Five storylines to follow at this week's Masters

April 6 : Five storylines to follow as the world's top players arrive at Augusta National Golf Club for the April 9 to April 12 Masters:

CAN MCILROY REPEAT?

After finally slipping into a Green Jacket last year and completing the career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy quickly faced the inevitable question about what could possibly come next.

A title defense would be a good place to start.

The Northern Irishman is bidding to become just the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters titles, and the first since Tiger Woods accomplished the feat more than 20 years ago.

There are, however, questions over McIlroy's fitness. The 36-year-old looked in strong form when he finished tied for second at the Genesis Invitational in February, but later withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a back issue and struggled to a tie for 46th at the Players Championship.

SCHEFFLER AGAIN THE MAN TO BEAT

World number one Scottie Scheffler enters Augusta as the clear betting favorite despite finishing outside the top 10 in each of his last three starts and withdrawing from the Houston Open in anticipation of the birth of his second child.

The two-time Masters champion has never finished outside the top 20 at Augusta National, and if his iron play returns to the level he showed in his 2022 and 2024 victories, the rest of the field could be chasing him all week.

Scheffler, who won two of his four major titles last year, is not only the favorite for this week's Masters but also the early pick in some markets to claim multiple majors this season.

SCHAUFFELE LURKING

While Scheffler has dominated the betting markets, Xander Schauffele has emerged as a popular choice among analysts, and his record at Augusta helps explain why.

The American has posted top-10