The Masters 2024: Steve Palmer's guide for all 89 players in the Augusta National field

When does the Masters start?

1.30pm on Thursday

Where to watch the Masters

Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 2pm on Thursday

Steve Palmer's guide to the 2024 Masters field

Ludvig Aberg

Swedish sensation making Major debut. The former world number one amateur has won on the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour, as well as being a Ryder Cup winner. All class, but debutants typically struggle.

Byeong Hun An

Former prodigy appears to have ball-striking back to something close to his best, consistently banking healthy cheques. Abysmal Majors record, weak putter, PGA Tour maiden. Can sneak through to the weekend.

Akshay Bhatia

Last man into the field, earning Augusta debut by winning the Texas Open on Sunday. Injured shoulder celebrating key putt. A 22-year-old rising star who needs time to develop.

Keegan Bradley

Ryder Cup reject has failed to post a top-20 finish in seven previous Masters starts. US PGA champion in 2011, but chances of further Major success in late 30s seem remote.

Sam Burns

Five-time PGA Tour champion aged 27, but form dipped sharply on Florida Swing last time out and a first Major top-ten finish seems unlikely. Augusta results of MC-29.

Patrick Cantlay

Cocksure Californian, 2021 FedEx Cup winner, eager for Major breakthrough. Three top-20s in last five Masters starts. Winless since August, 2022, but illness was largely to blame for him squandering a five-shot lead at Riviera in February.

Wyndham Clark

US Open champion. Has transformed himself into a mentally strong Major contender. Suffered with tight back early in week at Houston Open last time out. Masters debut aged 30.

Eric Cole

PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, still waiting for maiden victory. Early-season sparkle has disappeared, but accurate iron-play and strong short-game mean he should sneak the right side of cut-line on Augusta debut.

Corey Conners

Canadian greens-in-regulation machine enjoyed Masters form figures of 10-8-6 before missing the cut last year. Has found decent form in time to get his name on the Augusta leaderboard again, but probably lacks the touch and temperament to earn a Green Jacket.

Fred Couples

Old Boom Boom lines up at the age of 64, despite a sore back. Making 39th Masters appearance. The 1992 champion. Made cut last year, but missed the four prior to that.

Cameron Davis

Sweet-swinging Aussie finished 46th in only previous Masters. Something similar seems likely. Talented but prone to meltdowns.

Jason Day

Former world number one and 2015 US PGA champion. Three top-fives at Augusta. Relatively healthy in comparison to recent Masters starts and capable of making an impact.

Bryson DeChambeau

US Open champion in 2020 and still a serious threat in Major competition. Zero top-20s in seven Masters starts, but playing superbly, comfortable in his equipment for the first time in a while, and ready to do himself justice. 

Santiago de la Fuente

Mexican amateur. Latin America Amateur champion. A 22-year-old making Major debut. World No. 27 amateur.

Nick Dunlap

Giant 20-year-old who turned pro after winning The American Express in January. Masters debut. Missed cut in last two US Opens. Bright in Houston last time out.

Austin Eckroat

Cognizant Classic champion, making Masters debut. Tied tenth in US Open last year. One of many strong debutants this year looking to become first since Fuzzy Zoeller (1979) to win at Augusta on maiden visit.

Harris English

Georgia man had been playing well until last week’s missed cut in Texas. Four-time PGA Tour champion. Mediocre Masters record, but has become regular contender in the US Open.

Tony Finau

Power-packed Utah man tied second in Houston last time out, showcasing his ball-striking class, but abysmal putting cost him dear. Has three top-tens on Augusta record, but seems unlikely contender given flat-stick woes.

Matt Fitzpatrick

Steady but unspectacular Masters record. US Open champion last year. Augusta does not play to strengths. Tied tenth in Texas on Sunday. Expect an unthreatening top-20 finish. Caddie Billy Foster returns from a week off.

Tommy Fleetwood

One of many Masters hopefuls who switched tactics this year and competed the week before. Has lost some confidence in his driving, but seventh place on his TPC San Antonio debut last week was encouraging. Three of last six Masters spins have resulted in a top-20. Caddie Ian Finnis has been struggling with illness.

Rickie Fowler has lost self-belief in recent monthsCredit: Christian Petersen

Rickie Fowler

Comeback campaign yielded victory in the Rocket Mortgage Classic last season, but 2024 has been terrible, with no top-30 finishes. The 2018 Masters runner-up has arrived this time lacking self-belief and may be the biggest name to miss the cut.

Ryan Fox

Kiwi slugger has been hacking it around on the PGA Tour this season. Tied 26th on Masters debut last year. Has never posted a top-ten in a Major.

Sergio Garcia

Masters champion in 2017. Has missed four cuts in five Augusta starts since claiming a Green Jacket and been generally awful in Major competition. New putter worked well last week in LIV Miami, where he lost a playoff to Dean Burmester.

Lucas Glover

Veteran enjoyed a golden summer last year, winning twice on the PGA Tour, but he has been lacking sparkle this season. US Open champion in 2009, but has made no impact in nine Masters starts.

