AUGUSTA, Ga. — Predicting a winner at The Masters is never easy, and 2026 is no different. While Rory McIlroy finally got over the hump last year and Scottie Scheffler has two green jackets to his name, neither is in peak form this week — though both remain very much in contention. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are absent, and Collin Morikawa, though historically strong at Augusta, looks less than fully healthy after tweaking his back at The Players.
Augusta is Augusta. Form matters, but so does course history, and it often rewards feel-good, storybook runs. This year, the field is wide open, and while there are plenty of players in strong form, it’s tough to peg a surefire favorite.
After combing through performance data, course history, playing conditions and recent trends, several names rise to the top. Among my favorites are Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Åberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Patrick Reed, Matt Fitzpatrick, Chris Gotterup and Robert MacIntyre. I expect the winner to come from this group, though it’s a competitive bunch — chalky among true contenders, but far from a lock.
For longshots, keep an eye on Jason Day, Corey Conners and Harris English. For a shocking, out-of-nowhere victory, Cameron Smith or Sungjae Im could surprise the field.
Scheffler will lurk, because he’s Scottie, but don’t expect a generational performance. Morikawa remains a threat, but his health and recent struggles in practice rounds temper expectations.
In the end, 2026 feels like another feel-good, storybook Masters — wide open, beautifully set in Augusta, and perfect for a player ready to seize the moment. It’s hard to pick a heavy favorite, but I’m confident the winner will come from my top-tier group. After all, Augusta doesn’t just test skill — it rewards timing, poise and a little bit of magic.
