Located just half a mile from the entrance to Augusta National, at the base of Washington Road, is a music store specializing in keyboards and pianos. Each year, during the Masters week, it shuts its doors. A sign in front cheerfully states, “Spring has sprung and so have we.” This indicates a clear lack of overlap between golf enthusiasts and piano aficionados, prompting the business to remain closed during this busy time.
The excitement surrounding the Masters is not universally appealing, which is somewhat unfortunate. Nearly nine months have passed since the last major tournament of 2025, and 27 weeks since the Ryder Cup event at Bethpage, marking the return of golf to the center stage of sports. Additionally, this year’s Masters, the 90th iteration of the tournament, holds the distinction of being the first since 1994 without the participation of either Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson. Instead of lamenting this absence, it presents a unique opportunity; the world of golf after Tiger doesn’t have to be as daunting as some believe.
Last week, Mickelson announced he would not be participating in Augusta due to a family health issue. He finished as a runner-up at the Masters in 2023, just two years after his remarkable victory at the US PGA Championship. While details about Mickelson’s situation remain scarce, Woods has drawn considerable scrutiny following a recent incident involving law enforcement while he was driving. Reports suggest Woods is seeking treatment in Switzerland as he aims to restore some normalcy to his life. Competitors at the Masters tend to feel uneasy when discussing Woods’s challenges, preferring instead to focus on their own narratives over the four days of the tournament.
Here is the schedule for the Masters, listed in local Augusta time and British summer time:
7:40/12:40 – Johnny Keefer, Li Haotong (Chn)
7:50/12:50 – Max Homa, Naoyuki Kataoka (Jpn), Carlos Ortiz (Mex)
8:02/13:02 – Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (Den), José María Olazábal (Sp), Aldrich Potgieter (SA)
8:14/13:14 – Ángel Cabrera (Arg), (a) Jackson Herrington, Sami Välimäki (Fin)
8:26/13:26 – Ryan Fox (NZ), Max Greyserman, Charl Schwartzel (SA)
8:38/13:38 – Rasmus Højgaard (Den), Matt McCarty, Vijay Singh (Fij)
8:50/13:50 – Casey Jarvis (SA), Kurt Kitayama, Kristoffer Reitan (Nor)
9:02/14:02 – Nicolás Echavarría (Col), (a) Brandon Holtz, Bubba Watson
9:19/14:19 – Sam Burns, Jake Knapp, Cameron Smith (Aus)
9:31/14:31 – Keegan Bradley, Ryan Gerard, Nick Taylor (Can)
9:43/14:43 – Jason Day (Aus), Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry (Ire)
9:55/14:55 – Akshay Bhatia, Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Patrick Reed
10:07/15:07 – Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick (Eng), Xander Schauffele
10:19/15:19 – Russell Henley, Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Collin Morikawa
10:31/15:31 – (a) Mason Howell, Rory McIlroy (NI), Cameron Young
10:43/15:43 – Patrick Cantlay, Viktor Hovland (Nor), Alex Norén (Swe)
11:03/16:03 – Im Sung-jae (Kor), Sam Stevens
11:15/16:15 – Brian Campbell, Tom McKibbin (NI), Andrew Novak
11:27/16:27 – Wyndham Clark, (a) Mateo Pulcini (Arg), Mike Weir (Can)
11:39/16:39 – Nicolai Højgaard (Den), Zach Johnson, Michael Kim
11:51/16:51 – (a) Ethan Fang, Davis Riley, Danny Willett (Eng)
12:03/17:03 – Daniel Berger, Brian Harman, Adam Scott (Aus)
12:15/17:15 – Fred Couples, (a) Pongsapak Laopakdee (Tha), Min Woo Lee (Aus)
12:27/17:27 – Jacob Bridgeman, Sergio García (Sp), Aaron Rai (Eng)
12:44/17:44 – Michael Brennan, Corey Conners (Can), Harry Hall (Eng)
12:56/17:56 – Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Maverick McNealy, JJ Spaun
13:08/18:08 – Ludvig Åberg (Swe), Chris Gotterup, Jon Rahm (Sp)
13:20/18:20 – Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose (Eng), Jordan Spieth
13:32/18:32 – Ben Griffin, Sepp Straka (Aut), Justin Thomas
13:44/18:44 – Robert MacIntyre (Sco), Scottie Scheffler, Gary Woodland
13:56/18:56 – Harris English, Kim Si-woo (Kor), Marco Penge (Eng)
Recent performances by Woods suggest he might not have been able to compete effectively had he joined the tournament. Meanwhile, Mickelson has faced challenges in major tournaments since 2023. The landscape of professional golf has shifted towards emerging talents like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau.
This year, the Masters promises to be a thrilling event, with the weather in Georgia setting the stage for optimal playing conditions. For the first time in years, no adverse weather is expected.
Predicting outcomes for this major may be easier than for others, with a field of 91 players, including six amateurs. Notably, past champions such as José María Olazábal, Vijay Singh, Ángel Cabrera, Mike Weir, and Fred Couples are unlikely to claim victory. The absence of a debutant winner at Augusta since 1979 strongly favors seasoned players.
Among the most intriguing competitors are McIlroy, Rahm, and DeChambeau. McIlroy’s future achievements in golf may never eclipse his remarkable win at Augusta last year, which completed his career grand slam. His competitive drive and aspirations indicate he is eager to achieve more. It will be fascinating to see if a more liberated McIlroy in 2026 proves to be an even more formidable contender at the Masters.
DeChambeau’s ability to reach the final round alongside McIlroy last year suggests he has made significant progress in mastering Augusta’s challenges. His aggressive approach and recent form on the LIV tour, where he has secured two victories this year, adds to the intrigue. Additionally, his impressive performance in the 2025 majors, finishing in the top 10 in three of four, showcases his potential.
Rahm, another player who transitioned to LIV, emerges as a favorite for the Masters. His success on the Saudi-backed tour mirrors DeChambeau’s, and he carries a strong motivation to prove himself against elite competition. The ongoing dispute with the DP World Tour over LIV participation could jeopardize his Ryder Cup position. A second Masters title would solidify his argument that Europe needs him at Adare Manor in September of next year. A highly motivated 31-year-old Rahm is certainly a formidable competitor.
Respect should also be given to other contenders. Scheffler has shown strong performances, but the competition remains fierce.
