A missed six-foot putt, then a birdie on the same hole
At Augusta National, where tradition and transformation have long kept uneasy company, the 90th Masters begins with a rare figure at its center: Rory McIlroy, who last year completed one of sport's most elusive personal quests by winning the career Grand Slam in the most agonizing and triumphant of fashions. He returns now not as a man chasing history, but as its custodian, defending a green jacket while a formidable field — and the conspicuous absence of Tiger Woods, whose personal struggles have again kept him from the grounds — remind us that Augusta has always been as much about the human condition as the game itself.
- McIlroy arrives carrying the strange lightness of a man who has already conquered his demons, yet the pressure of defending a Masters title has humbled even the greatest champions before him.
- Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau riding a wave of back-to-back wins, and a resurgent Jon Rahm form a trio of challengers capable of dismantling any favorite's week before Sunday afternoon.
- Tiger Woods' second consecutive absence casts a long shadow — a DUI arrest, body camera footage, a not guilty plea, and a public step away from golf mark a painful chapter for the sport's most iconic figure.
- A 91-player field, new qualifying pathways for national Open winners, and Sky Sports' wall-to-wall multi-feed coverage signal that the Masters is quietly modernizing even as it guards its rituals fiercely.
- The tournament lands this week with McIlroy bidding to become only the second player in the modern era to successfully defend the green jacket — a feat that would reframe his legacy once more.
Augusta National opens its gates for a 90th Masters defined by the return of its most emotionally charged recent champion. Rory McIlroy, who spent over a decade pursuing the career Grand Slam after winning three majors by 2014, finally claimed the green jacket in 2025 in the most theatrical way imaginable — a final-round collapse, a missed par putt, a playoff, and then a birdie on the very same hole to seal it. He arrives this week as favorite, but carrying notably less weight than the burden that defined his previous visits.
The field of 91 players is assembled through a layered qualification system — world rankings, major champions, PGA Tour winners, and, new this year, winners of six national Opens including the Scottish, Spanish, and Japan Opens. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, a two-time champion whose recent form has been inconsistent, leads the challengers. Bryson DeChambeau comes in hot with back-to-back wins on the LIV circuit, while Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Cameron Young — fresh off a Players Championship victory — all represent credible threats. Justin Rose, last year's runner-up, has already won on Tour this season.
The week's most discussed absence belongs to Tiger Woods, the five-time Augusta champion who will miss a second consecutive Masters. On March 27, Woods was involved in a Florida car crash, subsequently arrested after officers noted signs of impairment and found hydrocodone in his possession. Body camera footage of the roadside arrest was released days later. Woods has pleaded not guilty and will face a jury trial, but has announced he is stepping away from golf to seek treatment and focus on his health — a sobering turn for a 50-year-old whose physical capacity to compete had already been in question.
Sky Sports will broadcast the tournament across all four days with Featured Group streams, a dedicated Amen Corner feed covering holes 11 through 13, and additional feeds for other key stretches of the course. Weekend coverage begins earlier, running continuously until the final putt. The cut retains Augusta's distinctive format — only the top 50 and ties survive 36 holes.
Off the course, McIlroy exercised his champion's privilege in selecting the Champions Dinner menu: yellowfin tuna carpaccio, wagyu filet mignon or seared salmon with Irish Champ, bacon-wrapped dates in tribute to his mother, brussels sprouts, and sticky toffee pudding. The prize fund mirrors last year's record structure, with the winner taking home $4.2 million from a $21 million purse. And Augusta's famous contradictions persist — strict rules on phones, dress, and decorum, yet the Pimento Cheese sandwich remains $1.50. McIlroy tees off Thursday seeking to join a very short list of men who have defended the green jacket in the modern era.
Augusta National is preparing for its 90th Masters tournament, and the defending champion returning to defend his title is Rory McIlroy, who completed one of golf's rarest achievements last April. The Northern Irishman had chased the career Grand Slam—winning all four major championships—for more than a decade after capturing three of them by 2014. When he finally claimed the green jacket in 2025, it came in the most dramatic fashion: a final-round collapse that forced a playoff, a missed six-foot par putt on the 18th, and then a birdie on that same hole to seal victory. Now he returns as favorite, though with less pressure than the weight he carried into last year's tournament.
