2025 Masters Tournament Guide

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15 YOUNG JOY BIG DREAMS

Nine-year-old Shane Strickland’s path to Drive, Chip & Putt.

– Thomas Ehlers

69 THE COURSE

The world-renowned holes at Augusta National Golf Club.

– Aimee Serafin

Illustrations by Jennifer & Joann Keller

21 IN A SEA OF BLUE (DEVILS)

Duke University Women’s Golf is leaving a mark on Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

– Thomas Ehlers

27 2025 WOMEN’S AMATEUR CONTENDERS

Profiles of the 2025 Augusta National Women’s Amateur contenders.

– Chris Gay

Our recap of the 2024 Masters Tournament.

– Johnathan McGinty

A highlight of Scottie Scheffler’s second Masters Tournament victory.

– David Westin

45 ONES TO WATCH/DARK HORSES

Augusta magazine’s annual top picks and long shots for the 2025 Masters Tournament.

– Johnathan McGinty

99 2025 MASTERS CONTENDERS

Profiles of the 2025 Masters Contenders.

– Chris Gay

Tournament Week Specials Available: April 7 - 13, 2025

BIG DREAMS YOUNG

By Thomas Ehlers

Photos courtesy of Chase Strickland

Heading into the final discipline of the Drive, Chip & Putt Regional Qualifying at The Golf Club of Tennessee, the odds weren’t entirely in 9-year-old Shane Strickland’s favor.

The third grader from Aiken, S.C., sat in last place on the scoreboard after the drive and chip portions of the qualifier didn’t go how he would have liked. Last place received first honors for the putting competition, and Shane seemingly needed a miracle to advance.

“Twenty percent of me said I could do it,” he said. “Eighty percent said I couldn’t.”

It’s a good thing odds don’t always equate to outcomes.

Strickland sunk all three of his putts, adding the maximum of 75 points to his score and moving his name from the bottom to the top of the scoreboard. As

Strickland's competitors attempted their putts, Strickland waited, counting the minutes until his final score of 93 stood above them all.

“It was shocking,” Strickland said. “It was really, really shocking. It was blowing my mind that I just did that.”

Drive, Chip & Putt, held the Sunday before the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, is a joint initiative between the Masters Tournament, the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Professional Golf Association of America (PGA). Young golfers compete in local, sub-regional and regional qualifying events before making it to the finals.

During the competition, golfers are scored in the three categories as reflected in its name.

First, competitors hit three drives into

a 40-yard-wide fairway, with longer ones scoring more points. Next, golfers take three 10 to 15-yard chip shots onto a green, with shots closer to the pin scoring more points. The final three shots are putts from 6, 15 and 30 feet, with more accurate putts scoring higher point values.

With the highest score from his regional, Shane will compete for the trophy with nine other 7-to-9-year-olds from across North America. It might be his first appearance, but he's no stranger to the game.

FROM WATCHING TO PLAYING

A young Strickland was introduced to the game in his grandparents’ backyard, hitting apples with a rigged PVC pipe his Papa Vince crafted. His older brother, Sawyer, wanted to play golf with his grandparents, and Shane followed in his brother's footsteps,

trading fruit for fairways. The boys went to the driving range, hitting practice balls before they worked their way to full courses.

The Strickland family’s ties to the game were influential to Shane’s development as a player, his father, Chase said.

“His brother was the one who really enjoyed the game and wanted to be a part of it early on,” Chase Strickland said. “Shane was a year and a half when he watched his brother do it, so he kind of was around it more often early on and grew up with the idea of going to the golf course as a family. I think he fell into it early and it was a unique part of his journey.”

Today, Chase Strickland takes his sons to practice their putting daily at Aiken's Woodside Country Club, the family's home course. The brothers attribute much of their development to Kenny Evenson, the boys' coach at nearby Cedar Creek Golf Course.

As the boys have grown older and into their games, the Stricklands have been involved with Drive, Chip & Putt for several years. Shane’s invitation to the national final represents a new level of achievement for the family, and Chase Strickland is grateful for a chance to share a special moment with his sons and wife.

“I’m really proud of him,” he said. “I’m really excited for the opportunity that we get to share together, as well as what Shane’s accomplishment allows our whole family to share at that great golf course.”

Chase noted that Drive, Chip & Putt has taught Shane the ideas of motivation and learning from mistakes, skills that not only develop his play on the course but also impact him through life.

“As someone who never played golf growing up in any official capacity, watching Shane do it has been great just because he is doing it for the love he has for the game,” Chase said. “Every time he would go to Drive, Chip & Putt — and I think everyone experiences this — there’s some success and some failure. I think Drive, Chip & Putt gives them an opportunity to see what it is like to compete with other kids who are trying to achieve the same goal.”

COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS

Just as big as those three October putts were, Shane Stickland is no stranger to big moments on the course. As an 8-year-old, he made his first hole-in-one, recording it on a 136-yard par 3 at Chambers Bay Golf Course in Washington. He used a fairway wood to find the No. 14 green, watching the shot roll from its edge into the cup.

And rather than running away from the spotlight, Shane is embracing it. With Golf Channel broadcasting the event, he’s ready to play in front of the camera. It’s an aspect of the game the youngster will have to get used to if he one day accomplishes his dream of becoming a professional golfer.

“I’ve always wanted to be on TV, and I get to be on TV doing my favorite thing — golfing,” Shane said.

In early April, the Stricklands will make the brief trek from Aiken to Augusta National Golf Club. It'll be his second time on the property — the first as a competitor — but he's thankful he sunk three putts when he needed it most. More importantly, he's looking forward to spending time with his parents and brother on one of the world's most iconic courses.

“It’s great, and I’m really excited,” Shane said. “I’m happy for myself and happy for my family to be able to experience it with me.”

IN A SEA OF

By Thomas Ehlers

There’s no doubt the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) has changed the women’s amateur landscape since its launch in 2019, bringing the hallowed grounds of the world’s most beloved course into play for young women golfers across the world. It’s given girls with a club in their hand a marquee event to strive toward in the same way their male counterparts have long dreamed of standing over a putt on the 18th green at Augusta National Golf Club.

ERICA SHEPHERD

And, as the tournament’s presence and scope continue to grow, so does the lore of the Duke women’s golf team in Augusta as scores of talented young golfers make what is a seemingly annual trek from Tobacco Road to Magnolia Lane every year.

It’s hard to talk about ANWA without bringing up the Blue Devils’ impact on the event. Since its inception, Duke has sent a whopping 21 golfers to what has rapidly become one of the most prestigious amateur tournaments in the world.

“It’s been a fantastic event, and we build our spring around it,” Duke Women’s Golf Head Coach Dan Brooks says. “It’s something we have to keep in mind if you’re going to have players in it, and you’re not totally sure if you’ll have players in it.”

When 72 of the nation’s top amateurs

convene during the first week of April, Duke-affiliated players will take six of those spots. Recent graduates Phoebe Brinker and Emma McMyler, current players Andie Smith and Katie Li, and incoming freshmen Avery McCrery and Rianne Malixi accepted invitations to the event, ensuring there will be plenty of royal blue scattered across Augusta’s well-known palette of green.

“It’s really almost like a Duke golf reunion in a sense,” Smith says. “It’s really special – I haven’t seen my teammates who have graduated in a while, and I only met the incoming freshmen on their visits. It will be a really great week and experience to combine all of the different years of Duke golf into one. Even though it is an individual sport, we do have each other as teammates and friends.”

EMMA MCMYLER

Thomas Lovelock/Augusta National Golf Club

One of those teammates is McMyler, who competed in the 2024 event for the first time. For her, the shared commonality of being able to call Duke home connects these players and brings them into a larger community of support.

“It means a lot and shows a lot to the Duke name and amateur golf,” McMyler says. “The presence we have in amateur golf is quite strong. It’s awesome to be able to represent Duke. It’s pretty cool to come together — everyone knows each other and we’re all friends — so it will be cool to come together in one event and compete against each other representing Duke.”

WRITING ANWA HISTORY

Five Duke participants have tallied top-25 finishes at ANWA, including Jaravee Boonchant’s T-12 finish in 2019. Her 2-over 218 was the best finish for a Duke player, while Erica Shepherd finished T-23 (2019), T-16 (2021) and T-22 (2023) during her three made cuts, the most of any Blue Devil.

While the team doesn’t dedicate much preparation time to the event — Brooks says the event is more of a “personal discovery” for players — there is a slight edge to having seen the way the courses play. Malixi and McMyler will make their second appearance, while this year’s event will be Brinker’s fourth.

“Champions Retreat is a really good golf course,” Brooks says. “Anytime there are good golf courses involved, the more you play them, the better. Obviously, you can’t play Augusta National enough, and you hear that from the pros. There’s a lot to learn, and Champions Retreat is no different. It’s a great course, so it’s a great benefit to have played in it.”

McMyler, a transfer from Xavier University, will look to improve her 75-79 scorecard from last year, relying on the experience the three-time BIG EAST Golfer of the Year gained during her time last year.

“At the end of the day, it’s just golf,” McMyler says. “We’re trying to hit the ball in the hole as fast as possible. I think you’re just preparing like any other event. You just show up and play the game that you’ve

PHOEBE BRINKER

been playing pretty much your whole life.”

Smith plans to take a similar approach in her preparation. The junior is no stranger to success –Smith’s two best finishes were top-10 placements in NCAA Regionals – and she’s getting ready for the ANWA like any other tournament.

“The biggest thing is not letting the moment affect my preparation or routines,” Smith says. “I can say for me and probably most, if not all female amateur golfers, from the time the event was established, it was the ultimate goal of getting invited to play at Augusta. Obviously, every golfer dreams of getting to play Augusta at least once in their lifetime, even recreational golfers. They just want to experience Augusta, and for me as a junior at Duke, it means the world to me.”

McMyler acknowledged the honor it was to receive an invitation, and she noted the impact the

ANWA has had on developing young golfers and growing the women’s game.

“It’s kind of elevating the game of women’s golf,” McMyler says. “Being on TV the week before the Masters, it’s super awesome to get that exposure and show young kids that if they chase their dreams, they can really achieve some cool things.”

A LARGER COMMUNITY

As former, current and future Blue Devils come together to compete, they bring with them the people and situations from the different stages of their amateur careers. McMyler, for example, plans to hit the Epson Tour shortly after, dropping the (a) from her name on the scoreboard.

“My plan is to treat it like any other event and

RIANNE MALIXI

just have fun with it,” McMyler says. “It’s going to be my last amateur event — I’m turning pro after the event — so I’m just going to enjoy it with my family.”

McMyler’s father, Brian, who coaches her, will also be her caddie for her second appearance. Her mother and sister will make the trip, too, and McMyler is excited to share the moment with them in early April.

“I didn’t earn this invitation alone,” McMyler says. “They have sacrificed a lot for me, so it means a lot to have them there. I know this isn’t just for me, it’s for all of us, for my family, and it’s a super cool experience to be able to share it with them knowing they’ve put

in a lot of work to help me get here.”

The ANWA invitation transcends program and sport for Smith. Her father, Jeff, passed away when she was 12, and she’ll be playing in the crown jewel of women’s amateur golf for him, along with her brother and mother who will be walking the ropes with her.

“For me, golf was always a family affair — it was always my brother, my parents and me on the golf course.” says Smith. “My dad won’t be there, but he’ll be there in spirit. When I got that invite, it meant the world because I know he would be so proud of me, and he’ll be watching over me and my family as we’re there.”

Jennifer Stewart/Augusta National Golf Club

JARAVEE BOONCHANT

Women’s The 2025 CONTENDERS

QUALIFICATIONS

FOR 2025 AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN’S AMATEUR

The field for the 2025 Championship will consist of the following players based on the following qualifications:

1. Reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion

2. Reigning Women’s Amateur Champion

3. Reigning Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Champion

4. Reigning Girls’ Amateur Champion

5. Reigning U.S. Girls’ Junior Champion

6. Reigning Girls Junior PGA Champion

7. Reigning NCAA Division I Women’s Individual Champion

8. Past champions of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur within the last five years

9. The 30 highest-ranked players from the United States of America based on the prior year’s (2024) final Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, not otherwise qualified

10. After qualifications 1-8 above, the 30 highest-ranked players not otherwise qualified, as listed on the prior year’s (2024) final Women’s World Amateur Ranking

11. Players receiving special invitations from the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Committee

Shanna Lockwood/Augusta National Golf Club

LOTTIE WOAD

Profiles courtesy of Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Age: 21

Hometown: Castellón de la Plana, Spain

Education: Kansas State University

ANWA

Appearance: Third

2024 ANWA Finish: T-17

Carla Bernat Escuder (Spain)

Will the third ANWA appearance be the charm for Bernat? The Kansas State University golfer (who also goes by “Carla Bernat”), opened the 2024 ANWA event with 78 before bouncing back with rounds of 69-72. She entered 2025 with six collegiate victories, three of them coming in her sophomore campaign at Tulane University before she transferred to Kansas State University. Bernat set the school record for stroke average at Kansas State last year with a 70.9 average.

Age: 22

Hometown: Wilmington, Del.

Education: Duke University

ANWA

Appearance: Fourth

2024 ANWA Finish: MC

Phoebe Brinker

After graduating last year from Duke University, Brinker began a two-year paralegal job in Boston. She has yet to make the ANWA cut in three previous tournaments. Last year, she posted rounds of 79-75 and missed the cut by seven shots. Brinker posted the ninth-best career stroke average (72.97) in Duke history. She made the ACC Honor Roll all four years and earned All-America honors her senior year in 2024.

Age: 22

Hometown: Lynge, Denmark

Education: New Mexico State University

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Age: 21

Hometown: Calabasas, Calif.

Education: University of California, Los Angeles ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Canales is in her senior year at UCLA. In 2024, she recorded nine top-25 finishes throughout the year in college events. Two of her highlights came when she finished third at the Chevron Silverado Showdown in April before tying for sixth at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate in September. She entered February ranked No. 62 in the world amateur rankings.

Age: 15

Hometown: Orlando, Fla.

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Cherif Essakali won five times around the world in 2024. She proved herself in America, winning the AJGA Junior at Parris Island after posting rounds of 72-70-72 for a one-shot victory in June. One week later, she won shot 70-67-72 to win another AJGA event in the Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational.

Age: 18

Hometown: Aukland, New Zealand

Education: Pepperdine University

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Emma Kaisa Bunch (Denmark)

Bunch emerged on the amateur scene in 2024 with a breakthrough sophomore season at New Mexico State University. She recorded nine top-10 finishes during the 2023-24 campaign, including five consecutive wins last year. She capped her winning spree by carding rounds of 68-70-71 to claim the Conference USA Championship by one shot.

Eunseo Choi (New Zealand)

Before joining the Pepperdine golf team, Choi dominated the New Zealand golf scene. She finished 11th or better in 11 events, including a win at the New Zealand Women’s Stroke Play Championship. In that event, Choi rebounded from an opening 78 with rounds of 64-71-72 for a two-shot victory. In her first college appearance in February at the Therese Hession Regional Challenge, she shot 72-71-78 to tie for 45th place.

Caroline Canales

Sofia Cherif Essakali (Morocco)

Age: 16

Hometown: Estero, Fla.

ANWA Appearance: Third

2024 ANWA Finish: T-5

One of the youngest competitors in the ANWA field, Clemente knows her way around Augusta. She recorded a tie for 14th place in her initial ANWA appearance in 2023. Last year, she opened with rounds of 70-71 and sat tied for second, two shots behind leader Lottie Woad entering the final round. Clemente closed with 73 to fall back. The following month, Clemente won the Mizuho Americas Open en route to being named the 2024 American Junior Golf Association Rolex Junior Player of the Year.

Age: 20

Hometown: Ardkeen, Ireland

Education: Arizona State University

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA

Beth Coulter (Ireland)

Coulter made a big impact her freshman year at Arizona State University, recording seven top-25 finishes. Her main highlight was the runner-up finish at the Pac-12 Championship. She continued to play well her sophomore season, adding six more top-25 showings. Coulter kicked off her junior season in 2024-25 with three top-10 finishes in her first four events. Last summer, Coulter won 1.5 points to help the Great Britain & Ireland team defeat the United States to win the Curtis Cup.

Age: 21

Hometown: SauteeNacoochee, Ga.

Education: Western Kentucky University

ANWA Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Age: 24

Hometown: Bonnyrigg, Scotland

Education: University of South Carolina

ANWA Appearance: Fourth

2024 ANWA Finish: 7

Hannah Darling (Scotland)

Making her fourth ANWA appearance, Darling opened the 2024 event with a tournament-leading 66. She followed with 77 in the second round to fall out of contention. A senior at the University of South Carolina, Darling has earned first-team, All-SEC honors each of her first three years. She won the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate in 2024 before helping the Great Britain & Ireland team win the Curtis Cup.

Age: 18

Hometown: Spring Valley, Calif.

Education: Auburn University ANWA

Appearance: Fourth

2024 ANWA Finish: MC

Anna Davis

Davis won the 2022 ANWA by one shot after posting a final-round 69. Since then, she’s missed the cut twice. Last year, she opened with 70, but followed with 78. Davis is in her sophomore year at Auburn. She posted a 71.68 stroke average her first season and was named Second Team All-SEC. She posted four top-three finishes, including a win, in the fall. She entered 2025 ranked No. 9 in the world amateur rankings.

