It’s the most wonderful time of the year, as Augusta National Golf Club has once again opened its doors for the golf world. The events started with history being made as Maria Jose Marin won the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Marin became the first Latin American to win the event. This weekend will bring the crown jewel of men’s golf. The 2026 Masters tournament looks to follow up on the historical moments the 2025 Masters gave golf fans. Rory McIlroy’s historic win at last year’s Masters is a prime example of what it takes to win at Augusta: a long hitter with a right-to-left ball flight, strong iron play and final grit. Here are some things to know about the 91 players teeing it up for the Masters.
Course
Augusta National plays at 7,565 yards. Known for its picture-perfect holes and challenging greens that test the players’ iron play. Moving the ball right to left is key to a good score at Augusta, with the majority of the holes on the second nine favoring a right-to-left ball flight. Having control over your ball flight goes a long way at Augusta, especially with the length players need to hit to score on the par fives.
Top Ten
Justin Rose has had a stellar Master’s career, recording seven top tens and three runner-up finishes, the latest coming last year in 20 Masters played. Rose’s last 25 starts have seen Rose claim two wins, and he is one of the best approach players on tour, gaining one shot on the field. Rose’s kryptonite is putting. He has struggled with the flat iron in his last couple of starts. If Rose can figure it out, he could turn into Superman.
Won’t Win
Ludvig Aberg has been one of the top golfers in 2026. Since the West Coast swing wrapped up, Aberg finished in the top five in every tournament he played. Aberg’s driving and approach play have been world-class, gaining a full shot in almost every category. What holds Aberg back are the unnecessary blow-ups Aberg seems to have during the final rounds. Aberg has the talent to become this generation’s Rory, but final round collapses could build too much pressure and prevent Aberg from achieving major success.
Winner
Cameron Young’s game should be the perfect fit for Augusta, with a high right-to-left ball flight and the ability to control his iron play. Young could be looking for his first major win of his career. Young took home his second PGA Tour win during the PLAYERS in March, thanks to gaining over two full strokes in approach play during the week. A weakness for Young in the past has been putting. His stats show him well below average in putting during his first couple of years on tour. A caddie change late last year has seen Young become an above-average putter. Young’s driver is also a weapon, as Young has been one of the more consistent players when it comes to driving distance and driving accuracy. With all the tools in Young’s bag, it’s hard not to see him finishing anywhere but first this weekend.
The 2026 Masters will take place April 9-12
All stats and data from: https://datagolf.com
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