Masters contenders as Scheffler and McIlroy look to join elite clubs at Augusta

Scottie Scheffler will defend his title when the 89th Masters takes place at Augusta National from April 10th-13th.

Scheffler is bidding to become just the fourth player to win back-to-back green jackets after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

Here, we look at some of the main contenders for the year’s first major championship.

The second Green Jacket in only five starts for Scottie Scheffler. #themasters pic.twitter.com/j80ve7gXqd

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 14, 2024

Scheffler, who won his first green jacket in 2022, was in brilliant form ahead of last year’s Masters, winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational by five shots and seven days later becoming the first player to claim back-to-back Players Championship titles at Sawgrass. The world number one has unsurprisingly not been able to replicate such heroics to date after a delayed start to the season caused by a hand injury suffered while preparing dinner on Christmas Day, but ominously returned to form with rounds of 62 and 63 and a share of second in his last pre-Masters start in Houston.

McIlroy’s 11th attempt to win the Masters and complete a career grand slam comes on the back of a superb start to the season, including victories in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Players Championship. Immediately after the former McIlroy referenced winning at “one of the cathedrals of golf” and the other course he mentioned was, unsurprisingly, Augusta National. His recent Masters record includes a thrilling closing 64 in 2022 sandwiched between two missed cuts, while his hopes of contending last year were ruined by a second round of 77.

Bryson DeChambeau finishes with a bang. #themasters pic.twitter.com/I6zMUYB2MA

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2024

DeChambea