Age: 24

Hometown: Pinerolo, Italy

Education: University of Georgia ANWA

Appearance: Third

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Catie Craig

A senior at Western Kentucky University, Craig is about to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. In her junior season at Western Kentucky, Craig recorded 10 consecutive top-four finishes, including a pair of victories. Last summer, the left-handed golfer won the North & South Women’s Amateur Championship at Pinehurst No. 2.

Caterina Don (Italy)

Don is making her first ANWA appearance in four years after recording a solid senior season at the University of Georgia. She posted three top-five collegiate finishes in 2024, including a pair of runner-up showings. After graduating from Georgia, she became the first fulltime women’s assistant golf coach at Eastern Michigan University.

Gianna Clemente

Age: 19

Hometown: Madrid, Spain

Education: Texas A&M University

ANWA Appearance: Third

2024 ANWA Finish: T-20

Cayetana Fernández García-

Poggio

(Spain)

A sophomore at Texas A&M, Fernandez entered college ranked No. 2 in the world amateur rankings. In her first collegiate season, she posted a 72.03 average en route to earning SEC All-Freshman Team honors. Fernandez posted her first college win in October when she claimed the Charles Schwab Women’s Collegiate by two shots. She finished fourth in her first appearance in the ANWA.

Age: 19

Hometown: Rome, Italy

Education: University of California, Los Angeles

ANWA

Appearance: Second

2024 ANWA Finish: T-30

Age: 20

Hometown: Holmdel, N.J.

Education: Standford University

ANWA

Appearance: Fifth

2024 ANWA Finish: T-20

Megha Ganne

Ganne has amassed quite a collegiate résume in her time at Stanford. In her first two seasons and the fall of her junior year, she’s earned two victories, won a team conference championship and won the 2024 team national championship. Ganne also sports a 71.34 stroke average through 65 career rounds. She will look to tap into her vast Augusta experience to help her break through at this year’s ANWA.

Age: 18

Hometown: Gold Coast, Australia

Education: University of Southern California (Commit) ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Francesca Fiorellini (Italy)

A freshman at UCLA, Fiorellini entered college after establishing herself as one of the top amateurs in the world. In March 2024, she won the Italian Ladies Match Play Championship. She opened the 2024 ANWA with 67 before finishing with rounds of 78-80. In the summer, Fiorellini shot rounds of 71-67-67 to finish third in the Ladies Italian Open, a Ladies European Tour event.

Age: 18

Hometown: Chiang Mai, Thailand

Education: University of South Carolina

ANWA

Appearance: Third

2024 ANWA Finish: T-8

Eila Galitsky (Thailand)

Galitsky had a solid spring in the Augusta area in 2024. At the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, she closed with 68 to tie for third place. Two weeks later, Galitsky opened the ANWA with 67 before following with rounds of 76-74. In September, the University of South Carolina freshman closed the SINGHA-NSDF Muan Suen with 68 for a four-shot victory at the Thailand LPGA pro event.

Sarah Hammett (Australia)

Hammett finished T-4 in the Women’s Australian Master of the Amateurs and runnerup in the Australian Women’s Amateur in January. In 2024, she finished runner-up in the Queen Sirikit Cup in New Zealand, T-3 in the Toyota Junior World Cup in Japan and T-12 in the Girls 15-18 division of the Junior World Championships in San Diego.

Age: 23

Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.

ANWA

Appearance: Fourth

2024 ANWA Finish: MC

Rachel Heck

Heck has yet to recapture the magic after finishing tied for third in her first Augusta National Women’s Amateur appearance in 2021. That year, she needed to make par at No. 18 at Augusta National Golf Club to secure a sudden-death playoff, but she bogeyed the hole. Heck graduated from Stanford in May and is now a Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. In her freshman year at Stanford, she won six individual titles, including the national championship. She capped her career by winning the NCAA Division I Cle Elum Regional last year.

Age: 20

Hometown: New Albany, Ohio

Education: Ohio State University

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Kary Hollenbaugh

Hollenbaugh kicked off 2025 in style, winning the The South Atlantic Women’s Amateur Championship by five shots in January. She recorded her second consecutive win at The Sally after claiming the title in 2024. One month later, Hollenbaugh brought home her first collegiate win at the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational. She had a breakthrough sophomore campaign in 2023-24 at Ohio State University, recording a team-best 71.69 stroke average.

Age: 21

Hometown: Tainan City, Chinese Taipei

Education: University of Texas

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Age: 21

Hometown: Kobe, Japan

ANWA

Appearance: Third

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Tsubasa Kajitani (Japan)

Kajitani has played every other year in the ANWA since 2021. After winning the tournament in her first appearance, she missed the cut in 2023. In 2021, Kajitani posted rounds of 73-72-72 for a one-shot victory. She played in two world amateur golf ranking events in 2024, posting a pair of top-20 finishes.

Age: 19

Hometown: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Education: University of Texas

ANWA

Appearance: Second

2024 ANWA Finish: T-14

Huai-Chien Hsu (Chinese Taipei)

A junior at the University of Texas, she goes by “Cindy Hsu.” She posted four consecutive top-10 finishes in amateur events last summer, including a tie for second place at the Southwest Amateur. She began her 2023-24 collegiate campaign with four consecutive top-20 finishes.

Age: 18

Hometown: Busan, South Korea

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Minseo Jung (Korea)

In 10 junior or amateur events in 2024, Jung recorded top-10 finishes in all 10. In the Maekyung Amateur Championship in August, she opened with consecutive rounds of 65 en route to a five-shot victory. In the Korean LPGA Tour event, Jung shot 73-71-71 to finish in 15th place.

Lauren Kim (Canada)

Before joining the University of Texas, Kim won the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. In the summer of 2024, she posted rounds of 69-67-70 to defeat Anna Huang by two shots to win the Glencoe Invitational. Following that event, Kim recorded five top-10 finishes in a mix of six amateur and collegiate events.

Age: 18

Hometown: Cerritos, Calif.

Education: University of Southern California

ANWA

Appearance: Second

2024 ANWA Finish: 4

Jasmine Koo

This California teenager is one of the favorites to win this year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur event. In her first appearance last year, Koo carded rounds of 69-74-70 to finish five shots back of first place. The No. 2-ranked amateur in the world, Koo won the Toyota Junior World Cup last summer before finishing third in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. A freshman at the University of Southern California, Koo brought home her first win for the Trojans in her second appearance, claiming the Windy City Collegiate Classic. Two weeks later, she added her second college win. Koo shot 6869-65 to win the Stanford Intercollegiate by one shot.

Age: 19

Hometown: Sendai, Japan

ANWA Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Ko Kurabayashi (Japan)

Kurabayashi is making her first ANWA appearance after finding success in her home country. In May 2023, she won the Tohoku Women’s Amateur Championship by three shots. She finished runner-up in that event the following year before adding a pair of top-11 finishes in Japan pro events. She started 2025 with an 11th place in the Women’s Australian Master of The Amateurs.

Age: 17

Hometown: Hong Kong, China

Education: Northwestern University (Commit)

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Age: 21

Hometown: Little Rock, Ark.

Education: Southern Methodist University

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Mackenzie Lee

A 2021 AJGA All-American First Team selection, Lee has made her mark at Southern Methodist University. In her freshman campaign, Lee recorded eight top-10 finishes and a 71.78 stroke average. In the 2023-24 season, she was even better. Lee added eight more top-10 finishes and a school-best 71.32 stroke average. She continued her solid play in the fall of 2024, placing runner-up at the Cougar Classic before adding another top-10 collegiate finish at the Charles Schwab Women’s Collegiate.

Age: 20

Hometown: Basking Ridge, N.J.

Education: Duke University

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Arianna Lau (Hong Kong, China)

A Northwestern University commit, Lau had a breakout 2024. She won the Hong Kong Ladies Close Amateur & Mid Amateur Championship in March. After adding a victory in Singapore, she traveled in the summer to the United States and won the IMG Academy Junior World Championship. Later, Lau went to the Philippines and captured the 2024 APGC Junior Championship.

Age: 18

Hometown: Irvine, Calif.

Education: Northwestern University

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Between February and August 2024, Lee finished sixth or better in five junior events. She placed second at the Fortinet Girls Invitational at Stanford before finishing second at the Women’s Western Amateur Championship later in the year. In her first year at Northwestern, Lee has posted two top-25 finishes in four college events.

An accomplished junior golfer, Li continues to improve in her college career at Duke. In her freshman season, she won the Florida State Match-Up. Last summer, she claimed the New Jersey Women’s Amateur Championship. She kicked off her sophomore campaign with a fourthplace showing at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M, the first of four finishes of 11th or better in her first six college events of the 2024-25 season.

Age: 21

Hometown: Madrid, Spain

Education: Wake Forest University

ANWA

Appearance: Fifth

2024 ANWA Finish: MC

Carolina LopezChacarra (Spain)

Maybe the fifth time will be the charm for Lopez-Chacarra, who has missed the cut in each of her previous four ANWA appearances. A senior at Wake Forest, she has posted a scoring average below par each of her first three college seasons. Lopez-Chacarra claimed her first college tournament, posting rounds of 66-7070 to win the Jackson T. Stephens Cup in October 2024.

Katie Li

Elise Lee

Age: 22

Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa

Education: University of Mississippi

Appearance: Fourth

2024 ANWA Finish: MC

Caitlyn Macnab (South Africa)

Macnab finished 11th in her first ANWA appearance in 2022 before finishing ninth the next year. In 2024, she shot 71-77 to miss the cut by one shot. Macnab led Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) with a 70.92 stroke average in the 2023-24 season, her junior campaign. After posting two wins in the 2023-24 season, she started her senior season by winning the Mary Fossum Invitational. She added four other top-20 finishes in her first five tournaments in 2024-25.

Age: 17

Hometown: Quezon City, Philippines

Education: Duke University (Commit)

ANWA

Appearance: Second

2024 ANWA Finish: MC

Age: 19

Hometown: Madrid, Spain

Education:

Paula Martín Sampedro (Spain)

Sampedro recorded 11 top10 finishes in her freshman campaign at Stanford in 2023-24, recording a 70.5 stroke average. She finished third at the NCAA Division I Cle Elum Regional before also finishing two weeks later at the NCAA Division I National Championship. She shot 67-71-71 to finish first in October at the Molly Collegiate Invitational.

Age: 21

Hometown: Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

Education: University of Minnesota ANWA

Appearance: First

Rianne Malixi (Philippines)

While Malixi didn’t play well in her first Augusta National Women’s Amateur appearance last year, she still had one of the finest 2024 seasons around. Malixi won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship last summer before winning the U.S. Women’s Amateur title. She became just the second golfer ever to win both events in the same year. Malixi added another win, two runner-up showings and a third in 2024.

Age: 18

Hometown: Cali, Columbia

Education: University of Arkansas ANWA

Appearance: Third

2024 ANWA Finish: T-30

One of the top amateurs in the world when she started playing college golf, Marín continued her excellence at the University of Arkansas. In the 2023-24 campaign, she led the team in scoring average (70.83), rounds at par or better (23), rounds in the 60s (8) and tied for the most birdies (101). Marín was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year. In October 2024, she won the the Blessings Collegiate Invitational for the second year in a row. Marín added her third college win in February at the Purdue Puerto Rico Classic.

2024 ANWA Finish: T-24

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Isabella McCauley

A junior at the University of Minnesota, McCauley took her game to the next level in her sophomore season in 2023-24. She opened the season by winning the Boilermaker Classic. Later in the season, she fired a finalround 64 to win the Big Ten Championship. She posted a third collegiate victory this past fall at the Ron Moore Intercollegiate. McCauley currently owns the school career scoring record at 72.44 strokes per round.

Age: 17

Hometown: Wilmington, Del.

Education: Duke University

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Avery McCrery

McCrery had a fantastic 2024 that was capped off by a major junior win in August. She posted rounds of 70-7268-71 to win the Girls Junior PGA Championship by two shots. Earlier in the year, she won the Scott Robertson Memorial by 13 shots. McCrery recorded five other top-10 finishes during 2024.

María José Marín (Columbia)

Age: 22

Hometown: San Antonio, Texas

Education: Xavier University, Duke University ANWA

Appearance: Second

MC

Emma McMyler

McMyler finished up her collegiate golf career last May. After graduating from Xavier University, she spent an extra year at Duke. She graduated with a Master of Management Studies degree. In her career at both schools, she posted a 72.55 stroke average, with six wins, 13 top-five finishes and 22 top-10 showings.

Age: 22

Hometown: Milan, Italy

Education: University of Arizona

Appearance: Third

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Carolina Melgrati (Italy)

Melgrati posted six top-10 finishes in the year 2024, covering the span of two seasons. Now a senior at the University of Arizona, she opened the 2024-24 season with a runner-up finish at the Folds of Honor Collegiate. One week later, she recorded a 54-hole career low of 206 at the Mason Rudolph Championship. She returns to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur after missing the cut in her previous appearances in 2022 and 2023.

Age: 21

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev.

Education: University of San Francisco ANWA

Appearance: First 2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Age: 21

Hometown: Seattle, Wash.

Education: Northwestern University

Lauryn Nguyen

After recording a schoolrecord 71.49 scoring average in 2023-24, Nguyen earned All-Conference and All-American honors. Last summer, before starting her senior year at Northwestern, Nguyen shot 73-71-71 to win the Washington State Women’s Amateur by seven shots. In her first three college events this season, she’s posted two top-10 finishes.

Age: 19

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Education: University of Texas

Second

T-20

Farah O’Keefe

One of the top amateurs in the world, O’Keefe posted a consistently great 2024. From March through October, O’Keefe recorded eight top-10 finishes in a mix of amateur and collegiate events. She earned 2024 Big 12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors after the 2023-24 season, which included a firstplace finish at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. She added another win at the Women’s Western Amateur Championship last summer.

Age: 17

Hometown: Torrance, Calif.

Education: Stanford University ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

After posting three college tournament finishes of sixth or better the first half of 2024, Mission started her senior season with a bang-bang start. In September, the University of San Francisco golfer won the Leadership And Golf Invitational. Two weeks later, she added another victory at the Molly Collegiate Invitational. She posted two more top-25 finishes to finish the fall.

Oh shot

72-71-71 to win last summer’s Arizona Women’s Amateur Championship. She posted four other finishes of sixth or better at junior events around the world. In October, she placed third in the PING Invitational. One month later, Oh closed the Rolex Tournament of Champions with 67 to finish fifth.

Riana Mission

Nikki Oh

Age: 16

South

Soomin Oh (Korea)

Oh had a very busy and productive 2024. The Korean teenager won two events early in the year before making her mark at the Korean Women’s Amateur Championship. She posted three rounds in the 60s for a two-shot victory. One month later, Oh brought home the Korea Junior Championship - Blue One Cup title. In October, she traveled to Canada for the World Junior Girls Championship, where she shot four rounds in the 60s for an eight-shot victory.

Age: 21

Hometown: Celaya, Mexico

Education: North Carolina State

Lauren Olivares (Mexico)

A senior at North Carolina State University, Olivares is the first woman in collegiate golf to shoot 60 in a round in September 2023. At the end of the 2023-24 season, she made more history. With her 72.18 stroke average, Olivares set the N.C. State season scoring record. She won her third career collegiate tournament in the fall when she finished first in the Landfill Tradition event.

Age: 20

Hometown: Linköping, Sweden

Education: Stanford University ANWA

Appearance: Fourth

2024 ANWA Finish: MC

Age: 20

Irvine, Calif.

Between October 2023 and September 2024, Park recorded four collegiate victories. The University of Southern California golfer was named a first-team, AllAmerican after the 2023-24 season, when she won the Pac-12 Championship. She set the Pac-12 Tournament record with her 15-under par total. Park led Southern Cal with a 70.94 scoring average. In her first ANWA appearance, Park shot 71-76-78.

Age: 19

Hometown: Winston-Salem, N.C.

Education: Wake Forest University

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Macy Pate

Pate earned All-ACC and ACC Freshman of the Year honors after a spectacular freshman season at Wake Forest. During the 2023-24 campaign, she recorded four top-10 finishes and five other top-25 showings. Pate recorded a 71.48 stroke average in 12 events. Last summer, she posted a runner-up finish at the North Carolina Women’s Amateur Championship before adding another runner-up showing at the North & South Women’s Amateur Championship.

Age: 20

Hometown: Camarillo, Calif.

Education: Princeton University ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Meja Örtengren

Örtengren joined the Stanford golf team last summer after an accomplished amateur career. She won the Rolex Tournament of Champions event in 2021 and 2022. Last year, she finished eighth in the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley before barely missing the cut two weeks later in the ANWA event (she shot consecutive 74s to miss the cut by one shot). In her first three college events, Örtengren recorded three consecutive finishes of fifth or better.

Since winning the Columbia Classic college tournament in February 2023, Rao has found herself in contention in several events. The Princeton junior has won twice and added three runner-up finishes despite missing the entire 2023-24 season due to a shoulder injury. She kicked off the 2024-25 season by winning the Nittany Lion Invitational. Three tournaments later, she won the Columbia Classic again.

