Five players to watch at the Masters 2025
With a mix of established champions and emerging stars vying for the ultimate prize in golf, the 2025 Masters promises to be an electrifying tournament. From defending champions to long-time hopefuls to wildcards, here are five players you mustn’t take your eyes off.
Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler enters the 2025 Masters as one of the most consistent players in the game, now the proud owner of the longest consecutive streak at No. 1 in the world for anybody not named Tiger Woods.
The defending champion has, however, had a slightly tricky start to the season after a minor hand injury during the offseason, the 29-year-old not quite back to his absolute best yet. But this is Scottie Scheffler we’re talking about – he’s still recorded three top 11 PGA Tour finishes, including T3 at the Genesis Open, so the perception that he still has much more left in the tank is a credit to the high bar Scheffler has set for himself.
What we do know is that his style fits Augusta National perfectly. His precision iron play and ability to handle Augusta’s lightning-fast greens make him a favourite to retain his title, even if his short game needs some tightening up this season. Regardless, few would bet against Scheffler being in contention for his third Green Jacket come Sunday.
Rory McIlroy
Every fan of golf knows that The Masters is the only major missing from Rory McIlroy’s collection, and after his start to the season, 2025 seems to be the best chance the Northern Irishman has had in years to complete the career Grand Slam. The 35-year-old has come agonizingly close in past editions at Augusta, with multiple top-10 finishes, but has yet to slip into the Green Jacket.
Victories at both the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Players Championship are evidence of a McIlroy full of confidence, especially his win at the Players which saw him take his second crown at TPC Sawgrass despite not having the most rounded of weekends. Winning ugly is a trait of all good players, and McIlroy seems to be taking comfort in that as the Masters approaches.
One of the biggest challenges for McIlroy has been his starts at the Masters – too often, he has found himself playing catch-up after an opening-round stumble. If he can start strong and keep his putting consistent, there is no doubt he has the ability to claim his first Green Jacket.
Ludvig Åberg
Ludvig Åberg is one of the most exciting young talents in golf, and 2025 could mark his true breakthrough moment. The Swedish sensation turned heads with his victory at the Genesis Invitational earlier this season, outplaying established stars like Scottie Scheffler and Maverick McNealy. Åberg’s ability to hit towering drives and attack pins with aggressive approach shots has already made him a favourite among fans and analysts.
His Masters debut in 2024 was an impressive one as he finished runner-up to Scheffler on -7, proving that he has the poise and talent to perform under the unique pressure of Augusta National.
At just 24 years old, the Swede represents the next generation of golfing superstars. If he can maintain his composure and handle the notoriously difficult greens at Augusta, he could very well be in contention for his first major championship.
Jon Rahm
While he may have dropped out of some people’s golfing consciousness after his move to LIV Golf, Jon Rahm remains one of the biggest threats in any tournament he enters. The Spaniard’s immense power off the tee, combined with his elite short game, makes him perfectly suited for Augusta’s challenging layout.
It certainly did in 2023 when he was crowned Masters champion for the first time, but it’s his consistency across his time at Augusta that astonishes, with five top-10 finishes in eight career trips to Augusta National.
One of Rahm’s greatest strengths is his putting under pressure, and at the Masters is where that skill often has the greatest payoff – few players possess Rahm’s ability to drain them late on a Sunday when the stakes are at their highest. If he can find his rhythm early, he will be a serious contender for his second Green Jacket.
Justin Thomas
Before a few weeks ago, few would have put Justin Thomas in contention at the Masters, but recent form suggests that the two-time major champion could be returning to his old self.
Thomas has been enjoying a resurgent 2025 season with his performances at the Players Championship and the Valspar Championship. At the Players, Thomas delivered one of the greatest rounds in the tournament’s history, tying the course record with a jaw-dropping 10-under 62 in the second round, and could have easily broken the record if not for a mistake with his second shot on 18 that saw his ball skip into the water. At the Valspar Championship, Thomas came heartbreakingly close to victory, finishing just one stroke behind winner Viktor Hovland.
These near misses are sure to have only fuelled his hunger to capture another major title, and his strong form heading into Augusta suggests he could be a serious threat. Thomas’ creativity and shot-making ability are tailor-made for Augusta National, so if his putter gets hot, he could be in line to add a Green Jacket to his collection of titles.