Scheffler’s repeated offer, McIlroy’s chances and more stories masters

89. Masters playing is almost here. Can someone invite Scottie Scheffler? Which LIV golfers could combine this week about the green jacket? Are there any first timers to pay close attention to?

From whom we will watch newcomers to players who are under the radar, here are five stories that need to be watched this week in Augusta.

All eyes Szo this week?

Mark Schlabach: Most eyes will be on the first two golfers in the world: Scottie Scheffler and Rory McILroy. Sunday’s duel between Scheffler and McILroy in Augusta National Golf Club would be fantastic for sport that has consumed money and division over the past few years.

Scheffler is the most elite male golf player for most of the last three years. Will try to connect Jack nicklaus (1963, 1965 and 1966) as the only golfers who won the Masters three times during the four -year range. Can only become a fourth golfer to win a green jacket in years, approaching nicklaus, Nick (1989-90) and Tiger Woods (2001-02) were the others.

Scheffler missed the first month of the season with his right hand and has not won in 2025 yet, so you could argue that McIlroy has been the best golfer on the planet in the last few months. Then again there are few golfers who can put the foot on the gas like Scheffler on Augusta National.

McIlroy has already won twice on tour this season and plays lights. McIlroy will try 11. Time for the green jacket to complete the Grand Slam career that would also end its main drought of the championship for more than 10 years.

Paolo objects: At the beginning of this season, there were many words about Scheffler and McIlroy, and that was, of course. But as far as the first major of the year is concerned, it is unknown that I will be interested and leads me to attract two liv players who should be at the top of any list of favorite list: Jon Rahm and Bryson Brazambeau.

On the one hand, Rahm won this event two years ago and Brazambeau comes from the second career of last year at the US Open and two other top-6 endings in societies. It’s enough on paper. Yet three years after the LIV experiment, it is difficult to know exactly how exactly and when the performance of the players will be transferred to the main phase. Last year, Brazambeau proved that he could still compete and get majority, but from September 2023 did not win LIV.

What does it mean for this week in Augusta? It’s impossible to know, but it makes the breathtambeau every shot worth watching. The same applies to Rahm, whose worst goal for LIV this season is a tie for ninth. Although he missed the cut on Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January, his only event that is not liv, his game seems to be a trend in the right direction.

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First timers to watch

Schlabach: I am tempted to go with Thomas Detryformer golfer Illinois who Picked up his first victory PGA Tour With seven shots victory at WM Phoenix Open 9 February. On the fourth month he tied up fourth in last year’s PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky and next month in 14th place in Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina.

Detry is an above average putter, but his iron game was suspicious and I’m not sure it will hit enough navigation data to face Augusta National.

England Aaron Rai She is another good golf player with recent success in large societies, binding to 19. In the open championship 2021 and last year’s US Open. RAI ranks among the TOP 40 in the strokes: a total, except the tees and access, and is fifth in driving accuracy (70.3%). In addition, it comes to Masters in quite good shape and ends up in the TOP 15 at Mexico Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Player Championship.

Uggetti: Maverick McnealyThe journey to Masters was in production for seven years, but finally came here after winning the RSM classic in November and playing one of the best golf of his career. Alum Stanford has four TOP 10 on tour this season and at the beginning of this year at Genesis Invitational.

This week McNealy’s Puty and Approach Game (both top-35 tour) should help stay in the mix. And if it can drive it relatively well and improve your game around the green, I feel that this course should suit its game.

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How will the course play?

Schlabach: The course was firmly and fast for the weekend Last round of amateur women Augusta National And exercise bikes on Sunday. But then the sky opened on Monday and threw more than 1 inch of rain.

Before Thursday’s wheel is a lot of time to dry up, and I’m sure the club subair system that behaves like a vacuum and pulls water from the green and pipes probably worked overtime. High temperatures for the rest of the week are expected to be at 60 and 70 years.

Then there is a pity from Hurricane Helene, a storm of category 1, which passed through the area of ​​27 September 2024. Augusta National and there was extensive damage in the area. Trees are not so strong on No. 1 and 9. The loss of trees is mostly a visual difference for patrons who come to the playground for years, but probably not affecting golfers strategy. 16. Green had to be rebuilt after a tree fell over it, and according to McILroy, no. 1, 8 and 15 green were also redesigned.