Catherine Park

Catherine Rao

Age: 18

Hometown: Madrid, Spain

Education:

Andrea Revuelta (Spain)

Through the first three tournaments of her collegiate career, the Stanford freshman has posted two top-10 finishes. Revuelta posted a 71.78 stroke average in those three events. In March 2024, she won the Spanish International Ladies’ Amateur Championship. Three months later, she closed the Campeonato de España Amateur (VI Memorial Emma Villacieros) with 67 for a seven-shot victory.

Age: 21

Hometown: Bath, England

Education: Arizona State University

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Patience Rhodes (England)

Rhodes delivered a key point for the Great Britain & Ireland team in the Sunday singles matches at the 2024 Curtis Cup. She defeated Zoe Camps, 6 and 5, to help her team win the match, 10.5-9.5. An Arizona State University sophomore, Rhodes returned to America riding the momentum of the Curtis Cup win. She kicked off the 2024-25 collegiate season with three consecutive top-10 finishes in the fall.

Age: 18

Hometown: San Jose, Calif.

Education: University of Oregon ANWA

Appearance: Second

2024 ANWA Finish: MC

Age: 23

Hometown: Värnamo, Sweden

Louise Rydqvist (Sweden)

Rydqvist placed second at the 2024 Southeastern Conference Women’s Golf Championship. She added another second-place finish at the Division I Auburn Regional. She was named first-team, All-SEC, along with earning first-team, All-American honors. At the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship in July, Rydqvist posted rounds of 73-66-67-68 to win the tournament by three shots.

Age: 22

Hometown: Pinehurst, N.C.

Education: University of Virginia

ANWA

Appearance: Fifth

2024 ANWA Finish: T-14

Sambach is one of the veterans of this event. After missing the ANWA cut her first two years, she’s finished T-14 each of the past two years. A senior at the University of Virginia, Sambach posted six top-5 finishes in the calendar year 2024. She finished runnerup at the ACC Women’s Championship, before placing third at the NCAA Division I Cle Elum Regional. Sambach started the 202425 season by winning the Pacific Rim Collegiate Golf Super League Tournament in September.

Age: 18

Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.

Education: Texas A&M University (Commit)

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

On the heels of winning the 2023 U.S. Girls Junior Championship, Romero started her first year at the University of Oregon by winning her first event — the ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented by 3M. Later in her freshman campaign, she won the San Diego State Classic. Romero placed at the Pac-12 Women’s Golf Championship before finishing sixth at the NCAA Division I Championship. She was named Oregon’s first national freshman of the year. During the 202425 season, she posted three consecutive runner-up finishes from October through February.

Scarlett Schremmer

Schremmer finished runnerup at The Nelly Invitational last May. She followed a month later with a win at the Dye Junior Invitational. Schremmer continued to play well throughout the year, posting three top-10 finishes in junior events and a pair of top-10 finishes in amateur tournaments. She placed runner-up at the AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions event in November.

Amanda Sambach

Kiara Romero

Age: 17

Hometown: Zama, Japan

ANWA

Appearance: Third

2024 ANWA Finish: 29

Mamika Shinchi (Japan)

Shinchi got off to a fast start in 2024 by firing a final-round 66 to win the Australian Women’s Amateur Championship. She continued her exceptional play, recording seven top-10 finishes in her next nine tournaments. Shinchi recorded back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Japan Women’s Amateur Championship and the Toyota Junior World Cup.

Age: 20

Hometown: Dade City, Fla.

Education: University of Southern California

ANWA

Appearance: Fourth

2024 ANWA Finish: 2

Age: 16

Hometown: Loei, Thailand

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Achiraya Sriwong (Thailand)

Sriwong recorded five wins in 2024 and then added another victory to kick off 2025. She won the 31st Singha Thailand Ladies Amateur Open by seven strokes in May. At the SINGHA Thailand Amateur Open in September, Sriwong shot 61 in the second round en route to a one-shot victory.

Age: 22

Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa

Education: University of North Carolina

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Bailey Shoemaker

Shoemaker did everything she could to win the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She posted a final-round 66 and held the clubhouse lead until Lottie Woad birdied the final two holes for a one-shot win. Shoemaker, now a sophomore at the University of Southern California, later finished second at the NCAA Division I East Lansing Regional. She recorded three consecutive top-20 finishes to start the 202425 college season.

Age: 21

Hometown: Hobe Sound, Fla.

Education: Duke University

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Andie Smith

Smith had a breakout second half of 2024 after finishing third at the Sea Island Women’s Amateur in May. The Duke University golfer finished ninth in the Florida Women’s Amateur before advancing to the quarterfinals of the North & South Women’s Amateur. In the fall, she shot three rounds in the 60s to win the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational. She followed with three consecutive top-10 finishes to start her 2024-25 season.

Megan Streicher (South Africa)

Streicher set the University of North Carolina’s single-season scoring record at 71.83 and earned all-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after the 2023-24 season. She shot 71-66 to win the CGA Carolinas Women’s Amateur Championship. Streicher began the 2024-25 season with four consecutive finishes of fourth or better before adding a top-10 finish in February 2025.

Age: 19

Hometown: Djurshol, Sweden

Education: Standford University ANWA

Appearance: Second

2024 ANWA Finish: 28

Nora Sundberg (Sweden)

Sundberg posted rounds of 70-75-78 in her first appearance in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She posted four top-10 showings in 2024 events before joining Stanford. Sundberg recorded three top-20 finishes to start her freshman season. Through her first four collegiate tournaments, she has a 71.83 stroke average.

Age: 15

Hometown: Chowchilla, Calif.

ANWA

Appearance: Second

2024 ANWA Finish: T-8

Asterisk Talley

At her young age, Talley is one of the top amateur golfers around. In 2024, she won the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. She followed that showing with a top-10 finish in her first ANWA appearance. Later in the year, Talley finished runnerup at the U.S. Girls Junior Championship and runnerup at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. She channeled those near misses into wins at the PING Invitational in October and the Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex in January.

Age: 18

Hometown: Castellón de la Plana, Spain

Education: Louisiana State University

Appearance: Second 2024 ANWA Finish: MC

Age: 21

Hometown: Litchfield Park, Arizona

Education:

Todd made a deep run in the 2024 U.S. Amateur, advancing to the semifinal round. The University of Arkansas senior won the Women’s Porter Cup last summer. She began her 2024-25 college season with three consecutive finishes of fourth or better, including a runner-up showing at the Dale McNamara event.

Age: 17

Hometown: Halmstad, Sweden

Education: Wake Forest University (Commit)

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Rocío Tejedo (Spain)

Tejedo entered Louisiana State University this past fall after a distinguished junior career. She was a member of the winning European teams in both the Junior Solheim Cup in Spain and the Junior Ryder Cup in Italy. In the past two years, she recorded five wins and 14 top-10 finishes. At LSU, she’s recorded four finishes of 11th or better in her first four events.

Age: 19

Hometown: Miri, Malaysia

Education: Florida State University ANWA

Appearance: Second

2024 ANWA Finish: T-8

Mirabel Ting (Malaysia)

Ting got off to a fast start in the 2024 ANWA posting 69 in the first round before carding consecutive rounds of 74 to finish the tournament. Ting began her college career at Augusta University, winning conference player of the year honors as a freshman. She then transferred to Florida State University, where she’s continued her success. Ting began the 2024-25 season by winning the Folds of Honor Intercollegiate. The following week, she shot 67-67 to win the Schooner Fall Classic. In January, she won the Collegiate Invitational at Guadalajara Country Club. She’s ranked No. 3 in the world rankings.

Havanna Torstensson (Sweden)

Torstensson needed just one hot week to earn an invitation to Augusta. In August 2024, she made a deep run in the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship. In the championship match, she rolled in a six-foot birdie putt on the third hole for some early momentum as she took a 6-up lead through the first 11 holes. Torstensson rolled to an 8-and-7 victory.

Age: 18

Hometown: Kohn Kaen, Thailand

Education: University of Oregon ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Suvichaya Vinijchaitham (Thailand)

Vinijchaitham started making major strides in the world amateur rankings, starting with her play last summer in the Honda LPGA Thailand professional event. She shot 68-70-67-71 to finish 16th. Vinijchaitham began her first season at the University of Oregon in the fall of 2024, with three consecutive top-25 finishes. She began 2025 with a sixth-place showing at the Therese Hession Regional Challenge.

Kendall Todd

Age: 19

Hometown: Ocean Springs, Miss.

Education: Mississippi State University

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Avery Weed

A sophomore at Mississippi State University, Weed broke through in September 2024. She opened the Mason Rudolph Women’s Championship with 65 en route to her first collegiate win. One month later, she opened The Ally Challenge with 61 en route to her second victory in two months. With the two wins and three other top-11 finishes in her first five events of the 2024-25 season, Weed climbed into the top 50 in the amateur world rankings.

Age: 22

Hometown: Pembroke Pines, Fla.

Education:

Auburn University

ANWA

Appearance: Second

2024 ANWA Finish: T-5

Casey Weidenfeld

With her strong finish in the 2024 ANWA, Weidenfeld is back again. In the summer of 2024, she posted a top-10 finish in the Women’s Western Amateur Championship. She started her junior year at Auburn University with a fifth-place finish at the Schooner Fall Classic in September. She recorded three top-30 finishes in the fall.

Age: 21

Hometown: Farnham, England

Education: Florida State University

ANWA

Appearance: Third

2024 ANWA Finish: 1

Age: 20

Hometown: Claremont, Calif.

Education: Stanford University

ANWA

Appearance: Second

2024 ANWA Finish: MC

Kelly Xu

While Xu missed the cut in her first ANWA appearance, she rebounded nicely. She placed runner-up at the Pac12 Women’s Championship. Xu followed with another second-place showing at the NCAA Division I Cle Elum Regional. The Stanford University junior recorded three finishes of 21st or better to start the 2024-25 collegiate season.

Age: 15

Hometown: Chongquing, China

ANWA

Appearance: First

2024 ANWA Finish: DNP

Shiyuan Zhou (China)

Zhou recorded five victories around China in 2024. She won three pro events and two junior tournaments. In October, Zhou closed the Zhangjiagang Shuangshan Challenge with 63 for a oneshot victory. Two weeks later, she pulled out a one-shot victory at the KOVE·China Sports Lottery Chongqing Women’s Open.

Lottie Woad (England)

Woad is not only the defending champion, but she is the No. 1-ranked amateur in the field. She had a sensational 2024, recording two victories, four runner-up finishes and three thirds in a mixture of amateur and collegiate events playing for Florida State University. At the 2024 ANWA event, Woad opened with 68, followed with 71 and famously birdied Nos. 17 and 18 at Augusta National Golf Club for a closing 69 and a one-shot victory.

Qualification: 17, 18

did Morikawa follow up in 2022? While he had another solid season on the PGA Tour, Morikawa punctuated his year by getting married to his longtime girlfriend, Katherine, in November. He also fared well on the golf course during the 2021-22 season. While Morikawa didn’t post a victory, he did record eight top-10 finishes for more than $4.8 million. One of those top-10 finishes came at the 2022 Masters, where he failed to get much going until a final-round 67 helped him finish six shots behind champion Scottie Sheffler. Morikawa later added a tie for fifth at the U.S. Open.

to resign from the PGA Tour to join the

Where Excellence is Par for the Course!

Qualification: 18

Age: 39

Residence: Las Vegas, Nev.

Masters

Appearance: 12th

2022 Masters Finish: T14

Golf tour. Captain of the Iron Heads team, Na played in seven tournaments, his best finish a tie for 11th at Boston. At the 2022 Masters, Na entered the weekend six shots behind hole leader Scottie Scheffler. Na went bogeytriple-bogey on Nos. 15-17 in the third round en route to 79 to fall out of contention. He qualified for this year’s Masters by finishing 2022 ranked No. 49 in the world rankings.

2025

By Johnathan McGinty

The hottest golfers in the professional ranks. The most accomplished players in the game today. The field for this year’s Masters is rich in talent, skill and legacy, with several players chasing their own piece of history. Will Scottie Scheffler continue his domination of professional golf? Will Bryson DeChambeau overpower Augusta National Golf Club? Will Rory McIlroy break through and capture that elusive Green Jacket? During the first week in April, nestled between the Southern pines and blooming azaleas, one of these players might just be ready to lay claim to the title of Masters Champion.

World Golf Rankings as of February 19, 2025

Photos courtesy of Augusta National Golf Club

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER

There may never be another Tiger Woods, but Scottie Scheffler is doing his part to carve out his own legendary niche. The top golfer in the world is coming off one the best seasons in PGA Tour history, compiling eight wins in 2024 including his second Green Jacket and the TOUR Championship, which propelled him to the crown for the season-long FedExCup. Scheffler earned his second Masters victory in 2024 in his fifth start at Augusta National, becoming the second-fastest player to reach two wins. His historic season also included wins at THE PLAYERS Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial Tournament as well as a gold medal at the Olympics. At just 28 years old, the former Texas All-American looks to continue his reign at the top of the World Golf Rankings and has a chance to become the youngest player since Tiger Woods to win three times in Augusta.

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

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Stacey@tournamenthousing.net

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RORY MCILROY

When Rory McIlroy won the 2014 Open Championship and PGA Championship — giving him four major titles in three years — it seemed like the Northern Irishman was locked in to earn a career Grand Slam before turning 30. Now, it’s been more than a decade since his last Major win, with Augusta’s Green Jacket still proving elusive. That’s not to say he hasn’t come close to winning the Masters; he has recorded seven top-10 finishes, including a second place in 2022 and top-five finishes in 2020, 2018 and 2015. That gap between Major wins, however, is no knock on McIlroy’s pedigree as he’s cemented himself as one of the greatest players of his generation. The No.3ranked golfer in the world, McIlroy has won a record three FedExCups, captured another Race to Dubai crown thanks to a 2024 win in the DP World Tour Championship and kicked off 2025 by winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, giving him the second-most career victories for active players, trailing only Tiger Woods.

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU

Bryson DeChambeau took a hero’s turn in 2024, becoming one of the most popular players in professional golf through a fan-first attitude and stellar performance in the year’s Majors. In fact, DeChambeau has proven to be one of LIV Golf Tour’s most successful players when he tees it up in the four Majors — in 2024, he won the U.S. Open in dramatic fashion on the 18th hole, finished second at the PGA Championship and sixth at the Masters. With booming distance and an everimproving short game, the unconventional 31-year-old California native has all the tools needed to win his first Green Jacket. After missing the cut in Augusta in 2022 and 2023, DeChambeau stormed to a first-round lead last year, carding a 7-under 65. Can he take the next step and find himself at the top of the leaderboard on Masters Sunday?

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

XANDER SCHAUFFELE

Xander Schauffele doesn’t have to answer questions if he’s going to finally win a Major. The 31-yearold, from La Jolla, Calif., won the PGA Championship and Open Championship in 2024, vaulting him to No. 2 in the World Golf Rankings. In most years — a.k.a. ones that didn’t involve Scottie Scheffler — that would have earned him PGA Tour Player of the Year honors. Schauffele recovered from a rib injury in early 2025 and should be in top shape for this year’s Masters. He has tallied four top 10s in the past six years at Augusta National, including a runner-up finish to Tiger Woods in 2019 and third in 2021. He ranks second in strokes gained and first in scrambling on the PGA Tour, both of which could serve him well as he tries to win his first Green Jacket on his eighth try.

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

COLLIN MORIKAWA

Collin Morikawa has been the definition of steady play on the PGA Tour. After bursting onto the scene with six PGA Tour wins, including a pair of Major titles, he’s settled into a mainstay on tournament leaderboards and is ranked fourth in the World Golf Rankings. He feels poised for a breakthrough, possessing all the tools needed to win at Augusta National, as his short game is one of the best on the PGA Tour. In 2024, the California native ranked second in putts per round and ninth in scrambling. At 28 years old, he’s never missed the cut at Augusta National and is coming off three straight top-10 finishes, so expect Morikawa’s name to be on the leaderboard again.

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

LUDVIG ÅBERG

Åberg debuted at the Masters in 2024 and finished second behind Scheffler. The Swede may have been a bit off the radar when he arrived in Augusta the first time, but he didn’t emerge out of nowhere. In 2023, he wrapped up a stellar collegiate career at Texas Tech University as the topranked amateur in the world and the recipient of the Fred Haskins, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year awards. He earned his first DP World Tour win that September in Switzerland and was part of the winning European Ryder Cup team in Italy in October 2023. This year, he’s already got a win under his belt with a dramatic victory at the Genesis Invitational; now the 25-year-old gets a second date with Augusta National, and performing better than he did in his debut would mean only one thing: a Green Jacket.

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA

It’s hard to believe, at just 31, Hideki Matsuyama is making his 14th Masters appearance. The 2021 Masters winner from Japan has posted top 20s in eight of the past 10 years at Augusta National. He became Japan’s first male Major champion and strengthened his personal connection to the Masters, one that already included the Silver Cup as Low Amateur at Augusta National in 2011. He is one of seven Low Amateurs to go on to win the Masters. After a winless PGA season in 2023, Mastsuyama won the FedEx St. Jude Championship and the Genesis Invitational in 2024, which moved him into the top 10 of the World Golf Rankings. He currently sits fifth on the list after kicking off the 2025 season with a win at The Sentry.

