We have reached the time of year when everyone becomes an expert on azaleas, pumped-in bird noises, and which version of "Georgia On My Mind" is the best. Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached The Masters.
The true beginning of spring, the luscious green acres of Augusta National await all golf-starved fans fully awakening from their winter hibernations. While every week matters to some level, there's no week quite like Masters week in the world of golf.
This year's playing almost feels like the true end of an era, as this is the first time since 1994 that neither Tiger Woods nor Phil Mickelson will be playing. The Masters thrives in the saccharine nostalgia market, but it takes a hit when two of its most famous champions are out of commission. Regardless, golf fans are going to remember this weekend. We always do.
The rankings came close once again last week at the Valero, with Robert MacIntyre coming up one shot short of eventual winner J.J. Spaun. We are entering our second major season in the rankings around here, and we're looking to build upon last year, when we hit three out of the four majors with the rankings. Let's get things going strong this year.
Honorable Mentions: Bryson Dechambeau, Tommy Fleetwood, Chris Gotterup, Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele
9. Ludvig Aberg
Remember that brief moment on Sunday last year, after the wheels had come off for Rory on 13, when all of a sudden it seemed like Ludvig Aberg may have a chance to come and steal the tournament?
Very nearly a winner twice now, Aberg enters Augusta this year with his game in a better and more predictable place than it was at last year, when, sure, he had won the Genesis, but that kind of came out of nowhere.
Aberg is coming into Augusta on the back of three straight top-5 finishes, a stretch of play he’s never achieved before in his career. Sure, he’s had issues closing on Sundays, but I still think the skill is too high to completely discount Aberg this week.
8. Robert MacIntyre
The traditional lefty pick, Robert MacIntyre seems to save his best golf for the biggest moments. He played well in the last two majors last year, with a second at Oakmont and a T7 at Royal Portrush.
MacIntyre has had a strong start to 2026 as well, including a 4th at The Players and a T2 last week at Valero. You always have to keep an eye on the left-handed players at Augusta, and Bobby Mac is the best of this year’s bunch, so a victory for the Scotsman this week wouldn’t surprise me.
7. Matt Fitzpatrick
Matt Fitzpatrick’s last two starts were a solo second at The Players and a win at the Valspar. Much like Cam Young, he’s coming into The Masters feeling great about the current state of his golf game. His strokes gained numbers have returned to his 2022 levels, and Fitz is rolling up to a course in Augusta National where he’s never missed the cut as a professional. He hasn’t had a big moment in the majors since his U.S. Open win in 2022, but I think that changes this week.
6. Rory McIlroy
We haven’t seen Rory since his T46 at The Players, fighting through a back injury that forced him to WD from the Arnold Palmer. Is Rory healthy? We don’t really know. How will he react to his return to Augusta after a historic 2025 triumph? Again, we don’t really know. He’s in the rankings almost entirely out of respect, but I’m ready for anything with Rory this week.
5. Cameron Young
Cameron Young has been a mixed bag at The Masters, with two missed cuts and two top-10 finishes in his career at Augusta. However, he’s never come into The Masters hotter than he currently is. We haven’t seen Young since his Players triumph, but it was a well-earned break for the 28 year-old.
Young has shown his skill in the majors before this year, and this is the first time we’ll see him enter as a Tour winner, which could change his mindset in the majors this year. He’s been one of the best golfers on Tour this year, it would be wrong to not go with him this week.
4. Patrick Reed
After leaving LIV before this season, Patrick Reed has been traveling around on the DP World Tour this year to maintain his world ranking stature. Reed won twice in a three-week stretch, his worst finish so far this year is T29, and currently leads the Race to Dubai rankings.
We know he can win at Augusta, and his track record since his win in 2018 has continued to be strong. He’s not the most savory figure to root for in golf, but man, does Reed’s game set up perfectly for Augusta National.
3. Collin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa has played in five “normal” Masters in his career, and these are his finishes in chronological order: T18-5-T10-T3-T14. No matter what state his game is in, he plays well at Augusta.
Coming off a win at Pebble earlier in the season, Morikawa’s A-game has seemingly fully returned. He’s had injury issues of his own this year, but if Morikawa comes in feeling 100%, he’ll be a storyline to follow come Sunday.
2. Jon Rahm
You may not be aware because no one watches LIV, but Jon Rahm is playing some of the best golf of his career right now. He’s won once this season, has yet to finish outside of the top-5 in any event in 2026, and seems ready to reestablish himself as a top-tier talent in the game.
Besides being a former champion, Rahm also just never really struggles at Augusta, never missing the cut in 9 starts. His irons are in a better spot than this time last year, and everything else has maintained since finishing T14. Rahm is the one to carry the tradition of Spanish players performing well at The Masters.
1. Scottie Scheffler
Has 2026 been the best year for Scottie on the course? Definitely not, but we have to remember that it’s because of the lofty expectations that his play over the last couple of years has forced golf fans to hold him to.
If we compare Scottie now to before his first Masters win in 2022, he’s still a better player now than he was then, and he ran away with the green jacket in 2022. Much like the 2010s San Francisco Giants, there’s reason to believe in the every other year pattern until it doesn’t work anymore, so don’t be shocked by a third Masters for Mr. Scheffler.