2026 Masters Preview: Rory McIlroy Defending Champion, Scottie Scheffler Top Contenders
Golf experts ranked the top contenders for the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National. Defending champion Rory McIlroy and former winner Scottie Scheffler lead the favorites list.
Golf analysts have released their rankings for the 2026 Masters Tournament, with defending champion Rory McIlroy positioned as the player to beat at Augusta National.
Scottie Scheffler, who has previous success at Augusta, tops the list of challengers looking to capture another green jacket. The field breakdown includes established stars and newcomers alike.
Several first-time Masters participants will try to make history. Players like Gerard, Hall, Jarvis and Novak face long odds, as Fuzzy Zoeller was the last golfer to win the Masters in his debut appearance back in 1979.
Dark horse candidates include Sepp Straka, who consistently performs well at Augusta relative to his world ranking due to his strong iron play. Keegan Bradley, the current US Ryder Cup captain, brings steady major championship experience to the tournament.
Other players like Maverick McNealy face challenges despite strong world rankings. McNealy sits 27th globally but lacks a top-10 finish in his 12 major championship starts.
The Masters is golf's most prestigious tournament, drawing millions of viewers worldwide. The rankings help fans understand who to watch and could influence betting odds worth millions of dollars.
The 2026 Masters Tournament will begin with practice rounds, followed by four days of competition at Augusta National Golf Club.
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