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

WYNDHAM CLARK

Few players on the PGA Tour play with the passion and purpose of Wyndham Clark. He enjoyed a breakout 2023 season that allowed him to capture his first win on the PGA Tour, as well as the U.S. Open in a thrilling duel against Rory McIlroy. His performance dipped slightly in 2024 in Major play, as he missed three cuts last year, including his first Masters Tournament. But he’s still the seventhranked player in the world and won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2024, tallied a top 10 in the TOUR Championship and competed for the U.S. at the Presidents Cup. If he continues near the top of the field in driving accuracy and putting average, he could be a contender looking to do more than make his first cut at Augusta National.

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

By Johnathan McGinty

Everyone loves an underdog, and there have been plenty of golfers who teed it up at Augusta National Golf Club that weren’t given much initial thought. However, as they made the final turn to the back nine on a Sunday afternoon, with the crowd swelling behind them, these scrappy dark horse contenders made believers out of all of us. Of course, if you’ve made it to the Masters, you’ve already established yourself as one of the best in the game. Could any of these talented golfers get the breakthrough they’re looking for this year?

World Golf Rankings as of February 19, 2025

JON RAHM

Photos courtesy of Augusta National Golf Club

Justin Thomas

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

It’s hard to imagine Justin Thomas being considered a “dark horse” contender at Augusta National Golf Club. Still, it’s equally as tough to believe that it’s been nearly three years since he won his second Major with a thrilling win at the 2022 PGA Championship. Thomas has kept his head down, working through some rough patches in his game to round back into form heading into 2025. He remains one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour; he’s also known as one of the most competitive clutch players in golf, which is why he’s a regular on the U.S. squads for the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. Thomas tallied three top-10 finishes on the famed West Coast Swing to start the season and is a force to be reckoned with on any course. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him pick up his first Green Jacket this spring.

Harris English

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

A former All-American from just up the road at the University of Georgia, Harris English already has a win under his belt this season after a stellar showing at the Farmers Insurance Open. The smooth-swinging Southerner from Sea Island is known as one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour, and his errorfree style of play sets him up well at Augusta National. His start to the season was up-and-down with the win at Torrey Pines Golf Club being his best performance. But knowing how his game matches up to the tight fairways and speedy greens at the Masters, English figures to be in the thick of things on Sunday.

Jon Rahm

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

That Jon Rahm? The one who won the Masters only two years ago and was a fixture near the top of the Official World Golf Rankings? Sure, it feels odd calling him a “dark horse,” but it’s only because the average golf fan simply hasn’t seen much of him after his 2024 move to LIV Golf. That doesn’t mean Rahm isn’t one of the most complete golfers on the planet, capable of dominating the field and overpowering any course. He showed his mettle last year, capturing the 2024 LIV Golf Individual Championship and finishing in the top 10 of every LIV Golf event he participated in. Rahm meshes raw power with an impeccable finesse that sets him apart from the field, making him a legitimate threat to capture a second Green Jacket.

Sepp Straka

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

Long known as one of the steadier players on the PGA Tour, Sepp Straka has taken his game to new heights in 2025. During the season’s kickoff as part of the West Coast Swing, he recorded four top-20 finishes and won The American Express Golf Tournament. It’s a successful start to the year that’s rocketed him up in the Official World Golf Rankings and positioned him as one of the players to beat at Augusta National. Another former Georgia Bulldog, Straka is one of the best players on the PGA Tour when it comes to his approach to the green, which sets him up for more birdie looks than others. Cashing in on those opportunities will make all the difference during Masters week.

Nick Taylor

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

Oh, Canada! Nick Taylor has quietly compiled one of the more impressive résumes in golf the past few years, tallying three skillful wins since 2023 including a win at the Sony Open in Hawaii. His approach to the green is considerably better than the field average, and he’s one of the most consistent putters on the PGA Tour. At Augusta National, with its dramatic undulations throughout the course and perhaps the most challenging greens in all of golf, both of his game traits could enable him to stand out from a crowded field. Taylor hasn’t won a major — yet — and this could be the year he puts everything together and emerges with a Green Jacket.

Masters 2025

By Aimee Serafin

Illustrations by Jennifer & Joann Keller

Information based on sources as of February 11, 2025: masters.com, golf. com, TheAugustaChronicle.

Tea Olive

Par 4 • 445 yards

According to David Owen’s book, The Making of the Masters, a small creek that originally ran across this fairway earned the nickname “Schooie’s Gulch,” after Clarence Schoo who struggled consecutively to clear it.

Pink Dogwood

Par 5 • 585 yards

Pink Dogwood, the longest hole, has deep greenside bunkers requiring attention on the second shot.

Martin Miller/Augusta National Golf Club

HOLE 5

Flowering Peach

Par 4 • 350 yards

No. 3 resembled a pseudo-crime scene during the 2020 November Masters when Bryson DeChambeau lost his ball.

Flowering Crab Apple

Par 3 • 240 yards

The flowering crab apple trees at Augusta National Golf Club bloom in late March and early April. This green, originally shaped like a boomerang, slopes back to front.

Par 4 • 495 yards

No. 5 was inspired by the legendary Road Hole at the Old Course at St. Andrews. Jack Nicklaus remarkably became the first to eagle this hole, twice, in the 1995 Masters.

Juniper

Par 3 • 180 yards

One of the greatest spills happened here in 1991 when José María Olazábal had a quadruple bogey (7), but the Spanish golfer rallied to finish at one-under 71 on the second round.

Pampas

Par 4 • 450 yards

In 1938, changes to the green were paid for by a club member and done with a tractor borrowed from the county.

Yellow Jasmine 7 8

Par 5 • 570 yards

Yellow Jasmine is a native Southeastern vine with trumpet-shaped blooms appearing in early spring. Which golfer scored the second double eagle here in the tournament’s history in 1967? Bruce Devlin.

9

Carolina Cherry

Par 4 • 460 yards

Tiger Woods’ stretch of seven consecutive birdies in 2005, including one at No. 9, positioned him to win his fourth Green Jacket.

10

Camellia

Par 4 • 495 yards

Historically, No. 10 is ranked as the course’s most challenging hole. Among the misfortunes are Bubba Watson’s miraculous escape from the trees and Rory McIlroy’s crushing mishap near the cabins.

White Dogwood

Par 5 • 545 yards

Part of the famous trio that comprises Amen Corner, No. 13 is flanked by approximately 1,600 azaleas.

Par 4 • 520 yards

Augusta native Larry Mize made a chip-in on this hole in the 1987 Masters to defeat Greg Norman in a playoff.

Par 3 • 155 yards

There have only been three holes-in-one on No. 12 in Masters history. Curtis Strange was the last player to ace the hole in 1988. In 2023, former collegiate golfer at the University of Georgia Sepp Straka sunk a practice round ball into the hole to roaring cheers from the crowds.

Chinese Fir

Par 4 • 440 yards

The No. 14 is the only hole at Augusta National without a bunker.

Azalea

Firethorn

Par 5 • 550 yards

Significant past changes made to No. 15, whose game shots include the “one heard around the world,” involved a new tee location and fairway contouring.

In 2011, Charl Schwartzel became one of only four players to have back-to-back birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 and go on to win the Masters.

Redbud

Par 3 • 170 yards

In 1968, Clive Clark, age 23, became the first golfer at the Masters to have a hole-in-one recorded on film. It had been 19 years since the previous holein-one at No. 16, and it was the 9th ace in Masters history.

Par 4 • 465 yards

Several players have won the Masters with a birdie on No. 18 including Art Wall (1959), Arnold Plamer (1960), Gary Player (1978), Sandy Lyle (1988), Mark O’Meara (1998) and Phil Mickelson (2004).

Par 4 • 440 yards

Nandina

2024

By Johnathan McGinty

A TRIUMPHANT RETURN

Photos courtesy of Augusta National Golf Club

In many ways, last year’s Masters Tournament paralleled the entire 2024 PGA Tour season — Scottie Scheffler manufacturing a victory felt distinctly inevitable ....

In many ways, last year’s Masters Tournament paralleled the entire 2024 PGA Tour season – Scottie Scheffler manufacturing a victory that felt distinctly inevitable from the moment the lanky Texan set foot at the first tee.

Scheffler didn’t lead after 18 holes, but his consistent play gave him a share of the lead after 36, an outright lead after 54 and a Green Jacket after 72 — and his second Masters victory in three years.

He entered April after a dominant stretch in March, boasting backto-back wins at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and THE PLAYERS Championship, followed by a T-2 finish at the Texas Children’s Houston Open. Scheffler arrived at the tournament as the clear favorite, and

after four days on the course, there was no surprise that he was donning the Green Jacket again in Butler Cabin.

His victory in Augusta would be one of eight total titles Scheffler claimed in 2024, including a gold medal in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, as part of a dominating regular season that was capped off with a TOUR Championship victory at East Lake Golf Club, another Bobby Jones-designed course that is a mere 140 miles from Augusta National Golf Club.

“It’s hard to put into words how special this is,” Scheffler said after he slipped on his Green Jacket. “It’s been a long week, a grind of a week. The golf course was so challenging. To be sitting here, wearing this jacket again, and getting to take it home is extremely special.”

THE SON OF KEEGAN BRADLEY

JORDAN SPIETH

SERGIO GARCÍA, JON RAHM AND JOSÉ MARÍA OLAZÁBAL

THURSDAY | DAY 1

The [weather] delay contributed to a suspension of play due to darkness, stretching the first round across Thursday and early Friday morning.

Weather played a factor in Thursday’s opening round, as first tee times shifted to 10:30 a.m. The delay contributed to a suspension of play due to darkness, stretching the first round across Thursday and early Friday morning. Despite these factors, Bryson DeChambeau posted the best single-round of the 2024 tournament, finishing 7-under 65. DeChambeau made the most of his extra time before the first tee, tallying three straight birdies to begin the round, and he birdied five of his last seven holes to finish the round at the top of the leaderboard. Scheffler wasn’t far behind, after his four birdies on the back nine

– including one from the No. 12 bunker – helped propel him to No. 2 on the leaderboard with a 6-under 66.

Max Homa and Nicolai Højgaard sat one stroke behind, each boasting 5-under 67s. The American and Dane each finished with seven birdies and two bogeys. Five-time Masters Champion Tiger Woods was amid the handful of pairings whose play was halted by darkness, and his 1-over 72 kept him in the running for a 24th consecutive made cut in Augusta.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU

TIGER WOODS

NICOLAI HØJGAARD

MAX HOMA

FRIDAY | DAY 2

Only eight players shot under par during the second round, including Ludvig Åberg, whose 3-under 69 led all players.

LUDVIG ÅBERG

Only eight players shot under par during the second round, including Ludvig Åberg, whose 3-under 69 led all players. Åberg started his round with a birdie on No. 2 – a hole he birdied each round in the tournament – and his five later birdies would push him into striking distance.

The heat with which DeChambeau started the tournament quickly dissipated in the day’s strengthening winds, as he carded a 1-over 73. Despite his struggles on the course, he still shared the lead with Scheffler – who posted an even par round on a difficult day – and Homa. Homa recorded early birdies on Nos. 2 and 4, and his card’s only blemish came with a bogey on No. 11.

Cameron Davis (72) and Colin Morikawa (2-under 70) entered winning contention, both sitting T-5 after 36 holes. Woods would join the top 60, making the cut set at +6, while 2015 champion Jordan Spieth, 2020 champion Dustin Johnson and Viktor Hovland, ranked in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings, failed to make the cut.

MAX HOMA

CAMERON DAVIS

JORDAN SPIETH

SATURDAY | DAY 3

The third round brought a continuous shuffle on the leaderboard, with players shifting up and down throughout the top five spots, but, by the day’s end, Scheffler’s play would position himself in the lead heading into the final round.

Scheffler’s up-and-down round was a bingo card of scoring – a double bogey, three bogeys, nine pars, an eagle and four birdies, including one on No. 18, to give him the lead. Åberg’s three front-nine birdies capped off another solid round, and his 2-under 70 moved him to four-under and fourth on the leaderboard.

Morikawa’s 3-under 69 propelled him into second place at -6, with three of his four birdies on the day coming in the first three holes. Homa and DeChambeau didn’t fare as well, although DeChambeau’s chip-in birdie on No. 18 ended his round on a positive note. He found the water on No. 15 en route to a double bogey, and five other bogeys on the scoreboard led to an eventual 3-over 75, dropping him to fifth at -3. Homa’s only non-par was a bogey, dropping him to third at -5.

RORY MCILROY

Homa and DeChambeau didn’t fare as well, although DeChambeau’s chip-in birdie on No. 18 ended his round on a positive note.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER

TOMMY FLEETWOOD

SUNDAY | DAY 4

Sunday’s fi nal round was one of survival for Scheffler, who bogeyed two of his fi rst seven holes and found himself in a tie with Morikawa and Homa. It didn’t last.

Scheffler carded six birdies in a nine-hole stretch, opening up a commanding lead after a trio of them on Nos. 8, 9 and 10. Åberg played well but struggled to keep up under Scheffler’s onslaught. His 3-under 69 was good enough to give him an outright second-place fi nish at -7.

Likewise, Morikawa double-bogeyed Nos. 9 and 11, eventually fading to a 2-over 74 and fi nishing third at -4. Tommy Fleetwood quietly rose the ranks, and his 3-under 69 enabled him to join Morikawa and Homa in third.

In the end, Scheffler’s steadiness sealed the deal. A birdie at No.16 gave him the cushion needed to come home safely, enabling him to take home the victory.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER

On Solid

GROUND

By David Westin

Youcouldn’ttellitfromScottieScheffler’seasy-goingpersonality andwalk,butalotwasweighingonthepretournamentfavorite’s mindoncehearrivedatAugustaNationalGolfClubforthe2024 Masters Tournament.

Suchas: Would there be an early arrival of his and his wife Meredith’s first child? If so, Scheffler said he would leave the tournament immediatelyandreturnhometoTexas.Therewasalsothefactthat Meredith,hisbiggestsupporterandconfidant,wasn’tinAugustato supporthimforthefirsttimesincehemadehisAugustaNational debutin2020.

Wouldtherebeaflareupoftheneckproblemthatreareditshead amonthearlieratTHEPLAYERSChampionship?

Simon Bruty/Augusta

And would his new-found putting prowess continue? After changingtoamallet-headedputterfiveweeksbeforetheMasters, Schefflerhadcuredtheputtingwoesthatcosthimsometournament titlesinthelate2023andearly2024seasons.Butthenewputter had never been tested on slick, undulating greens like those at AugustaNational.

National Golf Club

Above: Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele walk off the No. 2 tee during the first round of the 2024 Masters Tournament.

As it turned out, the Scheffler baby – a boy they named Bennett — didn’t arrive until May 8, exactly a month after the Monday Masters practice round. The neck problem, however, was a real concern before the final round but was remedied just before he teed off. And his putting? He rolled his putts beautifully on the greens all week with his mallet putter.

That left Scheffler to focus on his ball striking, of which no one in today’s game is more proficient. That’s why the talk before the tournament was this: could anyone stop Scheffler, the red-hot World No. 1 player, from winning his second Green Jacket in three years? The answer was an emphatic no.

Scheffler, who came into the week with victories in two of his previous three starts (and a runner-up finish in the other) was not to be denied.

During a week at Augusta National that included a solar eclipse (during the Monday practice round) and winds gusting

up to 40 mph on Friday that sent scores soaring, Scheffler finished at 11-under 277 to win by four shots. On that windy Friday, Scheffler shot 1-under-par 71 while the field averaged 75.0785. The golfer’s play, as Masters Chairman Fred Ridley commented afterward, “was simply spectacular.”

Scheffler finished in the top 20 in all the major statistical categories. He was third in putting in the field with 76, tied for seventh in greens hit in regulation (44 of 72), 13th in driving distance (305.7 yards) and tied for 18th in driving accuracy (44 of 56 fairways hit). He was also second in the field in birdies with 20. Scheffler had tied for 10th place in his Masters defense in 2023 but was back on top again in 2024.

“I think whenever you’re able to do it again, I think it’s really special,” Scheffler said of his second Masters title. “I don’t know if validation is the right word for the first one, but doing something like that twice

is very special. So, there’s definitely a good bit of satisfaction in accomplishing that.”

With Meredith resting comfortably in Texas and his putter cooperating, Scheffler’s biggest worry was his neck. He experienced pain from it the morning before the final round.

“The same little joint bugged me a touch [four weeks earlier], but fortunately we were able to get ahead of it this time before it completely locked up on me,” he said. Because some of the neck issues lingered when he got to the course for the final round, Scheffler had concerns about how he’d play at first.

“So as far as how I felt Sunday, my warmup was very stressful because when the joint starts to lock up, everything around it also tightens, and so it happens very quickly,” he said. “I was sitting on the couch at home relaxing, and then all of a sudden, I could feel it. So, I got in the shower as quick as I could, got ready and went straight to my trainer. We started working on it pretty quickly, but it

definitely was not anywhere near my normal warm-up. I was out late for my warm-up. I had to go back in and get taped back up to go back out and play, so the warm-up was a bit stressful, but I feel like my heart rate went down as we approached the tee time.”

