90th Masters Primed to Be Major Challenge at Firm, Fast Augusta National

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler and past winners Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm among favorites at this year's tournament

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:33am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a golfer's swing and the Augusta National course broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color, capturing the challenging conditions expected at the 90th Masters Tournament.The firm, fast conditions at Augusta National will demand precision and course management from the deep field of players vying for the Masters title.Augusta Today

The 90th edition of the Masters Tournament is expected to provide a stern test for the 91-player field, with Augusta National Golf Club primed to play firm and fast due to dry conditions and warm temperatures. Past champions like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm are among the favorites, but two-time winner Patrick Reed believes as many as 10-12 players have a legitimate chance to win the coveted green jacket this year.

Why it matters

The Masters is the only major championship played at the same course every year, making experience and course management crucial factors. With the field deeper than ever, the challenge of conquering Augusta National's unique demands will be heightened, making this year's tournament one of the most anticipated in recent memory.

The details

Augusta National is expected to play firm and fast this week, with no rain in the forecast and temperatures reaching the mid-80s over the weekend. The dry conditions will require precision from players with all aspects of their game, as the course's undulating greens and strategic bunkering will be even more demanding. Past champions like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm are among the favorites, but two-time winner Patrick Reed believes as many as 10-12 players have a legitimate chance to win the green jacket this year, reflecting the depth of talent in the field.

  • The 90th Masters Tournament will take place April 10-13, 2026.
  • Scottie Scheffler won the 2022 and 2024 Masters.
  • Rory McIlroy won the 2025 Masters, completing the career Grand Slam.

The players

Patrick Reed

A two-time Masters champion who believes as many as 10-12 players have a legitimate chance to win this year's tournament.

Bryson DeChambeau

A former U.S. Open champion who has yet to win the Masters but hopes to be among the 10-12 players Reed believes have a real shot at the green jacket this year.

Scottie Scheffler

The defending Masters champion, having won the tournament in 2022 and 2024.

Rory McIlroy

The 2025 Masters champion, who completed the career Grand Slam with his victory last year.

Jon Rahm

The 2023 Masters champion and former world No. 1 player.

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What they’re saying

“I just feel like with how deep golf has been, especially this past year to two years, that the fields are obviously getting a lot stronger. I feel like the field this week is really strong like always. I feel like it used to be five or six, maybe seven guys.”

— Patrick Reed, Two-time Masters champion

“I hope I'm one of those 12. That would be nice.”

— Bryson DeChambeau, Professional golfer

“It's arguably maybe not the largest field in golf, but it's the strongest. There's so many great players and so many players with so much experience on this golf course, it's not quite like some of the other major championships. It seems like you get a lot of the same guys contending year in and year out.”

— Rory McIlroy, 2025 Masters champion

“The forecast looks great. It's going to get firm and fast. I would imagine they would like the greens to get fast. I think that increases the challenge of the golf course. I'm excited to see how it plays this week. We might get a little bit of wind, too. The golf course is shaping up nicely.”

— Scottie Scheffler, Defending Masters champion

What’s next

The 90th Masters Tournament will tee off on April 10, 2026, with the final round scheduled for April 13. All eyes will be on the world's top players as they compete for the coveted green jacket on Augusta National's challenging layout.

The takeaway

This year's Masters is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, with a deep and talented field of players vying for the championship. The firm and fast conditions at Augusta National will demand the utmost precision and course management, making experience a crucial factor. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, along with past winners Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, are among the favorites, but as many as 10-12 players could have a legitimate chance to don the green jacket by the end of the week.