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Forget Your Zodiac Sign, I Want to Know Who Won The Masters the Year You Were Born
Published: Wednesday, January 29, 2025
by Chacey Cox
We’re less than 70 days away from the biggest PGA golf event of the year: The Masters. Unless you’ve lived under a rock since you came out of the womb, you know the prestige and excitement surrounding Augusta in April. If you’re a less-than-casual golf viewer, or have not kept up with golf since Tiger Woods was killing it, you might not know what to expect surrounding the coveted green jacket. Here’s a brief rundown of some key players to watch for:
Scottie Scheffler - The obvious choice. Scottie is two green jackets down with no signs of stopping. Sitting as the top golfer in the world, he’s won a gold medal in the Olympics and was last year’s Masters champion, but he’s also suffered a hand injury. Keep watch for how he bounces back.
Colin Morikawa - Colin Morikawa has not stopped trying to prove his place in the PGA since he turned pro in 2019. With two majors under his belt, this golfer is looking to claim a third in the 2025 Masters. Morikawa has made 103 cuts out of the 122 pro tournaments he’s played in. Young and energetic, Morikawa is a crowd favorite who has made a significant name for himself.
Rory McIlroy - The McIlroy lore runs deep. Third in the world, this four-time major champion from Ireland wants to earn a green jacket. Tied for 22nd in 2024 and failing to make the cut in 2023, McIlroy wants to complete his career grand slam and solidify his place as a golf legend.
Brooks Koepka - Whether you had opinions on LIV Golf or not, Brooks Koepka was going to show that he was not a golfer to forget. Koepka has five majors and held the lead with an iron fist in the 2023 Masters, until he was finally overtaken by John Rahm in the final round. Kopeka has proved time and time again he wants to cement himself as a force to be reckoned with.
Hideki Matsuyama - Matsuyama was the victor of the 2021 Masters tournament. In his 13 Augusta appearances, he has only missed the cut once and tends to play well on the course. He’s someone you can count on to have a solid game this season.
Xander Schauffle - Schauffle has been hot, especially since winning his first major. With new confidence and status as second in the world, Schauffle will be interesting to watch as he fights for his next major.
Bryson DeChambeau - Winner of the 2024 U.S. Open, Bryson DeChambeau holds two majors and is an incredible candidate for the green jacket this year. At 6 foot 1 and 235lbs, this unit of a golfer averages 330 yards in driving distance and has a history of playing well at Augusta National. Don’t discount DeChambeau this year.
Ludvig Åberg - If there’s been someone to watch recently, it’s Ludvig Åberg. An absolute blast to watch, Åberg finished a thrilling second to Scottie Scheffler in the 2024 Masters. The Swede recently turned pro in 2023, and solidified himself a spot on the European team for the Ryder Cup that same year. He also played for Sweden in the 2024 Olympic Games. The 25-year-old could truly enhance his career with a green jacket in 2025.
Sungjae Im - If you love a comeback story, you will love watching Sunjae Im. Im is finding his swing again after a couple mediocre years. In 2020 he tied for second in the Masters, and will be one to watch in his sixth Masters appearance. This young golfer avoids using “#4” golf balls because, in South Korea, the number is considered unlucky and resembles the word for "death" in pronunciation.
John Rahm - The 2023 Masters Champion, John Rahm will be a golfer to watch. The Spaniard is definitely looking to redeem himself from 2024 where he tied for 45th. Finishing in a tie for fifth, Rahm showed his desire for another big win at the Olympics, and will surely be showing the same energy at the Masters.
These men could be your top 10, or Scottie Scheffler could miss the cut. That’s the deal with golf. Even when you’re hot, you’re playing an intense mental game, and Augusta National will psychologically break you in every way it can. Some amateurs may come and take the lead for two days, or a young pro might break through, and that’s the beauty of golf. It is hard, challenging, and changes day to day, course to course, shot to shot. When you’re watching the 2025 Masters Tournament, just remember: there’s always a lot of golf left to play.
Chacey Cox can be reached at chacey.cox@student.shu.edu.Posted in: sports,