Fortunately for Scheffler, his starting time for the final round wasn’t until 2:35 p.m. The golfer started the final round with a one-shot lead over Collin Morikawa, his Sunday playing partner. When it was over, Scheffler had closed with 68 and won by four over Masters rookie Ludvig Åberg of Sweden (69 in the final round). Morikawa faded to 74 and finished in a tie for third place with England’s Tommy Fleetwood (69) and Max Homa (73), five behind Scheffler.

Scheffler’s not much for talking about the past or the future — just the present. In the here and now, he likes to keep things simple on the golf course, which was noted by Rory McIlroy, who tied for 22nd place.

Left: Scottie Scheffler celebrates putting for an eagle on the No. 13 hole during the third round of the 2024 Masters Tournament.

Above: Scottie Scheffler with his caddie during the final round of the 2024 Masters Tournament.

Simon Bruty/Augusta National Golf Club

Simon Bruty/Augusta National Golf Club

Below: Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates on the No. 18 green after winning in front of the patrons during the final round of the 2024 Masters Tournament.

“Nothing. Nothing. Not a lot of clutter,” McIlroy said when asked what he thinks is in Scheffler’s head when he is on the golf course. “The game feels pretty easy when you’re in stretches like this. That’s the hard thing whenever you’re not quite in form — you are searching and thinking about it so much. But when you are in form, you don’t think about it at all. So, it’s trying to find that balance.”

It’s easy to stay in the present when you’re as prepared as Scheffler when he arrives at a tournament. “I feel like I’m always trying to work on all aspects of my game, and I feel like when I walk out onto the first tee, I’m focused on my preparation,” Scheffler said. “When I step up there — and I always remind myself walking to the tee that I’m prepared for this — that I did everything I could in order to play well. If you see me at a tournament, there’s about a 99% chance that I checked all the boxes and I’m ready to play. So, when I step up there, I remember the results aren’t up to me and I’m going out there and compete.”

“I think discipline is a word that comes to mind,” said Ted Scott, Scheffler’s caddie since early 2022, a few weeks before that year’s Masters. Scott, who was on the bag when Bubba Watson won his two Masters (2012, 2014) and now his four Masters titles, believes Scheffler is golf’s version of Superman, with a Green Jacket instead of a cape over his shoulders.

“What is he not good at? I don’t know,” Scott said. “I think his superpower is that super powerful people are good at everything, and he seems to be good at everything. He doesn’t really have a weakness.” With Scheffler leading the way, the 2024 Masters might have signaled a changing of the guard in the tournament.

While the 27-year-old Scheffler was winning his second Green Jacket, 48-yearold Tiger Woods, a five-time winner at Augusta National, finished last in the field among the 60 who made the cut, and many saw that as a figurative passing of the golf baton. Scheffler (66-72-71-68) beat Woods (73-72-82-77) by 27 shots. Phil Mickelson,

a four-time Masters champion who was 53 years old, shot 73-75-74-74, and was 19 shots behind Scheffler. It isn’t just Scheffler who is among the young, new guard. While Åberg was just 24, Morikawa was 27, the same age as Scheffler, Fleetwood and Homa were both 33.

“We’ve all grown up with Tiger and Phil kind of being the front runners more than anybody else in the contenders,” fellow Masters participant Luke List said. “Now it seems like Scottie has separated himself a little bit. Rory [McIlroy] had his time.”

Indeed, Scheffler continued to separate himself from the rest of the PGA Tour players the week following the Masters. Scheffler, though weary after a quick trip to Texas to celebrate his victory with Meredith, honored his commitment to play in the RBC Heritage (Meredith’s due date was still two weeks away) in Hilton Head Island, S.C. He shot 69-65-63-68 to finish at 19-under at the RBC Heritage to win by three shots.

In his pretournament news conference at the Heritage, Scheffler said, “I was on a radio show earlier and someone asked me if I thought about withdrawing and I said, ‘No, I committed to this tournament and I’m not showing up here just to walk around and play a little golf.’ I left my pregnant wife at home to come here and play in a golf tournament. I am here to play, and hopefully, play well. I’m not here just for fun.”

Scheffler became the first player to win the Masters and the Heritage backto-back since Bernhard Langer did it in 1995. Afterward, Scheffler reiterated his pretournament mantra: “I didn’t show up here just to have some sort of ceremony [for winning the Masters] and have people tell me congratulations.”

The Masters victory was a springboard for one of the greatest seasons in pro golf. Scheffler’s seven PGA Tour wins, which included the Masters, THE PLAYERS Championship and Tour Championship,

of the United States celebrates with his caddie Ted Scott on the No. 18 green after winning the 2024 Masters during the final round of the 2024 Masters Tournament.

Above: Masters champion Scottie Scheffler

Simon

Bruty/Augusta National Golf Club

were the most in a year since Woods won nine times in 2000. Scheffler also won an Olympic gold medal. No one else won more than twice on the PGA Tour in 2024.

In his 19 PGA Tour starts, Scheffler won 43% of the time. Counting PGA Tour bonuses, he earned more than $62 million this past season. He closed out the 2024 season in December with a victory in Woods’ unofficial event, the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Of course, the inevitable comparisons with Woods in his prime were drawn after Scheffler’s fantastic year. After he won the Hero World Challenge, Scheffler called any similarities to Woods “a bit silly. There’s really only one Tiger; that’s just kind of it. I’m trying to get the best out of myself and that’s really all I’m focused on. I’m not chasing records or chasing history or anything like that. I’m just trying to dayin-and-day-out continue to improve a little bit, just go out there, compete and have fun.”

With his talent and motivation, he might one day challenge Jack Nicklaus’ record of six Masters titles.

Scheffler has a lifetime invitation to the Masters by virtue of being a former champion and he’s not going anywhere. The expectation is that there should be more Green Jackets in his future.

“I love the feeling of a well-struck golf shot,” he said. “I love this game. I love going out and practicing by myself. I love playing golf, gambling at home with people, just messing around. The game of golf has been a huge part of my life for a long time, and Lord willing, it’ll be part of my life for a long time going forward. I don’t plan on taking my eye off the ball anytime soon.”

“It’s phenomenal,” List, who tied for 38th place in the Masters said of Scheffler’s play in 2024. “He’s probably just trying to bottle it and keep it going as long as possible. Without question, he will be a force for years to come.”

David Paul Morris/Augusta National Golf Club

Above: Masters champion Scottie Scheffler of the United States lifts the Masters Trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the 2024 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.

Contenders Masters 2025

By Chris Gay

1. Masters Tournament Champions (Lifetime)

2025 QUALIFICATIONS

2. U.S. Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)

3. The Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)

4. PGA Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)

5. Winners of THE PLAYERS Championship (Three years)

6. Current Olympic Gold Medalist (One year)

7. Current U.S. Amateur Champion (7-A) (Honorary, non-competing after one year) and the Runner-up (7-B) to the current U.S. Amateur Champion

8. Current The Amateur Champion (Honorary, non-competing after one year)

9. Current Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion (One year)

10. Current Latin America Amateur Champion (One year)

11. Current U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion (One year)

12. Current NCAA Division I Men’s Individual Champion (One year)

Tommy Aaron

Charles Coody

Ben Crenshaw

13. The first 12 players, including ties, in the previous year’s Masters Tournament

14. The first 4 players, including ties, in the previous year’s U.S. Open

15. The first 4 players, including ties, in the previous year’s The Open Championship

16. The first 4 players, including ties, in the previous year’s PGA Championship

17. Individual winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation from the previous Masters to current Masters

18. Those qualifying and eligible for the previous year’s seasonending TOUR Championship

19. The 50 leaders on the final Official World Golf Ranking for the previous calendar year

20. The 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the current Masters Tournament

The Masters Committee, at its discretion, also invites international players not otherwise qualified.

PAST CHAMPIONS NOT PLAYING IN 2025 MASTERS

Nick Faldo

Contenders as of February 17, 2025

Qualification: 13,18, 19

Age: 25

Residence: Tallahassee, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: Second

2024 Masters

Finish: Second

Ludvig Åberg (Sweden)

Sandy Lyle

Larry Mize

Jack Nicklaus

Åberg was impressive in his inaugural Masters appearance last year. The Swedish golfer opened with rounds of 73-69-70 and sat just three shots back entering the final round. After carding three birdies on the front nine of the final round, Åberg was in the mix for the Green Jacket. But after dunking his approach shot into the water at No. 11, he couldn’t recover. He finished four shots behind champion Scottie Scheffler.

Åberg had a stellar year in 2024, recording 14 top-20 finishes, including a runner-up showing at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

He made golf history in 2023 by finishing first in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2023, turning professional and joining the PGA Tour following the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship. He became the first player to join The Tour directly from college via PGA TOUR University. In November 2023, Åberg closed The RSM Classic with weekend rounds of 61-61 for a four-shot victory, his first PGA Tour title.

Mark O’Meara

Gary Player Craig Stadler

Qualification: 18, 19

Age: 33

Residence: Orlando, Fla.

Masters Appearance: Sixth

2024 Masters Finish: T-16

Tom Watson

Ian Woosnam Fuzzy Zoeller

Byeong-Hun An (Korea)

An solidified his standing in the world rankings late last year by winning the Korean Tour’s Genesis Open. He defeated Tom Kim in a playoff to climb from No. 36 in the world to No. 27. He began 2025 ranked No. 24. An got off to a hot start in the 2024 Masters, draining birdies on the first three holes. He moved to 4 under on his round after recording another birdie at No. 13. An closed with bogeys at Nos. 16 and 18 for an opening 70. He finished with rounds of 73-72-75 for his best finish in Augusta. He recorded 18 birdies, 18 bogeys and one double bogey during the tournament.

Qualification:

7-A

Age: 21

Residence:

Catellón de la Plana, Castellón, Spain

Masters

Appearance: First

2024 Masters Finish: DNP

José Luis Ballester (Spain)

Ballester has quite the Masters connection. The young Spaniard has Sergio García as his golf coach and trained with Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm, a pair of former Arizona State golfers. Ballester, who is listed as “Josele” on the Arizona State website and in other golf publications, entered his senior year in fall 2024 without a collegiate victory. It didn’t matter, though, because his biggest win to date came in August when he claimed the U.S. Amateur Championship. Ballester became the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Amateur when he defeated Noah Kent, 2-up, in Hazeltine, Minn. The victory came on Ballester’s 21st birthday.

Qualification: 11

Age: 34

Residence: Virginia Beach, Va.

Masters

Appearance: First

2024 Masters Finish: DNP

Qualification: 18

Age: 30

Residence: Johannesburg, South Africa

Masters

Appearance: Fourth

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Christiaan Bezuidenhout (South Africa)

Bezuidenhout is making his first Masters appearance in three years thanks to a banner year on the PGA Tour in 2024. He earned more than $5 million due to to three top-10 finishes, including a runner-up showing at The American Express Golf Tournament. He didn’t take home the first-place money from the tournament because it was won by amateur Nick Dunlap. Bezuidenhout solidified his mark in the FedExCup standings with a fourth-place finish at the Memorial Tournament. With his final-round 69 at the BMW Championship, Bezuidenhout tied for 33rd place to qualify for the TOUR Championship. In three previous Masters appearances, Bezuidenhout has finished tied for 38th, tied for 40th and tied for 44th.

Qualification: 18, 19

Age: 23

Residence: Jupiter, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: Second

2024 Masters

Finish: T-35

Evan Beck

Beck, a former Wake Forest golfer who works as an investment group analyst, finally earned his invitation to play in the Masters. In 2023, he lost in the U.S. Mid-Amateur final. This time around, Beck made the most of his homestate advantage. At Kinloch Golf Club just outside of Richmond, Va., the Virginia Beach native tied for first in stroke play. In match play, Beck survived several tight matches, including his match in the Round of 16, when he needed a birdie on No. 18 for an eventual win on the third hole of sudden death. In the championship match, Beck shot 3 under on the first 18 holes to establish an 8-up advantage for an eventual win over Bobby Massa.

Akshay Bhatia

Bhatia punched his ticket to the 2024 Masters at the very last moment possible, and in an unforgettable way. He injured his shoulder on a fist pump after rolling in a 12-foot birdie putt to force a sudden-death playoff the Sunday before Masters week at the Valero Texas Open. Before hitting his approach shot on the first playoff hole, he called his trainer to tape his shoulder. After Denny McCarthy put his approach shot in the creek, Bhatia hit a wedge to 6 feet for the win. He previously won the 2023 Barracuda Championship, which didn’t qualify him for the Masters. In Augusta, Bhatia played the final six holes of the second round in 1-under fashion to make the cut in his first Masters Tournament.

Qualification: 17, 18, 19

Age: 38

Residence:

Jupiter, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: Ninth

2024 Masters Finish: T-22

Keegan Bradley

Bradley famously did not get selected for the 2023 U.S. Open Ryder Cup team by captain Zach Johnson. However, last year, he saw a reversal in fortunes, getting selected as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain for the Ryder Cup match later this year at Bethpage Black. The 2011 PGA Championship winner, Bradley continues to play golf at a high level. He proved that last year by winning the BMW Championship — his seventh career PGA Tour win and third in three years. After finishing tied for 23rd place in the 2023 Masters, Bradley posted a tie for 22nd place last year.

Qualification: 18, 19

Age: 28

Residence: Choudrant, La.

Masters

Appearance: Third

2024 Masters Finish: MC

Qualification: 1

Age: 55

Residence:

Córdoboa, Argentina

Masters

Appearance: 21st

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Ángel Cabrera (Argentina)

Cabrera, known as “El Pato” (“The Duck”), spent 30 months in prison for domestic violence and just returned last year, playing 12 events on the Champions Tour. Cabrera will be making his first Masters start since 2019 and is seeking his first cut made at the Masters since 2016. He staged comebacks to win the 2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters. At the U.S. Open, Cabrera overcame a four-shot deficit entering the final round to defeat Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods by a stroke. At the 2009 Masters, Cabrera bounced back from a two-shot deficit with two to play to eventually defeat Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry in a sudden-death playoff.

Qualification: 17

Age: 37

Residence: Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

Masters

Appearance: First

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Sam Burns

Burns didn’t post a victory in 2024, but he still had a solid year. He recorded eight top-10 finishes, including a tie for ninth place at the U.S. Open. That marked the best Major finish for the five-time PGA Tour winner. From 202123, he played in 76 tournaments and earned more than $19 million. After winning twice in 2021 and winning twice again in 2022, Burns added PGA Tour victory #5 last March at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play event, when he bested Cameron Young, 6 and 5, in the final match. Burns opened the 2023 Masters with rounds of 68-71 to find himself within striking distance of the leaders. A thirdround 78, capped by a triple-bogey 7 at 18, led to Burns falling off the pace. He opened the 2024 Masters with birdies on two of the first three holes before later carding three double bogeys en route to an opening 80.

Rafael Campos (Puerto Rico)

Campos earned his first trip to Augusta thanks to his play in the fall of 2024. At the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, Campos fired 62 in the third round and closed with 68 for a three-shot victory and his first PGA Tour victory. The win moved him from No. 317 to No. 161 in the World Golf Rankings. Campos entered 2025 with seven top-10 finishes in 81 career tournaments.

Qualification: 14, 18, 19

Age: 33

Residence:

Jupiter, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: Ninth

2024 Masters Finish: T-22

Patrick Cantlay

Cantlay had an interesting time at the 2024 Masters. He holed out two shots from the fairway for a pair of rare eagles on par-4 holes in the first two rounds. He was poised to post his second top-10 Masters finish, but he closed with a double bogey at No. 16 and bogeys at Nos. 17 and 18 to fall back.

Cantlay put himself in position to win his first Major when he opened the 2024 U.S. Open with 65. He was in the thick of contention deep into the final round until he posted a bogey at No. 16 and finished two shots back. After recording eight career PGA Tour wins from 2017-22, Cantlay failed to win a tournament for the second year in a row in 2024. He is still seeking his first Major victory.

Qualification: 2, 18, 19

Age: 31

Residence: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Masters

Appearance: Second

2024 Masters

Finish: MC

Qualification: 19

Age: 33

Residence:

Jupiter, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: Eighth

2024 Masters Finish: T-38

Corey Conners (Canada)

After a string of three consecutive top-10 finishes at the Masters, Conners shockingly missed the cut in 2023. He rebounded to make the cut again in 2024, but four double bogeys in the final round prevented him from making a run. Conners posted an unbelievably consistent year in 2024, when he made the cut in every tournament. He tied for ninth at the U.S. Open and ended the year ranked No. 40 in the world.

Qualification: 1

Age: 65

Residence: Newport Beach, Calif.

Masters Appearance: 40th

2024 Masters Finish: MC

Wyndham Clark

Clark is making his second Masters appearance after coming out of nowhere to win the 2023 U.S. Open in his seventh Major appearance. Before that victory, he missed the cut twice at the U.S. Open, added two other missed cuts and never finished better than 75th in a Major. Clark took a one-shot lead into the final round over Rory McIlroy. After McIlroy bogeyed the par-5 14th and Clark recorded a birdie, the lead expanded to three shots with four holes to play. While Clark bogeyed Nos. 15 and 16, he made two clutch pars on the final two holes to secure a oneshot victory for his first Major championship. At the 2024 Masters, Clark recorded seven bogeys in the second round en route to 78 and an early exit from the tournament.