Emiliano Grillo

Masters form figures of 17-51-62. Sixth place in last year’s Open was his Majors personal-best. Has been quietly impressive this season. Should make cut without contending.

Adam Hadwin

Mediocre Masters results of 36-24-MC. One top-ten finish in 22 Major starts. Four top-six finishes in last ten PGA Tour starts, so in solid nick, but Augusta not a natural fit for him.

Stewart Hagestad

Experienced 33-year-old amateur from California. Has won the US 

Mid-Amateur title three times. Masters form of 36-MC. Augusta knowledge and recent form make him a candidate for top amateur.

Brian Harman

Open champion has decided playing the week before Majors gives him the best chance of success. Iron-play has been excellent of late. In-form Georgia man can post a top-20 finish in his home state.

Tyrrell Hatton

LIV defector has not made much impact since joining the breakaway circuit. Dismal finish in Miami on Sunday saw him drop from first to a share of fourth. Appalling Masters record for player of his stature (MC-44-56-MC-18-52-34).

Russell Henley

Georgia man who is a four-time PGA Tour champion. Tidy Masters record commands attention (31-21-11-15-30-4 from last six starts). Has been in excellent nick. Well worth backing for a top-20 finish.

Ryo Hisatsune

Japanese gained promotion from DP World Tour to PGA Tour at the end of last season. Has settled well. Fast learner. Comfortable overseas. French Open champion. Major debut. Tailed off in Texas over weekend.

Lee Hodges

Masters debutant aged 28, who made PGA Tour breakthrough last summer. Major results of MC-55-MC. Tidy recent form until missed cut in Texas last week.

Nicolai Hojgaard

Dazzling Dane with big future. Well suited to Augusta, but making first visit. Made Ryder Cup debut last year. Has made the cut in his last three Majors. Good enough to make an immediate Masters impact.

Max Homa

Six-time PGA Tour champion with dismal Majors record. Miserable Masters form of MC-MC-48-43. More assured than ever these days, though, and typically excellent iron-play should make this late bloomer a Jacket threat.

Viktor Hovland

FedEx Cup champion and Ryder Cup star, but made peculiar decision to switch to a new coach in the close-season, and results have suffered. Has been well short of his best all year. Augusta form figures of 32-21-27-7, but would be a surprise contender this time.

Sungjae Im

South Korean ace who started 2024 impressively in Hawaii, but has been mediocre since. Made amazing Augusta debut when finishing second in 2020 (the November Masters). Eighth and 16th the last two years, but probably not playing well enough to contend this time.

Stephan Jaeger

German made his PGA Tour breakthrough in the Houston Open the week before last, aged 34, booking a Masters debut. Has never bettered 34th place in a Major.

Dustin Johnson

Former world number one and the 2020 Augusta champion (the November Masters). Has also excelled among the azaleas in April, a runner-up finish in 2019 being one of seven top-20s in this event. Must be respected, but a Sunday 74 for 24th place in LIV Miami was off-putting.

Zach Johnson

Two-time Major champion who won the Masters in the miserable weather of 2007. Playing career winding down aged 48. Failed as American Ryder Cup captain last year. Has missed cut in half of his last eight Masters.

Si Woo Kim

Enigmatic South Korean who won the Players Championship at Sawgrass aged 21. Has made the cut in his last six Masters, but is yet to post a top-ten finish in a Major. Playing well, so maybe this is the moment.

Tom Kim

South Korean youngster was overhyped on the Full Swing Netflix documentary, then got sacked by his caddie Joe Skovron, who jumped bags to Ludvig Aberg. Kim has been generally abysmal this year. Tied 16th on Masters debut 12 months ago, but making cut would be an achievement in current malaise.

Chris Kirk

Georgia-based 38-year-old who won a sixth PGA Tour title in The Sentry in January. Humdrum Masters results of 20-33-MC-23. Has missed the cut in 11 of his 24 Majors.

Kurt Kitayama

Californian 31-year-old making second Masters start, having missed cut 12 months ago. Made PGA Tour breakthrough in Arnold Palmer Invitational last season and finished fourth in the US PGA.

Jake Knapp

Late bloomer won maiden PGA Tour title aged 29 in Mexico Open in February. Missed cut in 2015 US Open in his only previous Major. Good enough to make cut on debut.

Brooks Koepka

Major menace who has won more of them than any other player of his generation. Fifth Major triumph came in last year’s US PGA. Has twice finished runner-up at Augusta, including 12 months ago. Obvious Green Jacket threat, but switch to a mallet-headed putter last week in Miami hinted at putting panic, and he finished 45th of 54 in that event.

Brooks Koepka celebrates winning his fifth Major at the 2023 US PGA ChampionshipCredit: Scott Taetsch/PGA of America

Christo Lamprecht

Giant 23-year-old South African amateur based in Georgia. A star at Georgia Tech. Masters debut. Finished low amateur on Open debut last year (tied 74th) and will have high hopes of doing likewise at Augusta.

Min Woo Lee

Gifted Australian youngster with the potential to become a multiple Major champion. Tied 14th on Masters debut in 2022, then missed cut last year, before fifth place in the US Open. Worth considering at juicy prices.

Luke List

Two-time PGA Tour champion. