Masters champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates on the No. 18 green after a sudden death playoff against Justin Rose of England to win the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (Photo by Kieran Cleeves/Augusta National/Getty Images)
Augusta National/Getty ImagesThe 2025 Masters delivered yet another unforgettable moment in golf history. As we turn our attention to 2026, one thing remains clear: Augusta National Golf Club consistently rewards a very specific profile of player.
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Recent history tells us as much. Every winner over the last decade was ranked inside the top 25 in the world—eight of them inside the top 15, and six inside the top 10. Age plays a role as well, with most champions falling between 27 and 36 years old. Course history matters too: nine of the last ten winners made the cut the previous year, and eight had already posted a top-10 at Augusta.
Form is equally important. Eight of the last ten winners had already won either that season or the prior fall, and all ten ranked inside the top 30 in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green heading into the tournament. When you combine all of these factors, Augusta doesn’t leave much to chance—it points directly to the most complete players in the game.
So, with those trends in mind, here are five players (outside of Rory and Scottie) who actually check the boxes and have the tools to slip on the green jacket on Masters Sunday:
Ludvig Aberg
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Ludvig Aberg of Sweden plays his shot from the ninth tee during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship 2026 at THE PLAYERS Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass on March 15, 2026 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesLudvig Åberg will be making just his third career start at Augusta National Golf Club, but his early track record suggests he’s already one of the most comfortable players on the property.
Aside from a disappointing finish at The Players Championship where he struggled down the stretch to finish at T-5, his recent form has been trending in the right direction, highlighted by a T-3 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a recent T-5 at the Valero Texas Open.
His Masters résumé, though brief, is undeniably impressive. After a runner-up finish in his debut in 2024, Åberg once again put himself in contention in 2025, holding a share of the lead late on Sunday alongside Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose before ultimately finishing seventh.
With no glaring weaknesses in his game and a skill set that translates seamlessly to Augusta, Åberg has already proven he belongs on this stage. At this point, the only thing that can stand in his way is himself.
Xander Schauffele
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 13: Xander Schauffele of the United States acknowledges the crowd on the 11th green during the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship 2026 at THE PLAYERS Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass on March 13, 2026 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesXander Schauffele will be making his ninth start at Augusta National Golf Club in 2026, and few in the field bring a more consistent track record. He has finished inside the top 10 in five of the past seven years at the Masters, a testament to both his comfort on the course and his ability to handle its unique demands.
His recent form suggests he’s getting back to his winning ways, highlighted by a third-place finish at The Players Championship in March. With the ability to shape the ball both ways and a steady, unflappable approach, it’s no surprise he’s found repeated success at Augusta.
Already a two-time major champion, Schauffele knows what it takes to close on golf’s biggest stages. A green jacket would not only validate his consistency at Augusta, it would elevate his résumé to an entirely new level as a three-time major winner.
Bryson DeChambeau
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 13: Bryson Dechambeau of Crushers hits out of a bunker on the 13th during day two of LIV Adelaide at The Grange Golf Club on February 13, 2026 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesDespite never closing the deal at the Masters, Bryson DeChambeau has built a fascinating history at Augusta National Golf Club. He burst onto the scene as low amateur in 2016 and, more recently, has put himself firmly in the mix with back-to-back top-6 finishes in the last two years.
His confidence at Augusta has never been in question. Famously referring to the course as a “par 67," his current form only reinforces that belief. DeChambeau arrives having won two early-season LIV Golf events in both South Africa and Singapore, signaling he’s once again in a position to contend.
His overwhelming length off the tee remains a clear advantage, one he’s learned to maximize around Augusta’s expansive layout. But as always, the question isn’t power, it’s precision. If his wedge play holds up under pressure, DeChambeau has all the tools to finally turn contention into a breakthrough victory.
Justin Rose
LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 01: Justin Rose of England reacts to his winning putt on the 18th green during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open 2026 at Torrey Pines South Course on February 01, 2026 in La Jolla, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesJustin Rose will make his 21st start at Augusta National Golf Club in 2026, bringing with him one of the most consistent track records in Masters history. Across his 20 previous appearances, he has recorded 15 top-25 finishes, a remarkable level of sustained performance at a venue that exposes even the smallest weaknesses.
Last year, Rose once again found himself in the thick of the action, carding a final-round 66 that featured 10 birdies before ultimately falling in a playoff to Rory McIlroy. It was another example of his ability to elevate his game when the pressure is at its highest.
His history at Augusta is defined not just by consistency, but by near-misses at the very top. Rose is one of only nine players in Masters history to finish runner-up at least three times, a testament to both his excellence and how close he’s come to claiming the green jacket.
At 45, he has shown flashes of both inconsistency and brilliance this season. While he’s missed three cuts, he also reminded everyone of his ceiling with a dominant seven-shot victory at Torrey Pines, along with a solid T-13 finish at The Players Championship.
What’s perhaps most intriguing is the added length off the tee. If that newfound distance continues to hold, it could unlock another level for Rose—allowing him to pair shorter approaches with the elite iron play that has long been his calling card.
The question is, could this finally be the year he turns what could be another close call into a long-awaited green jacket?
Cameron Young
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Cameron Young of the United States holds the trophy following his victory during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship 2026 at THE PLAYERS Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass on March 15, 2026 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThe 2026 Players Champion, Cameron Young, is set to make his fifth start at the Masters, and his track record suggests he’s more than capable of making noise. He’s posted top-10 finishes in two of the past three years, including a T-7 in 2023 and a T-9 in 2024, before a missed cut in 2025.
His current form only strengthens the case. In addition to his breakthrough win at TPC Sawgrass, Young has recorded a T-3 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a T-7 at the The Genesis Invitational, signaling a player who is clearly trending towards his first major championship.
Perhaps the biggest development in his game has been on the greens. What was once considered a weakness has turned into a reliable asset. Pair that improvement with his combination of power and accuracy off the tee—where he ranks among the best on Tour, and a solid strokes gained approach game, and the formula is there.
Lastly, he has the temperament needed to plot his way around Augusta National. He never seems too high or too low, and on a course like this, that steady mindset can’t be overlooked. It’s the kind of composure that gives him a real chance to see it through—and finish the week walking down the 72nd hole with a chance to win.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com