Rory McIlroy has some major contenders for his title (Image: Getty)
The 2026 Masters is just around the corner, with excitement mounting for golf’s most prestigious tournament. Rory McIlroy arrives at Augusta National as the defending champion, having clinched his maiden green jacket last year in a dramatic playoff against Justin Rose.
The Northern Irishman is once more amongst the leading contenders, and triumph this week would see him become only the fourth player to successfully defend the crown, joining icons Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods in an elite group. Standing in his path, however, is a world-class field. Two-time champion Scottie Scheffler will be targeting a third Masters victory to cement his status amongst the tournament’s all-time greats.
Meanwhile, other leading challengers include Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele, and Ludvig Aberg, all of whom bring additional quality to an already formidable leaderboard. Here, Express Sport examines which players golf experts are backing to don the green jacket this time round.
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Brandel Chamblee – Jon Rahm
“Scottie Scheffler, even at half speed, is going to be tough to beat,” Brandel Chamblee said. “Collin Morikawa, and I’ll be on pins and needles when he’s playing the 11th hole, as I may well pick him to win the event.
Jon Rahm is a big favourite for the title (Image: Getty)
“But I’ll go with Jon Rahm. Partly because I just want to see Jon Rahm back playing great golf. I’d like to see him back. He’s an exciting player. He’s combustible. He’s combative. Plays with a little chip on his shoulder.
“If it were Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler as it was at the PGA last year, coming down the stretch, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, it would just be an incredibly compelling event to watch.”
Butch Harmon – Justin Rose
“He [Justin Rose] just took Torrey Pines – a very hard golf course – apart and won easily,” Sky Sports pundit Butch Harmon said. “He has gained some distance with his driver, he’s playing with a tremendous amount of confidence and he has a good track record here.
“I think if you’re looking for someone other than the two favourites, that’s who I would say.”
Steve Coulter – Matt Fitzpatrick
“For the 2026 Masters winner I’m taking Matt Fitzpatrick,” Golf Channel’s Steve Coulter said. “The Valspar Championship winner has shot up from No. 22 to No. 5 in the Official World Golf Ranking (the highest ranking of his career) from the end of 2025, and that’s been driven by a seven-for-seven streak of made cuts.”
Steve Palmer – Cameron Young
Cameron Young is another rising star (Image: Getty)
Having tipped Jon Rahm in 2023, Scottie Scheffler in 2024 and Rory McIlroy last year, prominent golf expert Steve Palmer is backing Cameron Young to secure a surprise triumph at Augusta National.
Iain MacMillan – Xander Schauffele
“I’ve bet on Xander Schauffele to win the Masters every year since 2019 and this certainly isn’t going to be the year that I’m going to stop,” Iain MacMillan wrote for Sports Illustrated. “He’s peaking at the right time heading into this week.”
Baz Plummer – Jon Rahm
“This was a close call between Jon Rahm and one other player, but I had to side with the Spaniard after being incredibly impressed by his performances in 2026,” tipster Baz Plummer told Golf Monthly.
“Rahm has been on fire at the start of the LIV Golf season, with one win, three runner-up finishes and a 5th place finish in his five starts this year. He is also a former champion at the Masters, winning his Green Jacket in 2023, and his wider form in this event puts a big tick in his box.
“He was 5th in 2021 and 14th last year at Augusta National, but he also ranks statistically as the best golfer in the planet in 2026… His approach play is the strongest area of his game this year, gaining almost a stroke on the field, so I am expecting a strong charge from Rahm at the Masters this year.
“Xander Schauffele was the closest pursuer to Jon Rahm in my estimations this year, but, while I leant more towards the Spaniard in the end, I still love Xander in this event at his current price.”