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Five players to watch at next week’s Masters

Scheffler is the heavy favourite, but Shane Lowry is in great form

Scottie Scheffler won the Green Jacket in 2022. Photograph: Doug Mills/The New York Times
Scottie Scheffler won the Green Jacket in 2022. Photograph: Doug Mills/The New York Times
Philip Reid
Sun Apr 07 2024 - 06:00
Scottie Scheffler

Odds: 7/2

Almost unbackable, it must be said, at such tight odds; but, then, Scheffler – the world’s number one – has been the hottest (male) player on the planet for much of this year. He may have a unique feet shuffle on impact but the strike is wonderfully pure and his last three starts have seen him go 1-1-2 with wins in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players and a runner-up finish most recently in the Houston Open. Very much the man to beat as he sets about going for a second green jacket.

Jon Rahm

Odds: 12/1

Jon Rahm holds up the Masters trophy after winning. Photograph: Doug Mills/The New York Times
Jon Rahm holds up the Masters trophy after winning. Photograph: Doug Mills/The New York Times

The defending champion’s defection from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf has consequences with less frequent tournaments, part of the attraction in making the money-inspired tour switch but also – possibly – negating the Spaniard’s competitive sharpness. His Champion’s Dinner menu promises something of a carnivore’s feast, and he would like to prove a point on the course too.

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Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry of Ireland looks over a putt on the 13th green at the 2023 Masters. Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty
Shane Lowry of Ireland looks over a putt on the 13th green at the 2023 Masters. Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty

Odds: 40/1

Do you catch a vibe off him these days? Although he hasn’t won since the BMW PGA Championship in 2022, there’s a sense that Lowry has played his way into form at just the right time for a tilt at a second career Major to go with his 2019 Open success. With two top-5s in his last four tournaments – fourth at the Cognizant Classic and third in the Arnold Palmer Invitational – and with eight Masters in the bank, expect a strong showing.

Brian Harman
Brian Harman: won the Open Championship last year. Photograph: Christian Petersen/Getty
Brian Harman: won the Open Championship last year. Photograph: Christian Petersen/Getty

Odds: 40/1

He’s a lefty, which is helpful in his quest to follow Phil Mickelson, Mike Weir and Bubba Watson as left-handed champions. And, more so, he’s a Major champion with the doggedness and shot-execution of his Open win at Hoylake last year sufficient evidence of his ability to get the job done. The world number eight – runner-up to Scottie Scheffler in The Players last month – has enough form to indicate he can improve on his best finish of tied-12th in 2021.

Sahith Theegala

Odds: 33/1

Sahith Theegala: rising quickly through the professional game. Photograph: Patrick Smith/Getty
Sahith Theegala: rising quickly through the professional game. Photograph: Patrick Smith/Getty

Fashioned a top-10 finish a year ago on his Masters debut and he would seem to have progressed his game further in the meantime. He’s strong in all departments, from driving to putting, and heads into the tournament with four top-10s already this season including a runner-up finish in the Sentry Tournament of Champions and a top-5 in the Phoenix Open.

Philip Reid

Philip Reid

Philip Reid is Golf Correspondent of The Irish Times