Uggetti: When Xander Schauffele On Sunday he played the back nine in Augusta National, he could not help, but noticed the missing trees on the 16th Par-3 well and elsewhere around the property.

“It almost seemed like I played my back for the first time,” Schauffele said. “When you go by 10, you can see half the course. It’s pretty crazy to see how many – it is also sad to see how many trees have fallen.”

As Schauffle explained, the trees in Augusta served as focused points for players outside more tee. Now some of them are gone, but it does not expect the course to play so different than it has.

“For the most part, I think the course will play just the same as before,” Schauffele said. “Maybe you have a goal that you can’t focus on. Just like over 11. There are three trees, but if you want, you can use the bridge as a link.”

McIlroy repeated Schauffele’s observation.

“From the teaching point of view, there are a few tees, which may be slightly less visually intimidating,” McIlroy said. “There are a few overhanging trees that are no longer there. But really, I think it’s almost the same. But definitely a few launchers that look a little different.”

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What do you expect from LIV golfers this week?

Schlabach: There are a dozen liv players in the field and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were two or three in the final top 10.

Brazambeau still tuned his game towards Miami. On Sunday he released 35 years and finished fifth. Rahm, Master Masters 2023, published in the last round 2-Ner 74 and was tied for the ninth. Cameron Smith has a good record in Augusta and Patrick reed He seems to always play well there. I saw the Top 10 to break again.

Uggetti: As I have noted above, Liv should come up with the exclusion of responsibility: “The past performance does not mean future results,” and that is possible in both ways. Although we haven’t heard too much from players like, such as Brooks Koepka This year I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned it on to Major again and competed in Augusta. The same applies to Phil Micelson, Patrick reed And Cameron Smith, who has all the games that fit the course well.

All that has been said there is one liv player that I expect something since this week, and that is Joaquin Niemann. This season, Chilean has two wins for LIV plus victory in PIF Saudi International in December and plays as a TOP-10 player in the world from the late world (data Golf ranks 11). Nememann’s talent is undeniable, but some-like Michelson also supported as a candidate for the best player in the world, although his main record is not entirely stellar: in 22 attempts he never had a TOP 10.

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At the end of the week we will talk about a player or story we will talk about

Schlabach: I don’t know if I would describe the five -time winner on the PGA Tour as under the radar but Russell Henley Surely he does not receive much credit for being a player of 7 in the world. On March 9, he won the fifth victory against the charged field on Arnold Palmer Invitational, one of his top top 10 best in seven starts this season.

In addition, if the champions winner have to find navigates and make second shots, there are not many golfers in the field than Henley. It is the third on Greens tour in regulation (72.8%) and eleventh in driving accuracy (66.2%) and is also one of the better putters.

Henley broke through the previous two seasons in large companies and ended up in the TOP 15 out of four of the eight starts. In 2023 Masters tied the fourth. Henley grew up in the state, visited the University of Georgia, and probably dreamed of slipping on the green jacket.

Uggetti: I feel that no one is talking about it Collin Morikawa? In fact, this is not true, but relatively to put it, it seems that player No. 4 in the world (no. 3 at the data golf) and the current leader in getting strikes: access flies under the radar this week. The double main champion did not win from the Zozo 2023 championship, but knocked on the door for a while, including this year’s source of victory in Invitational Arnold Palmer.

Last year Morikawa had a chance to win by Sunday, but called when Scheffler escaped with him. This year his game is probably in better condition, its introduction is much improved and like McILroy, it has a lot of motivation to end drought. I wouldn’t be surprised if, come Sunday, he’s on top of the ranking again.

If we want to go deeper from the list of chances, I would look at Akshay bhatia. After debuting out of the way out last year, Bhatia is now one of the 25 best players in the world and if it wasn’t for shaking a week on the player, he would probably be in Play -off along with McILroy and Jj spaun. If the putter warms up, look for Bhatia to have a good week.