The PGA season kicks off with its first major championship at its most prestigious competition, the 2024 Masters Tournament, with 89 players vying for a Green Jacket and $18 million in purse money.
The historic tournament takes place at Augusta National—par-72, 7,545 yards—in Georgia from April 11–14.
Former Masters winners including Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Charl Schwartzel, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed, and defending champ Jon Rahm are expected to compete.
There are also several other major champions in the field, including Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, and Tiger Woods.
Mr. Rahm, 29, will be looking to defend his 2023 Masters championship and has made headlines after foregoing the PGA Tour to make a lucrative switch to the LIV Golf League. Mr. Rahm, who hails from the Basque region of Spain, finished joint fourth at last week’s LIV event in Miami.
Mr. Rahm is a long-hitter off the tee, which plays well at the Augusta National course. He has five top-10 finishes in his six Masters appearances.
“I think that’s what’s making this Masters and many other majors so much fun, not only for me and for players but for spectators, is for all of us to be able to play together again and showcase what we’re capable of,” Mr. Rahm told the media this week.
Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player, is the favorite and already has wins at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship this season. Mr. Scheffler was also just two strokes away from winning the Texas Children’s Houston Open, so he is poised for a solid performance in Augusta.
Mr. Scheffler is the 5–1 favorite to win the Masters after finishing 10th or better in his last six tournaments. Mr. Scheffler has played so well recently that some pundits are putting him in a category with Mr. Woods, a 15-time major winner.
“Anytime you can be compared to Tiger I think is really special, but, I mean, the guy stands alone, I think, in our game,” Mr. Scheffler told the media this week. “He really does. This is my eighth tournament win now out here, I’ve tied him in Players Championships. Outside of that, I got 14 more majors and 70-some PGA Tour events to catch up.”
Mr. McIlroy, who ranks second in the Official World Golf Ranking, is another golfer to watch this weekend. The Northern Irishman will be trying to complete the career grand slam in his 16th appearance at the Masters. However, Mr. McIlroy has missed the cut in two of his past three appearances at Augusta. Nonetheless, he has managed seven top-10 finishes in the past decade.
Most recently, Mr. McIlroy finished third at the Valero Texas Open with an 11-under 277.
Even with a talented field, all eyes will be on Mr. Woods, who is making his 26th appearance at Augusta. He will try to set a Masters record by making the cut for the 24th consecutive time.
Last year, Mr. Woods made the cut but was forced to withdraw after aggravating plantar fasciitis in his right foot. The 15-time major winner was on the course.
Another international player to watch is Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg, who is making his Masters debut. Before turning professional in June 2023, Mr. Åberg was ranked No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for 29 weeks. Mr. Åber, 24, is a consistent player who has already competed in the Ryder Cup and could be a dark horse in Augusta because of his steady approach to the game.
The stakes are also high for Mr. Koepka, who has an opportunity to tie Mr. Mickelson, Nick Faldo, and Lee Trevino with six major championships. Mr. Koepka is a five-time major winner but has not earned the Green Jacket in eight Masters’ appearances.
Mr. Mickelson represents the old guard in professional golf and is always a contender to win the Masters. Mr. Mickelson is the leading money-winner in Masters history, earning $9.77 million in 30 starts.
Mr. Spieth is looking to continue to bounce back after missing the cut at both the Players Championship and Valspar Championship. He finished 10th last week at the Valero Texas Open and is a contender for the Masters’ title, which he won in 2015.
