BHATIA, Akshay

• Masters form: 35
• Scoring average: 73.50

Finished a promising 35th on debut just a week after winning play-off for his second PGA Tour title. Whether you believe the success of Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson and Mike Weir reveals something about left-handers at Augusta or not, certainly up to contending for this at some stage and has been pleasingly solid throughout 2025, and better than that (third) at Sawgrass before missed cut in Texas Open defence. Ryder Cup firmly on the radar now and majors should be, too.

BRADLEY, Keegan

• Masters form: 27-54-MC-22-52-43-23-22
• Scoring average: 73.10

Heart-on-sleeve sort who captains the US Ryder Cup side despite objectively being good enough to play on it. Some irony there and will be a sad tale if he finishes seventh in qualifying and feels obliged to leave himself out. Eight starts at Augusta without cracking the top 20 but does at least seem to have got to grips with the greens now, and arguably never better despite it being 14 years since he won his major.

BURNS, Sam

• Masters form: MC-29-MC
• Scoring average: 73.88

Has managed to play for the USA in the last three team events despite stagnating somewhat and most disappointing so far in 2025. Approach play is often key to winning the Masters and it's his weakness, so record of MC-29-MC not entirely surprising and the sole decent effort came about thanks to better work in that area. Needs a lot more even if he does light up the greens quite often and addition of Texas Open (MC) to schedule tells you he doesn't feel ready. Opened with a round of 80 last year.

CABRERA, Angel

• Masters form: 18-7-32-2-MC-22-24-MC-MC-MC
• Scoring average: 73.06

Back after six years away having since spent a lot of time in prison for 'assaulting, threatening and harassing' his former partner, one of several women to have made similar accusations. Fred Ridley, the Augusta chairman, said they'd be delighted to welcome him back once he's 'able to straighten out those legal issues', which might be the most Augusta National thing ever spoken. For legal issues, read crimes committed and sentences received. Opened 82 last time he was free to play here, and closed 83 the time before that.

CAMPBELL, Brian

• Masters form: Debut
• Scoring average: n/a

If you were to ask me to name three short-hitting drivers named Brian, I wouldn't go Harman, Gay... I'd go Davis, Stuard, Campbell. Plodders. This one seems sure to struggle as those others have around Augusta, having already used his magic beans when winning in Mexico.

CAMPOS, Rafael

• Masters form: Debut
• Scoring average: n/a

Popular and emotional winner of the Bermuda Championship, which clearly shouldn't come with an Augusta invite but still, we're all glad it did this time. His reaction said it all: "Don’t shit me. Stop talking to me because I’ll start crying. Golly, man. What the heck? Cam, Cam did you hear that? We’re going…" to Augusta National. Fabulous stuff, even for just two days.

CANTER, Laurie

• Masters form: Debut
• Scoring average: n/a

Late-blooming flusher who has won two DP World Tour titles since returning from LIV Golf. One of the best drivers of a ball in this field but lack of experience would be a concern along with short-game, albeit much improved in that department. Definitely has the ability to make his mark in majors but next month's PGA feels more likely.

CANTLAY, Patrick

• Masters form: 47-MC-9-17-MC-39-14-22
• Scoring average: 72.46

Dour operator and the forgotten man of the 2019 Masters having briefly hit the front on the last great Augusta Sunday. Since then has appeared on the leaderboard at some stage in four of five subsequent visits, never quite able to properly contend except for in 2023 when winning was still always somehow out of reach. Reason for close but not close enough is that since we got hold of strokes-gained data for the Masters, he's yet to putt anything like well enough. Do like how he's hitting the ball though and remain one of the faithful few in broader terms.

CLARK, Wyndham

• Masters form: MC
• Scoring average: 75.50

Shot 73-78 on a pretty disastrous Masters debut last year. Has shown up several times since without often putting four rounds together and ball-striking hadn't been where it was around the time of his slightly surprising US Open win in 2023, until he produced a much more rounded display when fifth in Houston. That suggests neck issue has gone away and will be a big price on pedigree.

CONNERS, Corey

• Masters form: MC-46-10-8-6-MC-35
• Scoring average: 72.13

Silky fairways-and-greens merchant whose two PGA Tour wins to date have both come in the Texas Open on the eve of the Masters. Has been able to go again here at Augusta where, ever since responding to an opening 80 with a fine second-round 69 on debut while still an amateur, he's looked very comfortable. Top 25 at halfway in five of seven appearances and twice in the last four has been top-five in strokes-gained tee-to-green. Trouble is he's one man in this field who could leave a downhill four-footer short of the hole.

COUPLES, Fred

• Masters form: 20-MC-18-38-MC-MC-MC-MC-50-MC
• Scoring average: 74.50

Jay-from-the-Inbetweeners vibes persist having promised Cam Young a Ryder Cup place (didn't happen in the end) and more recently declared that Brooks Koepka wants out of LIV, which is more likely to be accurate but is still probably best left unsaid. Bit better on the Champions Tour lately but is 65 years old for goodness sake.

DAVIS, Cameron

• Masters form: 46-12
• Scoring average: 73.63

Like Conners has won twice on the PGA Tour in the same event, in his case the low-key Rocket Mortgage Classic. Flashes of top-class form include a top-five finish in the 2023 US PGA and followed a decent Masters debut with 12th last year, hanging around inside the top six or seven for most of the week. One of the most volatile players in the field but long-game has looked all at sea lately.

DAY, Jason

• Masters form: 20-28-10-22-20-5-MC-MC-39-30
• Scoring average: 72.39

Perennial Masters contender in his early days here (went 2-WD-3 before the above sequence begins) and his blend of sky-high ball-flight and brilliant short-game is a nice one for this. Will need his approach play to fire but has been largely good this year and news that he's reunited with former coach and mentor Col Swatton has to go down as encouraging. Only real failures here came during barren spell and last two years have offered yet more Masters promise. Malbon beneath a Green Jacket? Wouldn't rule it out, and if anything his PLAYERS withdrawal is just like old times (had stomach bug, played OK in Houston on return).

DECHAMBEAU, Bryson

• Masters form: 21-38-29-34-46-MC-MC-6
• Scoring average: 72.75

Led after rounds one and two last year and put on a real show as he typically does, before going on to hit one of the best shots we've ever seen in the scenario to break some hearts in the US Open. That's twice he's set the early Masters target which will be of note to some and has now shown that, while those 'par for me is 67' comments were stupid, he can compete here despite some approach play and around-the-green shortcomings. That said nine of his last 10 rounds at Augusta have been over par and I'd stick to the view that those slight weaknesses are real problems when it comes to this golf course.