After much consideration, two of our news editors have tipped their favourites, dark horses and underachievers. But who did they go for?
Who will win the 2026 Masters?
Harry Dunnett: Whilst the bookies' favourite and world number one Scottie Scheffler can't be ruled out from this discussion, it feels like too much of a safe bet. Scheffler's game is also not in its best place - he is not dominating the sport as he has in previous years heading into the Masters.
The 2025 winner, Rory McIlroy, also hasn't been firing on all cylinders of late, and when you factor in the curse of defending champions, it feels like the world number two's chances are stacked against him.
Therefore, I am leaning towards someone else - a player who is not a past winner like the two previously mentioned. The last two winners at Augusta (Scheffler and McIlroy) won the Players Championship the month before going on to claim the Green Jacket, and that is part of the reason why I am tipping Cameron Young to do the same this time around.
Young has been playing some quality golf so far in 2026 and has a good record at the last few Masters, finishing inside the top 10 in two of the last three years. It feels like only a matter of time before the world number three wins a major. Why not this week?
Tolga Akdeniz: I have been pretty strong on two-time Masters champion Scheffler winning a third Green Jacket this week, but I am having a change of heart. I have convinced myself that Bryson DeChambeau is going to come out on top.
The American was at the summit of the leaderboard going into the final round of the event last year before totally falling away to finish in a tie for fifth. With back-to-back top-six finishes here, he has proven that he can play on the treacherous greens of Augusta.
I also quite like the narrative of him going one step further, learning from his mistakes and adding to his two US Open triumphs.
He is also in great form. He has won twice on the LIV Golf tour recently, in Singapore and South Africa, and although the standard is obviously considerably lower than what he will face at the Masters, he is playing some good stuff at the moment.
Top off-radar players to watch
Harry Dunnett: I think Akshay Bhatia is much better placed in 2026 to have a strong Masters. The American was in good form heading to Augusta last year, but his T35 finish and +6 did not live up to the hype.
Bhatia is in an even hotter vein of form this time around, however, after winning a playoff to clinch the Arnold Palmer Invitational before a top 20 finish at the Players Championship. Two other top 10 finishes in 2026 make him hard to ignore - Bhatia is one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour.
If he is hot with his putter this week, like he has been for most of 2026 so far and hits more fairways than misses, Bhatia has a great chance of surprising people.
Nicolai Hojgaard is another young player with an upward trajectory, and whilst his form doesn't look as impressive on paper, the Dane has a strong all-round game. His best finish of the year came in his last outing at the Houston Open, when he was runner-up to Gary Woodland.
I don't expect Hojgaard to compete for the Green Jacket, but when you look at his record on the PGA Tour as well as a top 20 finish at last year's Masters, you can imagine him having a good week.
Tolga Akdeniz: I'm really liking the look of Chris Gotterup.
Gotterup is the ultimate prototype of the modern golfer. Big, strong, and a massive hitter, he is capable of pulverising a course with his power.
He has started 2026 fantastically, winning the Sony Open and the Phoenix Open, while reaching a career-high ranking of fifth in the world back in February. He is currently sitting in 11th.
Look, he's never played the Masters before, and it is unlikely that he is going to win it on his first attempt. He is still a bit streaky, and he needs to develop his all-around game a bit more, especially if he wants to win at Augusta.
However, if he clicks and strikes the ball as well as we all know he can, he could be a threat.
Min Woo Lee is also a super fun pick. He is a superb golfer to watch. So skilful and creative, the Australian is playing the best golf of his career, with three top-10 finishes in 2026, including second at Pebble Beach. Don't rule out a charge from him.
Which big names will disappoint?
Harry Dunnett: The 2025 Masters champion, Rory McIlroy, is always one of the most talked-about players heading into Augusta. However, the Irishman is heading into a new era at the Masters after finally completing a long-awaited career Grand Slam.
McIlroy is no longer desperate to win this competition, and it was that fire to end his Augusta curse that ignited his incredible four rounds last year.
I just worry that McIlroy (totally justifiably) might not quite have the bit between his teeth this week. When you consider his form is not as strong as it was 12 months ago, you question whether this will be Rory's week.
After essentially completing golf last year, it is more than fair enough for McIlroy to bask in the glory of that triumph this year and enjoy himself - the pressure is off. Now that might see him play some of his best golf, but I think when it comes down to it, he will be a bit off the leaders' pace.
Another one of the favourites at Augusta National is Xander Schauffele. The world number 10 has returned to form after a challenging 2025 that was plagued by injury and inconsistent performances. Three top 10 finishes from his last four tournaments showcase just how strong his form is.
However, I just can't help feeling he isn't quite back to his best just yet, and we are more likely to see Schauffele contending in the majors later in the year.
It is mostly just a gut feeling; however, having watched him at The Players Championship and Valspar Championship in recent weeks, he produced some exceptional rounds but also suffered a horror Saturday at The Players, whilst having two average rounds at Valspar.
Schauffele is set for a very strong week at Augusta - I just don't think he will be in serious contention come Sunday.
Tolga Akdeniz: A few weeks ahead of the tournament, I was looking at Collin Morikawa as a big favourite to win the Masters. His putting has improved massively in 2026, and he was beginning to look like the man who won the PGA Championship in 2020 and the Open in 2021 - both on debut.
He won at Pebble Beach back in February to go alongside two other top-10 finishes, and was becoming a real factor again.
But the main issue is this back injury he is battling. He withdrew from the Players Championship after one hole, and he rocks up to Augusta with big question marks over his fitness.
"Yeah, the honest truth is I’m taking it day by day," Morikawa said.
"It’s not exactly where I want to be, and it’s unfortunate, but that’s just the body, and I can’t push it. It’s been a little bit of a mental battle, I think, just trying to trust where it’s at.
"The back actually feels fine. It’s just other parts of the body not cooperating a little bit how I want."
So perhaps it isn't brave of me to pick an injured player as someone who will underachieve, so I will give a slightly bolder one.
I also think Ludvig Aberg might disappoint a little bit. Not because I don't think he will do well. In fact, I think he will be in contention, and he has been trending in the right direction for a while.
But he has proven that he just lacks the killer instinct, and he is not quite ready to get over the line. He has been a popular pick for many to win the Masters, but I can see him perhaps fading away towards the business end of proceedings when push comes to shove.
