AUGUSTA, Ga. — You can learn a lot from talking with people and watching some of the game’s best players up close, especially on-site at Masters week. Who looks good? Who is grinding? There are always clues — although sometimes they don’t tell the whole story.
Take 2017, for example. I was minding my own business walking Amen Corner late Wednesday afternoon when the course is usually wonderfully quiet and empty. Most of the players have their prep work done for the week by then, while others might be playing the hit-and-giggle Par-3 Contest.
Justin Rose was scheduled for a Par-3 tee time that day, but he pulled out and instead elected for last-minute prep on Augusta’s second nine. I was surprised to see him come up on the 13th hole playing a solo round alongside his caddie. My initial thoughts? He must be searching for something, cramming so late in the day; I figured he was in trouble. Nope. He finished second, losing to Sergio Garcia in a playoff.
Ranking 10 best 2025 Masters groupings, from likely contenders to the unknown
Or, take Masters Tuesday in 2023. A 52-year-old Phil Mickelson told the media he hadn’t been scoring the way he wanted, but he had been seeing a lot of positive signs and even made one bold claim.
“I’m going to try to just be patient,” Mickelson said. “Whether it’s this week or soon — because things are about to click.”
He tied for second five days later.
So what does all of this teach us? Until the balls are in the air come Thursday, these things are impossible to predict.
But since it’s the eve of the opening day of the Masters, we asked our on-site staff to dig into their notebooks and dish on what they’ve seen on-site so far this week. Who have they talked to? What have they learned? We asked them for their last-minute favorites to win the 2025 Masters.
Masters picks: Last-minute favorites from our on-site staff
Nick Piastowski, senior editor: I’m still liking Collin Morikawa, my pick from early in the week. He’s one of the best “second-shotters” in golf, and Augusta is a second-shot course — and it could be ripe for some scoring if it rains on Friday. I also like that Nicolai Hojgaard also recently visited Butch Harmon in Vegas. And I just have a Shane Lowry feeling.
Sean Zak, senior writer: Jon Rahm is going to win this year’s Masters. He’s been lurking on LIV, playing extremely solid golf and getting no recognition for it. But his game makes so much sense here. The year of Rahm begins this week.
Josh Berhow, managing editor: I don’t know if this says anything important but it’s pretty interesting how many more shots Bryson DeChambeau hit on the range on Tuesday than the rest of the field. DeChambeau hit 393! Scottie Scheffler? He hit 62. (Check out the differences in their shot chart below.) Bryson has always been a range warrior so it’s not easy to draw any conclusions from his crazy Tuesday session, but I thought it was a fun fact. I also said earlier this week I liked Collin Morikawa’s form and he’s got a little chip on his shoulder — his Tuesday press conference an example of that — so he might be motivated. Top 10 in his last three Masters. Final pairing last year. He said on Wednesday his game feels good and he’s got a plan moving forward. I believe him. Maybe for a sleeper pick you could consider Michael Kim; his last three starts weren’t that special, but the five before were all top 13 or better and included three top-six finishes. He’s working with Sean Foley now and on Tuesday Foley raved about Kim’s improvement.
Dylan Dethier, senior writer: Xander Schauffele looks healthy. Remember Xander? The guy who’s won two of the last three majors? He’s going off at like, 20-1, compared with Scheffler at 4- or 5-1, because there have been questions about his rib, about his rust, about his recovery. And while Schauffele hasn’t been grinding on the range he seems to be moving perfectly well. I can’t promise he’ll win. But it seems more likely than not that he’ll be there on Sunday.
Alan Bastable, executive editor: I’m with Piastowski, by which I mean I’m with Morikawa, his otherworldly iron game and excellent form. Two runners-up this season and no finishes outside the top 20. He also seems to still be carrying a chip on his shoulder with the media. Chips, when channeled, can be a powerful thing.
Zephyr Melton, assistant editor: I’m not gonna overthink this one. Scottie Scheffler is going to win his third green jacket in four years. He’s a perfect fit for this course, and so long as he even has marginal success on the greens, he’s winning.