Fred Couples

The 1992 Masters Champion, Couples will forever be remembered for saving par at No. 12 in the final round, his tee shot landing short of the green but not rolling into the water. He chipped us close and saved par, a clutch turn of events that led to his first Green Jacket. A World Golf Hall of Fame member, Couples owns 64 professional wins, including 15 on the PGA Tour. Couples added his 14th Champions Tour victory in 2022, when he won the SAS Championship in October of that year. He posted rounds of 68-68-60 for a six-shot victory. Couples has missed the Masters cut five of the past six years.

Qualification: 13, 17

Age: 30

Residence: Seattle, Wash. Masters Appearance: Third 2024

T-12

Cameron Davis (Australia)

Davis is making his third Masters appearance in four years thanks to his play at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. After winning that tournament in 2021, Davis posted an 18-under-par 270 to win the 2024 event by one stroke. He earned more than $4 million in the 2024 season, and the year could’ve been even better. He opened the 2024 Masters with 69 and sat five shots back of the lead entering the final round. He opened round four with a bogey at No. 1, another bogey at No. 5 and fell far out of contention.

Qualification: 19

Age: 37

Residence: Forest Lake, Queensland, Australia; Columbus, Ohio

Masters Appearance: 14th

2024 Masters

Qualification: 2, 13, 16, 19

Age: 31

Residence:

Jason Day (Australia)

Day earned an invitation to this year’s Masters due to his play in the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson — his first PGA Tour victory in five years. Because of that win, Day climbed to No. 20 in the world rankings. While he didn’t win in 2024, Day played well enough to end 2024 ranked No. 38 in the world. One of his highlights came when he tied for 13th place at the British Open — his best Major finish in 2024. At the 2024 Masters, Day opened with rounds of 75-73-76 before closing with a 3-under-par 69.

Ninth

T-6

Bryson DeChambeau

One of the most entertaining golfers with his popular YouTube channel, DeChambeau proved to be one of the game’s elite golfers in 2024. He posted three top-6 finishes in the Major tournaments, including his second career win at the U.S. Open. The victory came after he rolled in a seven-foot putt on the final hole for a one-shot victory. What wasn’t talked about last year was DeChambeau’s breakthrough in Augusta. After missing the cut in 2022 and 2023, he posted his best-ever Masters finish. DeChambeau turned heads when he birdied the first three holes on his way to an opening 65. Despite following with rounds of 73-75, DeChambeau entered the final round just four shots back. He opened his Sunday play with bogeys at Nos. 1 and 3, detouring a Green Jacket run.

Qualification: 16, 17

Age: 32

Residence: Dubai, UAE

Masters

Appearance: First

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Thomas Detry (Belgium)

Detry will be teeing it up for the first time in Augusta. He qualified for the Masters with his play in the 2024 PGA Championship. He closed with birdies at Nos. 16 and 18 to finish with a 15-under-par 269 total to tie for fourth place. The finish marked his best showing in a Major. Detry recorded three top-five finishes on the PGA Tour in 2024 and ended the year ranked No. 62 in the world after starting the year ranked outside the top 100.

Qualification: 19

Age: 21

Residence:

Jupiter, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: Second

2024 Masters

Finish: MC

Nick Dunlap

Dunlap has posted an impressive run in recent years. The No.1-ranked junior golfer in 2022, Dunlap found himself in elite company after he won the U.S. Amateur in August. Dunlap not only won the U.S. Amateur, but he became just the second golfer to also win the U.S. Junior Amateur. The first? Tiger Woods. In 2024, Dunlap won his first PGA Tour event when he rolled in a six-foot par putt on the final hole to win The American Express Championship, becoming the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991. After the victory, he turned professional and continued to make strides. Later in the year, he won the Barracuda Championship — his second PGA Tour win of the year. At the 2024 Masters, Dunlap posted rounds of 77-74 that included three double bogeys to miss the cut.

Qualification: 17

Age: 30

Residence:

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Masters

First 2024 Masters

DNP

Qualification: 17, 19

Age: 26

Residence:

Edmond, Okla.

Masters

Appearance: Second

2024 Masters

Finish: MC

Austin Eckroat

Eckroat was a late entrant into the 2024 Masters after winning for the first time on the PGA Tour. He opened the Cognizant Classic with 65 and followed with three more rounds in the 60s for a three-shot victory. In his first Masters appearance, the former Oklahoma State golfer bookended his opening round with double bogeys at Nos. 1 and 18 for 74. He followed with 77 in the second round to miss the cut. Eckroat made the cut in the other three Major events, posting a top-20 finish at the U.S. Open. He earned more than $5 million for the 2024 season.

Qualification: 17

Age: 46

Residence: Orlando, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: Sixth

2024 Masters

Finish: T-22

Nicolás Echavarria (Colombia)

Echavarria played his collegiate golf at the University of Arkansas and later obtained his PGA Tour card for the 2022-23 season. In March 2023, he won his first PGA Tour event, the Puerto Rico Open, by two shots. Because the tournament was an opposite-field event, Echavarria wasn’t able to qualify for the Masters. In October 2024, he entered the ZOZO Championship having missed the cut in three of his previous four events. He opened with consecutive rounds of 64 and finished with a one-shot victory. This win qualified him for an April trip to Augusta.

Harris English

English returns to the Masters after recording his fifth career PGA Tour victory in late January. The former University of Georgia golfer posted rounds of 68-73-66-73 to claim the Farmers Insurance Open by one shot, making par on the final 12 holes to secure the title. Harris played in 26 tournaments in 2024, recording 11 top-25 finishes. He finished seventh in the Genesis Invitational, earning a $700,000 payout. He recorded three other top-10 finishes and won more than $3.4 million. In 2024, English made the cut in all four majors, a tie for 18th at the PGA Championship, his best major finish.

Qualification: 14, 18, 19

Age: 35

Residence:

Lehi, Utah

Masters

Appearance: Eighth

2024 Masters

Finish: T-55

Tony Finau

Finau failed to record a win on the PGA Tour in 2024, but he still posted a remarkable year. Finau finished in the top-20 13 times, including a tie for third place in the U.S. Open. The finish marked his 11th top-10 showing in a Major event. The golfer made his seventh consecutive cut last year at the Masters, but he posted his worst finish in Augusta. After making the cut on the number, he closed with rounds of 72-80. Finau’s tournament was derailed by six 3-putts. The six-time PGA Tour winner will be seeking his first Major win when he tees it up in his eighth Masters appearance.

Qualification: 2, 19

Age: 30

Residence:

Sheffield, England

Masters

Appearance: 11th

2024 Masters Finish: T-22

Qualification: 13, 18, 19

Age: 34

Residence:

Dubai, UAE

Masters

Appearance: Ninth

2024 Masters

Finish: T-3

Tommy Fleetwood (England)

Fleetwood recorded his best Masters finish last year. He birdied Nos. 7-9 in the first round to move to 3 under, before falling back and finishing with 72. He entered the final round 1 under overall. His three-birdie, 15-par performance led to his best Major finish since 2019. Fleetwood, who won the DP World Tour’s Dubai Invitational in January 2024, made the cut in 17 of 19 PGA Tour starts, including four top-10 finishes in 2024. With his 2024 Masters finish, Fleetwood recorded his fifth top-10 Major finish in the past three years. The silver medalist at the 2024 Olympic Games, Fleetwood entered 2025 seeking his first Major victory.

Qualification: 1

Age: 45

Residence: Crans-Montana, Switzerland; Austin, Texas; Orlando, Fla.; Borriol, Spain.

Masters Appearance: 26th

2024 Masters Finish: MC

Matthew Fitzpatrick (England)

Fitzpatrick is in the third year of his five-year Masters exemption after winning the 2022 U.S. Open. He began 2024 ranked inside the top 10 in the World Golf Rankings. He ended the year ranked No. 43. Fitzpatrick entered 2025 having last won on the PGA Tour 2023 at the RBC Heritage; he added a win later in the year at the DP World Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. In 2024, Fitzpatrick posted a pair of fifth-place finishes on the PGA Tour. At the 2024 Masters, Fitzpatrick posted bogey at the 18th hole each day and finished with a 4-over-par 292 total.

Sergio García (Spain)

García finished third in the LIV Golf tour’s individual standings in 2024 after winning the Andalucía event. García also led his Fireballs GC team to victory in his home country. At the 2024 Masters, García shot 72-79 to miss the cut for the fifth time since 2018. He finished the second round with three bogeys and a double bogey on the final four holes to miss the cut by one shot. In the 2017 Masters, García won the Green Jacket after rolling in a 14-foot eagle putt at No. 15 in the final round to eventually make a sudden-death playoff with Justin Rose. The golfer rolled in a birdie putt at No. 18 — the first extra hole — to win the Masters, his first Major championship.

Qualification: 19

Age: 45

Residence: Tequesta, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: 11th

2024 Masters Finish: T-20

Lucas Glover

Glover is back in the Masters thanks to his play in the final full-field event of 2024. At The RSM Classic, Glover tied for 30th place to hold onto his No. 50 World Golf Ranking at the end of 2024. He actually fought his way back to Augusta with a pair of third-place finishes at the Sanderson Farms Championship and Black Desert Championship in the fall. Those consecutive finishes helped him climb from No. 60 in the world to No. 44. Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, tied for his best finish in the Masters last year, his first tie for 20th place coming in 2007. Last year, he was 1 under through seven holes in the final round. Then, he doubled the par-5 8th, bogeyed No. 9 and added another double bogey at the par-5 13th.

Qualification: 19

Age: 29

Residence: Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Masters Appearance: First

2024 Masters Finish: DNP

Max Greyserman

In his first season on the PGA Tour, Greyserman finally settled in late in the year. He posted back-to-back, runner-up finishes at the 3M Open and Wyndham Championship. Three tournaments later, the golfer tied for second at the ZOZO Championship. He followed with a fourth at the World Wide Technology Championship. With his strong play, Greyserman climbed from No. 126 in the world to No. 37. The former Duke University golfer will be making his third career Major start in April. In 2024, he tied for 21st in the U.S. Open.

Qualification: 3, 19

Age: 38

Residence:

St. Simons Island, Ga.

Masters Appearance: Seventh

2024 Masters Finish: MC

Brian Harman

Harman missed his third consecutive cut at the 2024 Masters. He closed the first round with a triple bogey, double bogey, double bogey finish for an opening 81. While Harman has missed the cut in four of his six Masters appearances, he’ll always have the Royal Liverpool Golf Club course. In the 2023 British Open, Harman opened with rounds of 67-65 and cruised to a six-shot victory for his first Major title. Harman became just the third left-handed golfer to win the British Open. He finished the 2022-23 season with more than $9 million in earnings, due to three runner-up finishes and three additional top-10 showings. Last year, Harman posted three top-10 finishes in 23 PGA Tour events and earned more than $5 million.

Qualification: 10

Age: 21

Residence: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Masters

Appearance: First

2024 Masters Finish: DNP

Justin Hastings (Cayman Islands)

A senior at San Diego State University, Hastings entered the 2024-25 season as one of 25 golfers on the Haskins Award watch list — the award given to the top male collegiate golfer at the end of the season. He proved to be one of the top young golfers when he made his mark in January in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the Latin America Amateur Championship, Hastings shot 64 in the third round — the morning round of a wild 36-hole, one-day finale. Hastings closed with 72 in the final round for a one-shot win. He becomes the first golfer from the Cayman Islands to play in the Masters.

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Qualification: 13, 19

Age: 33

Residence:

Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England

Masters Appearance: Ninth

2024 Masters Finish: T-9

Tyrrell Hatton (England)

Hatton got back to his winning ways in late 2024. In October, he posted a third-round 61 and went on to claim his third career Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by one shot. In January 2025, he claimed his eighth career DP World Tour title at the Heron Dubai Desert Classic. At the 2024 Masters, Hatton posted five birdies in the final round before closing with bogeys at Nos. 17 and 18. He shot 9 over on holes Nos. 15-18 in the tournament.

Qualification: 18, 19

Age: 36

Residence: Columbus, Ga.

Masters

Appearance: Ninth

2024 Masters Finish: T-38

Qualification: 18

Age: 35

Residence:

Fargo, N.D.

Masters

Appearance: Third

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Tom Hoge

Hoge returns to Augusta after making two Masters appearances in 2022 and 2023. He recorded four top-10 finishes in 2024, including a tie for third at the Travelers Championship. That finish helped Hoge solidify his spot in the FedExCup playoffs. With his tie for 13th in the BMW Championship, Hoge qualified for the TOUR Championship and punched his ticket to Augusta. Hoge entered 2025 with one PGA Tour title win — the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He also owns one top-10 finish in a Major — a tie for ninth at the 2022 PGA Championship.

Qualification: Special Invitation

Age: 24

Residence: Aarhus, Denmark

Masters

Appearance: Second

2024 Masters Finish: T-16

Russell Henley

Henley, a Georgia native and former Georgia Bulldog, had his best year in the Majors in 2024. He finished fifth in the British Open, tied for seventh at the U.S. Open, tied for 23rd at the PGA Championship and tied for 35th at the Masters. In Augusta, Henley birdied No. 18 to make the cut on the number. Henley played in just 19 PGA Tour events, but he made the cut in 18 tournaments, with 11 top-25 showings. He earned more than $5 million for the year.

Nicolai Højgaard (Denmark)

Højgaard qualified for the 2024 Masters by finishing 2023 ranked No. 50 in the World Golf Rankings. This year, he received a special exemption and will join his brother, Rasmus, as the first set of twins to play in the same Masters. Højgaard played in 18 PGA Tour events and finished No. 108 in the FedExCup standings to retain his exempt status on tour. Højgaard opened the 2024 Masters with 67 and later birdied Nos. 8-10 to move to 7 under for the tournament, taking the lead. He followed with five consecutive bogeys to fall out of contention. Højgaard had an up-anddown final round that included six birdies, four bogeys, a double bogey and a quadruplebogey 7 at the par-3 12th hole.

BEYOND THE DRIVE

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Ben Carr (‘23)

Georgia Southern Men’s Golf Team Competitor at the 2023 Masters Tournament

Qualification: 19

Age: 24

Residence:

Aarhus, Denmark

Masters

Appearance: First

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Rasmus Højgaard (Denmark)

Højgaard qualified for the 2025 Masters by finishing 2024 ranked No. 50 in the World Golf Rankings. Rasmus won the Amgen Irish Open to climb 25 spots to No. 63 in the world. He also became the youngest player to win five career DP World Tour events in 35 years. At the DP World Tour Championship in November, Rasmus finished two shots behind Rory McIlroy. With the runner-up finish, Rasmus climbed 13 spots to No. 45 in the world.

Qualification: 13, 19

Age: 34

Residence: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Masters

Appearance: Sixth

2024 Masters

Finish: T-3

Qualification: 15, 18, 19

Age: 38

Residence: Jacksonville, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: 10th

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Billy Horschel

After playing in six consecutive Masters between 2018-23, Horschel missed last year’s event. Now he’s back because of his play two weeks after the 2024 Masters. At last April’s Corales Puntacana Championship, Horschel closed with 63 in the final round for a two-shot victory. With that momentum, he continued his strong play with a top-10 finish at the PGA Championship. At the British Open, the golfer closed with three consecutive birdies in the final round to finish in a tie for second place. In September, he returned to England to win his second career BMW PGA Championship title.

Qualification: 16, 18, 19

Age: 27

Residence:

Stillwater, Okla.

Masters

Appearance: Sixth

2024 Masters

Finish: MC

Max Homa

After winning six PGA Tour events from 201923, Homa finally broke through last year in Augusta. He opened with 67 and later found himself in the final pairing on Sunday. After firing his approach close to the pin at No. 10 for a kick-in birdie, Homa sat one shot off the lead. At the par-3 12th, though, Homa missed long and left, carded a double bogey and fell out of contention. In the 2024 PGA Tour season, Homa posted eight top-25 finishes and earned more than $3.8 million.

Viktor Hovland (Norway)

Hovland had a disappointing year in 2024 by his lofty standings, especially considering he won three times and earned more than $14 million the previous season. While he recorded two top-three finishes and earned more than $4.6 million in 2024, Hovland also missed the cut three times — at the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open. Hovland’s first missed cut in Augusta came as a shock, especially after he opened the 2024 tournament with 71. He opened the second round with a bogey, pulled his tee shot at No. 2 into the left trees for a triple bogey, added a double bogey two holes later and then recorded another double bogey at the par-5 15th en route to 81.

Qualification: 18, 19

Age: 27

Residence:

Jeju, South Korea

Masters

Appearance: Fifth

2024 Masters

Finish: MC

Sungjae Im (Korea)

After posting three top-20 finishes in his previous four Masters appearances, Im shot 77-74 to slam his trunk late Friday and make an early road trip to Hilton Head, S.C. The missed cut sparked a hot run by Im. After finishing tied for 12th at the RBC Heritage, Im recorded six top-10 showings in his next nine events. Im recovered from a first-round 76 at the British Open to eventually finish tied for seventh. He finished the 2024 season with 14 top-25 finishes and more than $6.2 million in winnings.

Qualification: 1

Age: 40

Residence: Jupiter, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: 15th

2024 Masters

Finish: MC

Qualification:

1

Age: 49

Residence:

St. Simons Island, Ga.

