The Masters Tournament Preview & Prediction: Who Wins Golf's First Major In 2026?
Updated July 9, 2026
The first major of the golf season returns April 9-12, with The Masters once again commanding global attention. Augusta National will host an elite field headlined by the best players in the world, with betting markets already showing a few clear favorites and several strong contenders hoping to chase them down. Before the tournament begins, continue reading for my preview of the action, along with my prediction to come away with this year's green jacket.
The 2026 Masters arrives with Scottie Scheffler as the favorite. Scheffler enters as the world number 1 and the betting favorite, aiming for his third green jacket in five years. Despite skipping recent tune-up events, he still leads the tour in strokes gained total this season, a key indicator of consistency and overall dominance on the courses he has played.
Rory McIlroy returns as the defending champion after finally completing the career Grand Slam in 2025. That victory came at 11-under par in a playoff, and while the pressure of chasing history is gone, there are concerns about his recent form and fitness heading into the week.
Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm bring strong recent results from LIV competition, and both are firmly in the mix based on current form. DeChambeau’s power game fits Augusta’s length, while Rahm’s all-around consistency makes him a perennial threat in major championships. The question will be whether or not DeChambeau can play with enough precision to threaten to win this tournament.
Further down the board, players like Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg, and Cameron Young offer value. Young, now ranked among the top players globally, has shown improvement in big events, while Aberg continues to impress with his ball-striking ability.
Augusta National Golf Club remains one of the most recognizable and demanding courses in golf. The par 72 layout stretches to approximately 7,565 yards and requires precision as much as power.
The course rewards players who excel in approach play and putting on slick greens. Strokes gained tee to green and par 5 scoring are often decisive metrics, as players must take advantage of scoring opportunities while avoiding costly mistakes around the greens.
Scheffler, McIlroy, and Rahm are the favorites to win this tournament for a reason. But I can't justify playing them at their prices, given what little value there is at the top of the board. Instead, I'm going to go with Tommy Fleetwood to grab the green jacket, as his shots gained metrics are highly impressive relatively to most of the field.
Fleetwood has finished in the top five in all four majors in his career, including a third-place finish at The Masters in 2024. I think he will finally break through and win his first major championship here, grabbing the green jacket despite fierce competition from the rest of this elite field.
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