin Johnson, in 2021 by Hideki Matsuyama, in 2022 and 2024 by Scottie Scheffler and in 2023 by Jon Rahm.

Form Guide:

Rory McIlroy (6/1 on Betway) is a two-time winner this season and all eyes will be on him once again, but will the pressure be too much? Ominously, defending champion Scottie Scheffler (9/2 on Betway) looks to have rediscovered something like the form that saw him dominate proceedings in 2024.

Prize Money:

The total prize fund is $20m, with the winner collecting $3.6m and 600 FedEx Cup points, as well as a life-long exemption into the Masters Tournament.

How to Watch:

Monday, April 7, On The Range, Sky Sports Golf, 5pm; Live from the Masters, Sky Sports Golf, 7pm; Tuesday, April 8, Live from The Masters, Sky Sports Golf, 2pm; Wednesday, April 9, Live from The Masters, 2pm, Sky Sports Golf; Par-3 tournament, Sky Sports Golf, 7pm; Masters Preview Show, Sky Sports Golf, 10pm; Thursday, April 10, Friday, April 11, Sky Sports Golf, 2pm; Saturday, April 12, Sunday, April 13, Sky Sports Golf, 3pm.

To Win:

Ludvig Aberg. Looking to go one better in 2025 (16/1)

Each Way:

Rory McIlroy. Another near-miss? (6/1)

Each Way:

Russell Henley. A genuine dark horse with pedigree (40/1)

Five to Follow:

Ludvig Aberg. Wonderful temperament (16/1)

Rory McIlroy. Under huge pressure (6/1)

Russell Henley. Massively underrated (40/1)

Scottie Scheffler. He’s back! (9/2)

Bryson Dechambeau. Never a dull minute (14/1)

Five Outsiders to Watch:

Bernhard Langer. Emotional farewell (1000/1)

Brian Campbell. Straight hitter (400/1)

Thomas Detry. Full of self-belief (125/1)

Aaron Rai. As consistent as they come (125/1)

Matthieu Pavon. Mercurial French golfer (300/1)

What The Bookies Think (2025 Masters Winner)

1. Scottie Scheffler (9/2)

2. Rory McIlroy (6/1)

3. Bryson DeChambeau (14/1)

4. Collin Morikawa (14/1)

5. Jon Rahm (16/1)

6. Ludvig Aberg (16/1)

7. Xander Schauffele (20/1)

8. Justin Thomas (22/1)

9. Hideki Matsuyama (28/1)

10. Patrick Cantlay (28/1)

11. Joaquin Niemann (28/1)

12. Brooks Koepka (33/1)

13. Jordan Spieth (33/1)

14. Shane Lowry (33/1)

15. Tommy Fleetwood (33/1)

This 2025 Masters preview article was written and published in collaboration with Betway.