The best event on this planet is now upon us.
Ninety-six of one of the best gamers on this planet have descended upon Augusta Nationwide for the 89th enjoying of The Masters Event, the primary main of the 2025 season. It’s additionally a reunion of types, as 12 gamers from LIV Golf will tee it up alongside one of the best from the PGA Tour this week.
Two-time champion Bernhard Langer will say goodbye to enjoying competitively this week, and Fred {Couples}, who received in 1992, is perhaps doing the identical. 5-time Masters winner Tiger Woods is just not enjoying this week after struggling an Achilles harm in early March. Nevertheless, his greatest adversary all through the 2000s, Phil Mickelson, is eyeing one other cost up the leaderboard. Mickelson tied for second in 2023 however tied for forty third final 12 months.
In fact, this 12 months’s discipline is headlined by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, the 2 finest gamers on this planet. Scheffler arrives because the defending champion, however maybe no participant within the historical past of this event has arrived at Augusta with extra strain on their shoulders than McIlroy. Having received twice already in 2025, at Pebble Seaside and TPC Sawgrass, McIlroy is enjoying higher than he ever has main into The Masters. A win this week would give him the profession Grand Slam, one thing he has been chasing for 11 years.
Different intriguing storylines embrace the likes of Xander Schauffele, who eyes a 3rd main title in his final 4 tries. Can Ludvig Åberg declare his first main victory after ending in solo second a 12 months in the past? What in regards to the 2023 winner, Jon Rahm? Or 2024 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau? Perhaps Tommy Fleetwood can win for the primary time on U.S. soil. Golf followers shouldn’t sleep on Maverick McNealy both. Though ranked tenth on this planet, McNealy is making his Masters debut this week after profitable the RSM Basic final November.
At any charge, the 2025 Masters guarantees to be one other improbable event. The probabilities are limitless, which is what makes this event so enjoyable year-in and year-out.
Let’s get to our picks.
Enjoying By way of’s Picks:
Jack Milko — Employees Author, Golf
For the primary time in 23 years, I’m calling for a repeat winner at The Masters. Scottie Scheffler will win his third Inexperienced Jacket in 4 years, becoming a member of Jack Nicklaus as the one different participant in historical past to take action.
Right here’s what I really like about Scheffler: regardless of being one of the best participant on this planet — and the defending champion — loads of different gamers arrive at Augusta with extra strain than he does. Rory McIlroy most definitely does. You possibly can argue that Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau do as properly. Collin Morikawa additionally has loads of weight on his shoulders.
That is all to say that the World No. 1 is flying considerably below the radar this week.
And by the way in which, his putter is catching some fireplace too. Two weeks in the past on the Texas Youngsters’s Houston Open, Scheffler gained greater than seven strokes on the greens, good for sixth among the many discipline. He was additionally sixth in strokes gained from tee-to-green, which is proof that Scheffler is heating up on the proper time.
Though he has not received but in 2025, Scheffler will get the job achieved this week at a spot the place he has had unbelievable success. He is aware of the way to win on this golf course — simply watch how he orchestrated his ultimate spherical a 12 months in the past.
FanDuel Odds: Scheffler to win at +400
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RJ Ochoa — Senior Producer, Running a blog the Boys
When the week started I went into it wanting to choose Rory McIlroy for apparent causes, however I used to be terrified to take action. These causes are apparent as properly.
As I’ve gotten older in life and skilled various things I’ve acknowledged that massive issues really feel various kinds of massive relying on what stage of life I’m in. After I was youthful I was obsessive about the phrase “epic” and tried to do and dwell every thing in an epic manner.
However what was epic then is just not epic anymore. What was regular then is past epic now. Life adjustments. Issues occur. We develop. We adapt. We evolve. Issues like what epic is or isn’t strikes and adjusts with us.