Masters

Appearance: 21st

2024 Masters

Finish: MC

Zach Johnson

Johnson owns 12 career PGA Tour victories and has accumulated more than $49 million in earnings. Johnson is the owner of two Major titles, the 2007 Masters and the 2015 British Open. In 2007, Johnson closed with 69 to win the Green Jacket by two shots, his first Major victory. In 2015, he rode a five-week hot stretch during the summer to his second Major championship. During that run, he posted four top-six finishes, including a victory at the British Open. At the 2024 Masters, Johnson missed the cut for the third time in the past four years. When he tees it up in April, Johnson will be less than a year from being able to play on the Champions Tour.

Qualification: 7-B

Age: 19

Residence: Naples, Fla.

Masters Appearance: First

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Dustin Johnson

Johnson became another high-profile player who left the PGA Tour for the LIV Golf tour in 2022. Last year, he won the February LIV Golf Las Vegas event, his third career LIV Golf title. In the four Majors, Johnson’s best finish was a tie for 31st place at the British Open. At the 2024 Masters, the golfer shot 78-79 and exited early. He hit just 15 of 36 greens in regulation in his two rounds. In November 2020, the South Carolina native set the Masters Tournament’s 72-hole scoring record at 20-under (65-70-65-68) to win a rare fall Green Jacket. Johnson, the 2016 U.S. Open champion, is halfway to the career Grand Slam.

Noah Kent

Kent had quite an eventful 2024. As a freshman golfer at the University of Iowa, Kent led the team with a 72.8-stroke average in the spring, recording five top-25 finishes in seven events. After opening the U.S. Amateur with 77, he rallied in the second round with six birdies en route to 64 to make the match play portion. Kent rolled all the way through match play to the championship match, where he found himself down 4 holes with seven to play. He made a furious comeback to trail 1-down with one hole to play only to make bogey on the final hole. Kent returned to Iowa for his sophomore season, posting four top-13 finishes. He hit the transfer portal after the fall, the Naples, Fla. native returning to Florida.

Qualification: 19

Age: 22

Residence: Dallas

Masters

Appearance: Third

2024 Masters Finish: T-30

Tom Kim (Korea)

Kim had a phenomenal 2022-23 season, winning twice, adding seven more top-10 finishes and earning more than $7.7 million. While he didn’t win in 2024, Kim had another successful year. He recorded seven top-25 finishes and earned more than $4 million. At the 2024 Masters, Kim opened with rounds of 72-78 to make the cut on the number. After posting 77 in the third round, he birdied six holes during an eight-hole stretch in the final round for a closing 66 — his best round in Augusta. Kim posted three top-30 finishes in four Majors starts in 2024.

Qualification: 18

Age: 39

Residence:

Athens, Ga.

Masters

Appearance: Sixth

2024 Masters

Finish: T-16

Qualification: 17

Age: 39

Residence:

St. Simons Island, Ga.

Masters

Appearance: Third

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Patton Kizzire

Kizzire is making his first Masters appearance in six years. This will be his first Major appearance since 2022. He played 33 events in the 2022-23 season and eventually lost his fully-exempt status for 2024.

Kizzire began the year with six missed cuts in his first seven events. In September, Kizzire opened the Procore Championship with rounds of 66-65 and rolled to a fiveshot victory for his first PGA Tour win in six years. The golfer returns to Augusta where he finished tied for 18th place in the 2019 Masters.

Qualification: 4

Age: 34

Residence: Jupiter, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: 10th

2024 Masters Finish: T-45

Chris Kirk

Kirk opened the 2024 season with a win at The Sentry tournament, adding four more top-25 finishes and earning more than $6 million. With his strong play, the former Georgia Bulldog golfer qualified for the TOUR Championship. At the 2024 Masters, Kirk opened the tournament with 74 and proceeded to bogey five of the first six holes in the second round to move to 7 over. He recovered with birdies on four of the next six holes to make the cut. Kirk was 8 under on holes Nos. 8-10 during the tournament and a collective 10 over on the remaining 15 holes. Kirk posted three top-31 finishes in his four 2024 Major starts.

Brooks Koepka

Koepka is playing in the second year of a five-year Masters exemption after winning the 2023 PGA Championship. The five-time Major champion made the cut in all four Major tournaments in 2024, but his best finish was a tie for 26th. He was ranked No. 1 in the world for 47 weeks between 2018 and 2020. By mid-January 2025, he had fallen outside of the top 100. The reason? His move to the LIV Golf tour in 2022. Last year, Koepka won twice on the LIV Golf tour, pushing his career win total to five on that tour. Koepka is seeking his first Green Jacket after posting runner-up Masters finishes in 2019 and 2023.

Qualification:

1

Age: 67

Residence:

Boca Raton, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: 41st

2024 Masters Finish: DNP

Bernhard Langer (Germany)

Langer stated the 2024 Masters would be his final one as a competitor, but earlier in the year he tore his Achilles tendon and had surgery. He returned to competition later in the year, winning his 47th career Champions Tour event — the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in November. The first player to be officially ranked No. 1, Langer won the Masters in 1985 and 1993. The World Golf Hall of Fame enshrinee has proven to be a top contender at the Masters even as he’s become one of the elder statesmen in the field. In 2014, he birdied seven holes in the final round for 68 to finish tied for eighth in the event. He was in the thick of contention in 2016 after making birdies at Nos. 13-15 in the third round and sitting at even-par 216 with one round to play. Langer trailed 54-hole leader Jordan Spieth by three shots entering the final round when he ran out of steam and posted 79.

Qualification: 15, 19

Age: 28

Residence:

Mbombela, South Africa

Masters

Appearance: First

2024 Masters Finish: DNP

Thriston Lawrence (South Africa)

Lawrence has quietly put himself on the worldwide golf radar in recent years. At the conclusion of the 2022 DP World Tour season, Lawrence was named the Rookie of the Year. In June 2023, he won the BMW International Open, his fourth career DP World Tour victory. Last year, he posted five runnerup finishes on the DP World Tour. He also tied for fourth at the British Open, a final-round 68 helping secure an exemption to the 2025 Masters. Also, he finished third in the Race to Dubai standings last year to earn a PGA Tour card for the 2025 season.

Qualification: 19

Age: 26

Residence:

Perth, Australia

Masters

Appearance: Fourth

2024 Masters Finish: T-22

Min Woo Lee (Australia)

Lee played in 25 events around the world in 2024, making the cut in all but three of them. He posted a pair of runner-up showings on the PGA Tour and added six other top-25 finishes. In late 2023, he won his third DP World Tour event when he shot an opening 64 at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship for an eventual three-shot victory. Lee recorded two eagles during the 2024 Masters for his second top-25 finish in three years in Augusta. He finished tied for 26th at the PGA Championship, tied for 21st at the U.S. Open and missed the cut at the British Open in the other Major tournaments.

Qualification: 18, 19

Age: 38

Residence: Jupiter, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: Ninth

2024 Masters Finish: T-43

Shane Lowry (Ireland)

In 2024, Lowry played out the final year of his five-year Masters exemption for winning the 2019 British Open. Lowry, however, continues to be a force on golf’s highest level. He recorded two top-10 finishes in the 2024 Majors (tie for sixth at the PGA Championship; sixth at the British Open). He added a tie for eighth at the TOUR Championship and then followed with six consecutive finishes of 13th or better on the DP World Tour, finishing the year ranked inside the top 30 of the World Golf Rankings. At the 2024 Masters, Lowry recorded 19 bogeys for his worst Augusta finish since missing the cut in 2019.

Qualification:

17, 18, 19

Age: 28

Residence:

Oban, Scotland

Masters

Appearance: Third

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Robert MacIntyre (Scotland)

MacIntyre is making his third Masters appearance, first since 2022. In his previous times in Augusta, he finished tied for 12th and tied for 23rd. MacIntyre had a big year in 2024, starting outside the top 50 in the world rankings and finishing at No. 14. The golfer won twice on the PGA Tour in 2024, but not in the United States. In June, he fired four rounds in the 60s and won the RBC Canadian Open. Six weeks later, he won his homeland tournament, the Genesis Scottish Open. He birdied the final hole to claim victory and become the second Scottish golfer to win twice in a PGA Tour season, joining Sandy Lyle.

Qualification: 1, 17, 18, 19

Age: 33

Residence: Sendai, Japan

Masters

Appearance: 14th

2024 Masters

Finish: T-38

Hideki Matsuyama (Japan)

Matsuyama became the first Japanese winner of the Masters Tournament in 2021 when he opened with rounds of 69-71-65 and held on to win his first Green Jacket. Matsuyama was in contention midway through the 2022 Masters before turning in a third-round 77. In the 2024 Masters, Matsuyama posted four rounds in the 70s and posted his worst finish since 2014 in Augusta. While Matsuyama made just one top-finish in the Majors last year, he added two more PGA Tour titles — he won the Genesis Invitational in February before adding the FedEx St. Jude Championship title six months later. Matsuyama added his 11th PGA Tour career victory when he opened 2025 by winning The Sentry tournament with a 35-under-par total at Kapalua.

Qualification: 19

Age: 32

Residence: Jupiter, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: Second

2024 Masters

Finish: T-45

Denny McCarthy

It’s been a slow and steady climb in the world rankings for McCarthy, who ended 2021 ranked No. 179. He recorded five top-10 finishes in 2022, including a tie for seventh at the U.S. Open, which helped him end the year ranked No. 80. He continued to progress in 2023, posting eight top-10 showings, including a solo second at the Memorial Tournament. With more than $6.6 million in winnings last season, he finished 2023 ranked No. 34 in the world. McCarthy posted another solid season in 2024 with eight top-25 finishes, including a runner-up showing at the Valero Texas Open, for more than $4 million.

Qualification: 17, 19

Age: 27

Residence:

Scottsdale, Ariz.

Masters

Appearance: First

2024 Masters Finish: DNP

Qualification:

14, 17, 18, 19

Age: 35

Residence:

Holywood, Northern Ireland

Masters

Appearance: 17th

2024 Masters

Finish: T-22

Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)

McIlroy enters Augusta as one of the game’s top golfers, seeking his first Green Jacket to complete the career Grand Slam. His 2024 was nothing short of remarkable. He won twice on the PGA Tour, pushing his career victory total to 26. He won twice on the DP World Tour, pushing his career victory total on that tour to 18. He even finished runner-up at the U.S. Open, marking his 16th consecutive year with at least one top-10 finish in a Major tournament. McIlroy will look to make a run in Augusta, where he’s missed the cut two of the past four years. In 2024, he opened with 71, but saw his hopes of winning derailed after carding a disappointing 77. He recorded just 10 birdies in the tournament, an unsatisfying number for someone looking to cement his place in golf history.

Qualification: 17, 19

Age: 29

Residence: Las Vegas

Masters

Appearance: First

2024 Masters Finish: DNP

Matt McCarty

A lot of people are going to ask this question during Masters week: Who the heck is Matt McCarty and how did he get here? McCarty, an Arizona native, started 2024 ranked outside of No. 400 in the world. He played the majority of the season on the Korn Ferry Tour, winning three times. He earned Korn Ferry Player of the Year honors and fully-exempt status on the PGA Tour. In just his second PGA Tour start, McCarty opened the Black Desert Championship with 62 and rolled to a three-shot victory. He finished the year ranked inside the top 50 in the world rankings.

Maverick McNealy

McNealy is arguably one of the smartest golfers in the field, graduating in 2018 from Stanford with a degree in Management Science and Engineering. He played his way into a Masters invitation by winning the final PGA Tour event of 2024. At The RSM Classic in November, he opened with 62 and held on for a one-shot victory. McNealy recorded five other top-10 finishes in 2024 and earned more than $4.7 million.

Qualification:

1, 4

Age: 54

Residence:

Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Masters Appearance: 32nd

2024 Masters

Finish: T-43

Phil Mickelson

After not playing in the 2022 Masters amidst the LIV Golf controversy and his eventual membership on the new tour, Mickelson roared back in vintage Augusta style in 2023. The three-time Masters Champion birdied five of the final seven holes for a closing 65, the lowest round on Sunday, for his best finish since tying for second in 2015. Mickelson couldn’t replicate his success in 2024, posting four rounds at 73 or worse. In 2021, Mickelson recorded his 45th career win on the PGA Tour when he brought home the PGA Championship, becoming the oldest player to win a Major tournament. Mickelson later added wins in October and November on the Champions Tour to cap off his 2021. Mickelson’s 2022 was highlighted by the news of him joining the LIV Golf tour for a reported $200 million.

Qualification: 3, 4, 13, 16, 18, 19

Age: 28

Residence: Las Vegas Masters

Appearance: Sixth

2024 Masters

Finish: T-3

Qualification:

Special Invitation

Age: 26

Residence:

Santiago, Chile

Masters

Appearance: Sixth

2024 Masters

Finish: T-22

Joaquín Niemann (Chile)

For the second year in a row, Niemann received a special invitation to play in the Masters. Niemann, who plays on the LIV Golf tour, won two LIV Golf tour events last year. Niemann finished 2024 with a flurry, finishing tied for seventh at the DP World Tour Championship and tied for fifth at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open. He closed the year winning the Asian Tour’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, the victory vaulting him 50 spots in the world rankings to No. 74. Niemann opened the 2024 Masters with 70 before falling out of contention with a second-round 78.

Qualification: 1

Age: 59

Residence:

Fuenterrabía, Spain

Masters

Appearance: 36th

2024 Masters

Finish: T-45

Collin Morikawa

Morikawa capped off a stellar 2024 campaign with his play at the TOUR Championship. After posting seven top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, Morikawa outplayed Scottie Scheffler in the final tournament of the season, but Scheffler finished first thanks to starting out at 10-under total, while Morikawa started six shots back. Morikawa finished the year with more than $8.8 million in earnings. At the 2024 Masters, Morikawa found himself in contention in the final round until making double bogeys at Nos. 9 and 11. He owns three consecutive top-10 finishes at the Masters.

José María Olazábal (Spain)

The winner of the 1994 and 1999 Masters, Olazábal has posted eight top-10 showings in Augusta. In 1999, Olazábal made a triumphant comeback after what was initially thought to be a foot injury (later treated as a lower back injury) forced him to miss many months from the game. The golfer birdied three holes on the final nine, including a decisive birdie at No. 16, for a two-shot victory over Davis Love. Olazábal last contended in the Masters in 2006, with a tie for third place. He hasn’t won a tournament since 2005. Olazábal captained the European Ryder Cup team to a one-point victory over the United States in 2012.

Qualification: 13, 18, 19

Age: 32

Residence:

Encamp, Andorra

Masters

Appearance: Second

2024 Masters Finish: T-12

Matthieu Pavon (France)

Pavon continued his hot play from the fall of 2023 into 2024. In October 2023, he won the Acciona Open de España on the DP World Tour. With his 15th place in that tour’s Road to Dubai, he earned PGA Tour status for 2024. In his third tournament, he won the Farmers Insurance Open. The following week, he finished third at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Then in April, he played well in his first start in Augusta. Pavon posted his first top-10 Major finish at the U.S. Open, when he finished fifth.

Qualification: 17, 18, 19

Age: 33

Residence: Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: First

2024 Masters Finish: DNP

Taylor Pendrith (Canada)

Pendrith posted a pretty spectacular season on the PGA Tour in 2024. He shot four rounds in the 60s to win The CJ Cup Byron Nelson event in May for his first career PGA Tour victory. He added six other top-10 finishes for more than $4.7 million in winnings. Pendrith played college golf at Kent State University alongside fellow Canadian golfers Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes.

Qualification: 17, 19

Age: 31

Residence:

St. Simons Island, Ga.

Masters Appearance: Fourth

2024 Masters Finish: T-30

J.T. Poston

Poston kicked off his 2024 campaign with top-11 finishes at The Sentry tournament, the Sony Open and the American Express events in three consecutive weeks. He added another top-10 finish a month later at the Genesis Invitational and another in April at the RBC Heritage. With those finishes alone he racked up more than $2.3 million in earnings. He capped off the year, though, by opening the Shriners Children’s Open with rounds of 64-65 for an eventual one-shot victory. With his third career PGA Tour win, Poston jumped from 64th to No. 40 in the world rankings.

Qualification: 1, 2, 19

Age: 30

Residence: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Masters

Appearance: Ninth

2024 Masters

Finish: T-45

Qualification: 17, 18, 19

Age: 30

Residence: Wolverhampton, England

Masters

Appearance: First

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Aaron Rai (England)

When the weather warmed up in 2024, so did Rai (pronounced “Rye”). He opened June with a pair of top-20 finishes on the PGA Tour, and then finished tied for second at the Rocket Mortgage Classic later in the month. In July, he added top-10 finishes at the John Deere Classic and Genesis Scottish Open. One month later, he finally broke through on the PGA Tour. At the Wyndham Championship, Rai opened with consecutive rounds of 65 for an eventual two-stroke victory. With his stellar play, he earned more than $4.6 million in PGA Tour winnings last year.