The field assembling at Augusta this week includes 91 players qualified through a complex web of exemptions and rankings. The top 50 in the world get automatic invitations, as do previous Masters champions, winners of the other three majors from the past five years, and champions of PGA Tour events awarding full points toward the Tour Championship. New this year, winners of six national Opens—including the Genesis Scottish Open, Spanish Open, and Japan Open—have earned spots. Amateur champions from five major competitions round out the field, along with the last three winners of The Players and qualifiers from last season's Tour Championship.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler arrives as a two-time champion seeking to reclaim the title he won in 2022 and 2024, though his recent form has been uneven, with finishes outside the top 20 in his last two tournaments. Bryson DeChambeau, fresh off back-to-back victories in South Africa and Singapore, represents the strongest LIV Golf challenger. Jon Rahm, the 2023 champion, lost a playoff to DeChambeau in Johannesburg but appears sharp. From Europe, Tommy Fleetwood and Ludvig Åberg chase their first major titles, while Matt Fitzpatrick arrives in excellent form after finishing second at The Players and winning the Valpsar Championship. Justin Rose, last year's runner-up, has already recorded a PGA Tour victory this season. Cameron Young won The Players last month, and Xander Schauffele, a two-time major champion, has posted five top-10 finishes in his last seven Augusta appearances.
One notable absence is Tiger Woods, the five-time champion who will miss the tournament for a second consecutive year. On March 27, Woods was involved in a car crash in Florida while driving a Land Rover that clipped a truck and rolled onto its side. He admitted to looking at his phone while speeding. A sheriff's report noted his eyes appeared bloodshot and glassy, his pupils dilated, and hydrocodone pills were found in his pocket. Body camera footage released on April 2 showed his arrest at the roadside. Woods has entered a not guilty plea and taken the case to jury trial, but he announced he will step away from golf for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on his health. Before the incident, it had been unclear whether the 50-year-old would have been physically capable of competing at Augusta, where he last won in 2019.
Sky Sports will provide unprecedented coverage of the tournament, beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday and Friday with Featured Group action and course updates before the global broadcast window opens at 6 p.m. Weekend coverage starts earlier, at 4:30 p.m., with full programming beginning at 5 p.m. and continuing until the final putt drops. Multiple streaming feeds will be available: the notorious Amen Corner stream focusing on the 11th through 13th holes, a feed of the fourth, fifth, and sixth holes, and another covering the 15th and 16th. Featured Groups will also stream on Sky Sports+.
The cut at Augusta differs from other majors, with only the lowest 50 and ties after 36 holes advancing to the weekend. As defending champion, McIlroy earned the honor of selecting the menu for the Champions Dinner, held on Tuesday evening before play begins. His selections reflect personal favorites: yellowfin tuna carpaccio to start, followed by a choice of wagyu filet mignon or seared salmon served with traditional Irish Champ, and sticky toffee pudding for dessert. He has also included bacon-wrapped dates—a dish his mother once served him—and brussels sprouts, making him possibly the first Masters champion to feature the vegetable on the dinner menu.
The prize money structure remains largely unchanged from last year, when McIlroy banked a then-record $4.2 million from a total purse of $21 million. All professionals making the cut earn a minimum of $51,000. For patrons attending, Augusta maintains its famously strict rules: no mobile phones or cameras outside practice days, no lying down on the grounds, no running, and a dress code prohibiting backward-facing hats, jeans, high heels, and flip-flops. Yet the experience remains accessible—the iconic Pimento Cheese sandwich costs just $1.50. The tournament begins Thursday morning, with McIlroy seeking to become only the second player in the modern era to successfully defend the green jacket.
Citações Notáveis
Woods announced he will step away from golf for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on his health— Tiger Woods statement
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
What makes McIlroy's position different this year compared to last year, when he was chasing the Grand Slam?
Last year he carried the weight of a decade-long quest. Now he's already done it. That's a completely different mental space—less pressure, but also less hunger. He's the defending champion, which is its own burden, but it's a different kind of burden.
Why is Tiger Woods' absence so significant beyond just losing a great player?
Because he's Tiger Woods. He's won five green jackets. Even at 50, even injured, even absent, his presence or absence shapes how people think about Augusta. His legal troubles and decision to step away add a layer of real-world consequence that golf tournaments don't usually carry.
The field has 91 players. Does that number tell us anything about how the Masters has evolved?
It shows how many different pathways now lead to Augusta. You can get there through LIV Golf, through amateur championships, through international Opens. The tournament is trying to be more inclusive while maintaining its exclusivity. It's a careful balance.
What's the significance of Scheffler arriving in poor form?
It's the opposite of what you'd expect from the world's best player. He won here twice, but he's not playing well right now. That creates an opening for someone like DeChambeau or Rahm who are sharp. Form matters more than ranking at Augusta.
Why does McIlroy get to choose the Champions Dinner menu?
It's tradition—the defending champion hosts the previous winners on Tuesday night. It's a small thing, but it's intimate. McIlroy chose dishes tied to his life: tuna carpaccio from his favorite New York restaurant, bacon-wrapped dates his mother made. It's personal.
What do the streaming feeds tell us about how golf is being consumed now?
People don't want to watch the whole tournament anymore. They want Amen Corner, the dramatic holes, the specific moments. Sky Sports is fragmenting the experience into pieces people can consume on their own terms. That's a fundamental shift from how golf was broadcast even five years ago.