The thought of Rory profitable The Masters has at all times felt epic, and that concept nonetheless does in some ways. However what I’ve realized probably the most at this level in life is that I can expertise that epic-ness within the journey, too. Selecting Rory is at all times epic. It has resulted in solely losses when it has come to Augusta, however that doesn’t imply that it hasn’t been epic.
Rory spoke this week and principally summed up my ideas on life, golf, him and the phrase epic . I’ve advised myself many occasions that I’ll by no means decide him to win The Masters once more as a result of it feels so silly on its face (these causes are apparent, too).
However I need to choose Rory. That is what’s epic for me now. And if I’ve realized something as I discussed it’s that I’m the creator of what I really feel is epic.
Rory McIlroy goes to win The Masters on Sunday. I stated it. I imagine it. I need it.
It’s occurring.
FanDuel Odds: McIlroy to win at +650
Mark Schofield — Employees Author, NFL and Method 1
He could not finally win the Masters, however probably the most gifted particular person on the grounds at Augusta Nationwide this week? That’s a straightforward prediction.
That’s Jack Milko.
When you have not already learn his piece from Monday at Augusta, it’s a should, and a preview of the sort of protection you’ll see from him all week lengthy from the Masters. There are moments as a author the place you sit again and ponder whether or not you may have written one thing so well-done, and once I learn this from Jack, this was one such second for me.
As for who wins the event? I’m going to stay with my penchant of selecting longer pictures, and for that purpose I’ll go along with Russell Henley. Augusta is essentially about fairways, greens, and placing, and that’s the a part of his recreation that stands out. Henley has 4 high ten finishes in seven occasions this 12 months, together with a win on the Arnold Palmer Invitational. His strategy recreation has been phenomenal this 12 months, as he ranks third in greens in regulation, and sixth in common distance from the entire.
FanDuel Odds: Henley to win at +5000
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Jed Meshew — Employees Author, MMA Preventing
I do know that is the half the place I’m supposed to put in writing one thing insightful and smart, perhaps embrace an esoteric factoid that reveals “and THIS is why Participant X will win this 12 months!” However I’ve no such information level, no statistic that reveals the long run. All I’ve is a query: What sort of particular person do you need to be?
Me? I need to be the sort of one that is aware of that good issues do occur to good folks. I need to be the sort of one that believes in a righteous order that ultimately involves the world. I need to be the sort of one that, within the phrases of the prophet Commander Peter Quincy, famously stated, “By no means quit, by no means give up.”
I’ve picked and wager Rory McIlroy to win The Masters yearly for practically a decade. I’ll proceed selecting him till he dies or he wins (or I assume I die). As a result of ultimately he’ll win, and when that day comes, I need to money the ticket.
FanDuel Odds: McIlroy to win at +650
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Jared Mueller — Producer, Dawgs By Nature/Cleveland Browns
Whereas I want I might go in one other course, Rory McIlroy getting his profession Grand Slam is one thing that should occur lastly and could be an incredible story arc for golf typically. Whether or not McIlroy can end out on Sunday with all of that using on the road is tough to say, however he appears able to placed on the inexperienced jacket in Augusta.
FanDuel Odds: McIlroy to win at +650
David Fucillo — Senior Director of NFL, NBA, & Sports activities Betting (and really a lot not a daily golf-watcher)
Effectively, I assume I can’t decide Tiger Woods this 12 months? I feel that alone suggests the sort of weight to present my Masters decide. The final time I watched golf may need been final 12 months’s Masters. Really, no. It was most likely the PGA Championship, shortly after Scottie Scheffler was arrested. So, it’s fairly clear what sort of golf-watcher I’m. That is very a lot the “I didn’t watch a second of school basketball” bracket prediction sort of decide.
Scottie Scheffler could be the simple decide and Rory McIlroy wouldn’t be too far behind for enjoying this recreation on the simplest stage. I’m going to go along with Collin Morikawa. He tied for third final 12 months and completed tenth and fifth the earlier two years. He’s acquired three top-ten finishes and two runner-ups this season. Let’s go along with the previous Cal Bear!
