We asked four members of the DP World Tour commentary team to make their predictions ahead of the year's first Major Championship.
There are some who say that due to being played at the same Augusta National layout every season and with a limited field, the Masters is the easiest of all the Majors to predict.
And while it is fair to say there are certain adages which are always true at Augusta, the course and the field have thrown up some big surprises over the years.
With all that in mind we decided to ask DP World Tour stars turned broadcasters Ken Brown, Jamie Spence and Anthony Wall and World Feed lead commentator Dominik Holyer for their thoughts ahead of the trip down Magnolia Lane.
Ken Brown
Favourite - Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson once famously said about Augusta National: “I’m looking at it as a par 67 for me because all the par fives I can easily reach in two."
Well he’s been in good form so far in 2026 if perhaps a little under-raced. Bryson loves a Major and has a game that is perfectly suited to the exam paper the Masters course offers: super long off the tee, high-flying, soft-landing irons and holes out well. Hopefully he won’t waste too much energy on the practice ground. With just two of his par scores of 67, he’ll be the man to beat this year.
Dark Horse - Min Woo Lee
I had breakfast with Min Woo before his first round as a pro in Abu Dhabi, since then I’ve kept an interested eye on the easily likeable Australian.
With all the power he needs in the locker and the ability to flight and shape the ball well with irons combined with a level head - these are some of the most important ingredients you need to be a Master. Since changing to cross-handed on the greens a few years ago, his putting looks much more sound.
If he can hole out well from inside six feet, he’ll be in with a shout.
Top rookie - Harry Hall
Winning the Masters the first time has proven to be very difficult, there is so much you need to learn about playing the course and how to manage yourself and your play.
On Tuesday’s practice round at the Genesis Scottish Open last year I walked nine holes with Harry. We had a great chat and what most impressed me was his confidence, how eager he was to improve. He’d spoken to Sir Nick Faldo and spent time with top coach Butch Harmon and others to pick their brains to listen and learn.
Yes he can putt! With a very natural style, an amazing touch, he expects to hole it, one of the best.
Wouldn’t it be a Cinderella story if the boy who started playing at West Cornwall Golf Club came home with a Green Jacket?
Anthony Wall
Favourites - Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler
Has to be Rory or Scottie. Both slightly out of form in regards to how strong their games are. Augusta seems to suit the same guys year in, year out because the game plan here never changes. The stronger player seems to be always well positioned to challenge.
Dark Horse - Patrick Reed
I just wonder if our Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed still has something left in the tank when it comes to Major wins having won before. He will be keen to extend his lead on the Race to Dubai.
Top rookie - Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
Has so much ability and his love for the big occasion and the history of the game just might inspire him to a top-five performance this week.
Jamie Spence
Favourite - Ludvig Åberg
Second in 2024 and bang in there last year going into back nine before drifting off to seventh spot. This is his third Masters and the World Number 17 is bang in form with three top fives in his last three events. The man is class!
Dark Horse - Chris Gotterup
Playing with Ludvig first two days and Jon Rahm - what a grouping! Making his debut and he’s a four-time winner on the PGA TOUR. Third in The Open and a winner at the Genesis Scottish Open last year, I see no reason why the World Number 11 would not continue to surprise.
Rookie - Marco Penge
The phenom from last year's DP World Tour is last off on Thursday, which isn’t ideal having to hang around all day. However I can’t wait to see how Marco takes on Augusta! He is long and he draws it and he is a brilliant putter. What could go wrong? Obviously it’s a tall order but dreams do come true, this is his biggest - good luck Marco.
Dominic Holyer
Favourite - Justin Rose
This is a tough call with so many of the world’s top players in form (rumours of Scottie Scheffler’s demise are greatly exaggerated). After much thought, research and analysis... I’m going to go with my heart and say Justin Rose to finally get the “W” at Augusta National. His record in the Masters is excellent and few people have more experience here than JR. Ideally, I see another Rory vs Rosey play off. This time the Englishman comes out on top and is handed the Green Jacket by his Ryder Cup team-mate.
Dark Horse - Patrick Reed
Does a former champion count as a dark horse? If so, I’ll go with Patrick Reed. The 2018 champ has had a magical start to the season on the DP World Tour, was third at last year’s Masters and has all the skills you need to get around Augusta National - although, he will definitely need a good driving week to contend. Sungjae Im is another to watch. The Korean has a decent record at Augusta National: second in 2020 (albeit in a November edition of the Masters) and, like Reed, shot under par in all four rounds last year to finish T5. He was well placed to win recently at the Valspar but had a poor Sunday.
Top rookie - Chris Gotterup
There’s a lot of rookie talent to keep an eye out for this year. It’ll be fascinating to see how Marco Penge, with his prodigious length, gets on and I’ll also be keeping a close eye on two DP World Tour winners this year in Casey Jarvis and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen. However, I reckon the rookie most deserving of attention is Chris Gotterup. Last year’s Genesis Scottish Open champion has had a blistering start to the PGA TOUR season, winning twice, and was top 20 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational as well. To me he is a “finisher” and let’s not forget he’s the World Number 11.
