The year’s first Major golf tournament is set to get underway. The Masters is arguably the most prestigious event in the game. Indeed, it’s the one the vast majority of players dream about winning. As ever, 2025 will feature the world’s best players fighting it out on the greens and fairways of Augusta National for a chance at the Green Jacket.
Yet, while Augusta’s place in golf’s hierarchy is timeless and a constant tradition, we see different overarching narratives coming into the event each year. Below, we look at some of the interesting talking points before the 2025 Masters:
Time for Rory’s Career Grand Slam?
Before any Major, there is no more interesting player to watch than Rory McIlroy. World number two is backed as the second favorite in the current Masters betting odds, but there is always a perception that McIlroy can make life difficult for himself. It’s been over a decade since his last victory in a Major, and many believe his reputation as a modern great is held back due to his infamous drought. Going on form, he has a great chance to end that long wait for a 5th Major, allowing him to complete a career Grand Slam (all four Majors) that only a handful of players have achieved.
The Green Jacket Going to the World’s Best
While McIlroy’s form means that few players are playing better than he en route to Augusta, we can say that world number one, Scottie Scheffler, is probably ahead of the Northern Irishman. Scheffler is the current Masters champion and will be going for a third title in four years. The American has been the best in the world over the past 18-24 months, and he is being widely backed to continue his rich vein of form at Augusta. Golf isn’t always that straightforward, though.
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How Will the LIV Golfers Fare?
Golf is an interesting state at the moment. The players who play on the LIV Tour do not see their performances reflected in golf’s official world ranking system (basically, no ranking points are awarded for that tour). It means that some of the top players, like 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm, are way outside the world’s top 50 in the world rankings. It’s a strange state of affairs, but it will be made all the more interesting should any of the LIV players don the Green Jacket on Sunday evening.
A Chance for New Stars to Shine
We mentioned the world rankings above, and it’s a messy, complicated situation. As LIV players don’t earn ranking points, some PGA and European Tours players will find themselves with an invite to the Masters for the first time. Aaron Rai and Taylor Pendrith aren’t yet household names, but they have qualified for this year’s Masters. As often happens, a previously unknown player can make a name for himself on the greens of Augusta: who will it be this time around?
A Welcome Reception for Cabrera?
Previous winners of the Masters get lifetime invites to return to the tournament. It means that players on the senior tour, retired, or plummeted in the world rankings can return if they have won it in the past: It’s part of the Masters tradition. However, there are protests over the fact that Angel Cabrera – winner in 2009 – will be making his first Masters appearance in several years. The Argentine spent several years in prison recently on charges that included assault. It will be a delicate PR exercise for how the golf media cover his appearance.