Qualification: 1, 13

Age: 34

Residence: Spring, Texas

Masters Appearance: 12th

2024 Masters

Finish: T-12

Jon Rahm (Spain)

After winning the Masters in 2023, Rahm couldn’t replicate his success last year. At the 2024 Masters, he failed to break par in any of his rounds and recorded just 10 birdies with 13 bogeys and three double bogeys. He recorded his worst finish in Augusta. At the end of 2023, Rahm signed on to play on the LIV Golf tour for 2024. He collected two LIV Golf tour wins during 2024, and he posted a top-10 finish at the British Open. Nonetheless, the former world No. 1 had fallen to No. 34 in the world rankings by early 2025.

Patrick Reed

Give Patrick Reed credit. He plays well in Augusta, as proven by his play the past seven Masters. In that span, he’s posted four top-10 finishes. He would’ve recorded a fifth top-10 finish if not for a bogey on the final hole last year. Reed played the final five holes at 8 over during the 2024 Masters, with zero birdies, six bogeys and one double bogey in that stretch. If he solves that problem, Reed could find himself in contention for a second Green Jacket. The 2018 Masters Champion, Reed joined the LIV Golf tour in June 2022. He posted two top-10 finishes in 13 events in 2024. In November, he won the Asian Tour’s LINK Hong Kong Open, the highlight being the 59 he shot in the third round. Reed, along with PGA Tour pro Henrik Norlander, helped Augusta University win back-to-back NCAA Division I championships in 2010 and 2011.

Qualification: 17

Age: 28

Residence: Hattiesburg, Miss.

Masters

Appearance: First

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Davis Riley

Riley, a former University of Alabama golfer, will be making his first appearance in Augusta. He qualified for the Masters by winning the Charles Schwab Challenge in May. Riley posted opening rounds of 66-64 en route to a dominant five-shot victory. The win marked his second career PGA Tour victory. He and Nick Hardy won the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, but they didn’t qualify for the 2024 Masters because it’s a team event. He made up for it in 2024 with just one top-10 finish, his lone victory during the season.

Qualification: 15, 19

Age: 44

Residence: London

Masters

Appearance: 20th

2024 Masters

Finish: MC

Qualification:

3, 4, 13, 18, 19

Age: 31

Residence:

Jupiter, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: Eighth

2024 Masters

Finish: Eighth

Xander Schauffele

Schauffele (pronounced Shaw-fa-lay) put his name in the hat for 2024 Golfer of the Year after his play in the Majors. Not only did he win the PGA Championship and British Open titles, he also finished tied for seventh at the U.S. Open and eighth at the Masters. Schauffele earned more than $18 million in 2024 thanks to his play in the Majors, along with 11 other top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, including a runner-up finish at THE PLAYERS Championship. A nine-time winner on the PGA Tour, Schauffele entered 2025 halfway to the career Grand Slam, needing wins at the Masters and PGA Championship

Qualification:

1, 5, 6, 17, 18, 19

Age: 28

Residence:

Dallas, Texas

Masters

Appearance: Sixth

2024 Masters

Finish: Won

Justin Rose (England)

While he’s advancing into his mid-40s, Rose is still a force to be reckoned with on golf’s highest level. In 2024, he recorded two top-10 finishes in the Majors (T-6 at the PGA Championship, T-2 at the British Open). With those two finishes, he earned more than $3 million on the PGA Tour in 2024. At the 2024 Masters, he missed the cut for the third time in six years. Rose owns six top-10 finishes in Augusta, his last one coming in 2021 (seventh place). The golfer entered the 2025 season seeking his second career Major victory; his lone Major win came at the 2013 U.S. Open.

Scottie Scheffler

Scheffler entered 2024 with six career PGA Tour victories. He exited the year with 13 career titles, a second Major win and the No. 1 ranking in the world. Scheffler added his second Green Jacket last April thanks to an opening 66. In the third round, he ran into trouble with a double bogey at No. 10 and a bogey at No. 11. He recovered with a 31-foot eagle putt at the par-5 13th. He shot 68 in the final round to close out his second Masters victory in three years. If winning the Masters wasn’t enough, Scheffler also won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, THE PLAYERS Championship, the RBC Heritage, the Memorial Tournament, the Travelers Championship and the TOUR Championship. He made the cut in all 19 events in 2024, with 16 top-10 finishes. He won more than $29 million for the season.

Qualification: 13

Age: 33

Residence:

Vincennes, Ind.

Masters

Appearance: Second

2024 Masters

Finish: T-12

Qualification: 1, 18, 19

Age: 44

Residence:

Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland

Masters

Appearance: 24th

2024 Masters

Finish: T-22

Adam Schenk

Schenk had some good showings in 2024, despite battling through a back injury that has continued to bother him into 2025. Last year, he made his first Masters appearance and played solid. With his 1-under stretch on the final five holes of the final round, Schenk finished tied for 12th to earn an invitation to this year’s Masters. In 2024, Schenk posted six top-25 finishes and earned more than $1.8 million. In 2023, Schenk recorded two runner-up finishes and five other top-10 finishes for almost $5 million in winnings.

Qualification: 1

Age: 40

Residence:

Vereeniging, South Africa

Masters

Appearance: 16th

2024 Masters

Finish: MC

Adam Scott (Australia)

Scott, the 2013 Masters Champion, extended his consecutive Masters cut streak to 15 last year despite posting a pair of double bogeys the first two rounds and making the cut on the number. Despite posting a triple bogey in the third round, he played the final two rounds in 2-under-par fashion. Scott made 11 top-25 finishes in 2024, playing solidly down the stretch. He finished runner-up at the Genesis Scottish Open before later tying for second at the BMW Championship and then tying for fourth at the TOUR Championship. He earned more than $4.7 million during the season. Scott won his only Major championship to date at the 2013 Masters. That year, he birdied the 18th hole in the final round to take a one-shot lead into the clubhouse. Ángel Cabrera later birdied No. 18 to force a playoff. On the second hole of their sudden-death playoff at No. 10, Scott rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt to claim the Green Jacket.

Qualification: 1

Age: 62

Residence:

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Masters Appearance: 32nd

2024 Masters

Finish: T-58

Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)

Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters Champion, shot 74-81 to miss the cut at the 2024 Masters. After joining the LIV Golf tour in 2022, Schwartzel won the tour’s first event, his first victory in six years. Schwartzel added two other top-10 finishes in seven events on the LIV Golf tour. In 2023, the golfer recorded one top-10 finish in 13 LIV Golf events. In 2024, he posted two top-10 finishes in 13 events, a runner-up showing at LIV Golf’s Jeddah and a tie for third at Adelaide. He entered 2025 ranked outside the top 400 in the world.

Vijay Singh (Fiji)

Last year, Singh made his first Masters cut since 2018. The World Golf Hall of Fame player’s stellar career has included 34 PGA Tour wins, with two PGA Championship titles and a win at the 2000 Masters. Singh has earned more than $71 million in PGA Tour career earnings. In his seventh Masters appearance in 2000, Singh shot rounds of 72-67-70-69 to defeat Ernie Els by three shots. In 22 events on the Champions Tour in 2024, he posted seven top-10 finishes and earned more than $820,000.

Qualification: 3, 13

Age: 31

Residence: Jacksonville, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: Ninth

2024 Masters

Finish: T-6

Cameron Smith (Australia)

Smith, the 2022 British Open champion, continued his strong play in Augusta at the 2024 Masters. He posted rounds of 71-7272-71 to record his fourth top-10 finish in five years. Smith joined the LIV Golf tour in the fall of 2022. At the time, he was ranked No. 2 in the world. He had fallen to No. 30 by midJanuary 2024. Smith continued to plummet in the rankings throughout 2024, falling to No. 128. After a pair of runner-up finishes on the DP World Tour and Asian Tour late in the year, Smith climbed to No. 80. In 12 LIV Golf events in 2024, Smith recorded seven top-10 finishes.

Qualification: 1

Age: 31

Residence: Dallas Masters

Jordan Spieth

Which Jordan Spieth will show up this year at the Masters? The one who missed the cut in 2022 and 2024? Or the one who won in 2015, tied for third in 2021 and tied for fourth in 2023? Spieth started 2024 with two top-10 finishes in his first three events. The rest of the year was a struggle because of a wrist injury he had been playing through since 2023. In August, he finally had surgery to repair the issue. Now healthy, Spieth entered 2025 seeking his first PGA Tour in three years and his first Major win since 2017.

12th

MC

Qualification: 17, 18, 19

Age: 31

Residence: Birmingham, Ala.

Masters

Appearance: Fourth

2024 Masters Finish: T-16

Sepp Straka (Austria)

Straka kicked off the 2025 season in style by winning the third event of the year, The American Express Golf Tournament. He shot 65-64-64-70 for a two-shot victory, his third career PGA Tour victory. Straka, who graduated from the University of Georgia in 2016 with a business management degree, has made the cut in three consecutive Masters. In the 2024 PGA Tour season, Straka posted four top-10 finishes and earned more than $4.6 million. He made the cut in three of four 2024 Major tournaments after posting two top-10 showings in the 2023 Majors.

Qualification: 12

Age: 23

Residence: Singapore

Masters

Appearance: First

2024

Finish: DNP

Hiroshi Tai (Singapore)

Tai is making his first Masters appearance after winning the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship. He posted a 3-underpar 285 total to win the tournament by one shot, despite making a triple bogey on his next-to-last hole. Tai is a junior at Georgia Institute of Technology majoring in Business Administration. In his freshman season, he became the fifth Yellow Jacket golfer to win two events in his first season.

Qualification: 17

Age: 36

Residence:

Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

Masters Appearance: Third

2024 Masters Finish: MC

Nick Taylor (Canada)

Taylor kicked off his 2025 season with his fifth career PGA Tour victory. He shot 6668-65-65 to make a playoff with Nicolás Echavarria where he won on the second extra hole. Taylor won his third PGA Tour event in three years, winning all of them in a playoff. In 2024, he recorded five top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour and earned more than $3.2 million. Taylor is seeking his first top-10 finish in a Major. He has missed the cut in nine consecutive Major tournaments; his last made cut was a tie for 29th at the 2020 Masters.

Qualification: 18, 19

Age: 27

Residence: Spring, Texas

Masters Appearance: Third

2024 Masters Finish: T-45

Qualification: 4, 18, 19

Age: 31

Residence:

Jupiter, Fla.

Masters Appearance: 10th

2024 Masters

Finish: MC

Sahith Theegala

Theegala posted four rounds at 74 or higher last year to finish well out of contention at the 2024 Masters. His best Major finish was a tie for 12th place at the PGA Championship. While he failed to win a PGA Tour event in 2024, Theegala found plenty of success in the same year. In 26 events, he recorded nine top-10 finishes and earned more than $8.4 million. A California native, Theegala won the Haskins Award, Ben Hogan Award and Jack Nicklaus Award in 2020 as the top collegiate player playing for the No. 1 college team in the nation, Pepperdine University.

Justin Thomas Davis Thompson

Thomas played in 20 PGA Tour events in 2024, recording six top-10 finishes. One of his main highlights came after the TOUR Championship when he finished runner-up at the ZOZO Championship in October. He followed with a third-place showing at the Hero World Challenge. Thomas earned more than $5.2 million in 2024. He posted one top10 finish in the Majors, tying for 8th place at the PGA Championship. At the 2024 Masters, Thomas was even through the 14th hole in his second round when disaster struck. He then double-bogeyed Nos. 15 and 16, bogeyed No. 17 and the double-bogeyed No. 18 to finish with 79 to miss the cut by one shot.

Qualification: 17, 19

Age: 25

Residence: St. Simons Island, Ga.

Masters Appearance: First

2024 Masters Finish: DNP

Thompson, a former University of Georgia golfer, is playing in the Masters for the first time after a breakthrough 2024 season on the PGA Tour. He played in 27 tournaments, recording 13 top-25 finishes. After tying for second at the Myrtle Beach Classic in May, Thompson tied for ninth at the U.S. Open a month later. Two weeks later, he tied for second at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. A week afterward, he opened the John Deere Classic with 63, added 62 in the third round and closed with 64 for a four-shot victory, his first PGA Tour win.

Qualification: 17

Age: 40

Residence: Houston Masters

Appearance: Fourth

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela)

Vegas is back in the Masters after a sevenyear absence. Vegas had elbow and shoulder surgeries in recent years to help relieve his pain, but he still felt shoulder pain all throughout the 3M Open in July 2024. Vegas fired a third-round 63 and was able to hold on for his first PGA Tour victory in seven years. He entered the tournament playing on a Major medical exemption, but he secured his card for the following two years. Vegas posted seven top-25 finishes in 2024 and earned more than $2.3 million.

Bubba Watson

Watson will forever be remembered for hooking his pitching wedge around the trees at No. 10 to the green to set up his first Masters win in a two-hole, sudden-death playoff over Louis Oosthuizen. Watson, one of the longest hitters in the game, carved up Augusta National in the final round of the 2014 Masters to pull free for a three-shot victory. Watson joined José María Olazábal, Ben Crenshaw, Bernhard Langer, Seve Ballesteros, Tom Watson, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Horton Smith as players with two Green Jackets. Watson, who joined the LIV Golf tour in 2022, is seeking his first Masters cut since 2022.

Residence:

17th 2024

MC

Mike Weir (Canada)

In 2003, Weir posted a career year with three victories. At the Masters that year, he closed with 68 and defeated Len Mattiace in a sudden-death playoff for his only Major victory. Weir brought home eight PGA Tour titles between 1999 and 2007. He posted 11 top-10 career Major finishes, his last top-10 showing (a tie for 10th) came in 2009 at the U.S. Open. Weir has seen a resurgence in his game on the Champions Tour. In 2024, he posted eight top-25 finishes for almost $800,000 in Champions Tour winnings. Weir is looking to make his first Masters cut since 2020.

Willett had little success in 2024. The reason? A shoulder injury he’s been battling. He got off to a fantastic start at the 2024 Masters, opening with 68. After making eagle at the par-5 8th hole and then a birdie at No. 10 in the second round, Willett moved to 5-under. He was cruising along until an errant tee shot at No. 18 led to a triple bogey that led to 75. Willett never recovered. Willett became the first Englishman in 20 years to win the Masters in 2016 after posting a final-round 67.

Danny Willett (England)

Qualification:

1

Age: 49

Residence:

Jupiter, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: 27th

2024 Masters Finish: 60th

Tiger Woods

Woods opened the 2024 Masters with solid rounds of 73-72. Then, he found just five fairways in the third round en route to 82. In 2019, Woods made a comeback for the ages at the Masters. Tiger shot 67 in the third round to pull within two of leader Francesco Molinari. He created more Masters memories with back-nine birdies at Nos. 13, 15 and 16. Despite carding a bogey on the final hole, Woods held on for his fifth Green Jacket, moving into second place behind only Jack Nicklaus (six) for most Masters titles. The winner of 15 Major championships, Woods tied Sam Snead for the most PGA Tour career wins (82) when he won the ZOZO Championship to start the 2019-20 campaign. Woods will be vying for his sixth Green Jacket to tie Jack Nicklaus when he tees it up this year in Augusta. He previously won Masters titles in 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005.

Qualification: 13, 19

Age: 27

Residence: Jupiter, Fla.

Masters

Appearance: Fourth

2022 Masters Finish: T-9

Qualification: 17

Age: 26

Residence:

Scottsdale, Ariz.

Masters

Appearance: First

2024 Masters

Finish: DNP

Kevin Yu (Chinese Taipei)

Yu began the 2024 season with two top-10 finishes in his first three events. Then, the rest of the season was inconsistent. In the fall — after an almost two-month layoff — Yu finally found his winning way. Posting rounds of 6666-66-67, he then defeated Beau Hossler on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. Yu, the former Arizona State golfer, finished the year with more than $3.2 million in winnings. He will be making his fourth Major tournament appearance in April, his first since 2020.

Qualification: 13

Age: 28

Residence: Dallas

Masters

Appearance: Fourth

2024 Masters Finish: T-9

Cameron Young

Young found himself in contention at the 2024 Masters, 4 under through 27 holes. A double bogey at No. 11 became the first of three double bogeys the next three rounds. He finished 11 shots behind champion Scottie Scheffler, Young’s second consecutive top-10 Masters finish. In 2024, Young recorded six top-10 finishes in 21 events, earning more than $4 million. One of his 2024 season highlights came when he shot 59 at the Travelers Championship. Young entered 2025 still seeking his first career PGA Tour victory.

Will Zalatoris

Zalatoris withdrew before the first round of the 2023 Masters and had back surgery two days later. In June 2024, he withdrew from the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Because of the injuries, he decided to add 20 pounds of muscle before the 2025 season, beefing up to 180 pounds. Zalatoris has three top-10 Masters finishes. He would’ve contended last year if not for shooting 77 in the second round. Zalatoris almost became the first player since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 to win the Masters in his first appearance in 2021. Entering the final round in the third-to-last pairing, Zalatoris birdied the first two holes. Despite a mid-round stumble, he birdied Nos. 15 and 17 and fell one shot short of Hideki Matsuyama.

The 1975 Masters is considered one of golf’s greatest tournaments. Jack Nicklaus, 35, won his fifth Green Jacket in a thrilling Sunday finish just one stroke ahead of Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf. To date, Nicklaus holds the record for the most Masters wins with six. His final win would be in 1986 at the age of 46.

Photo by Harry Cabluck/Associated

MICHAEL B. JORDAN PHOTOGRAPHED IN NEW YORK CITY

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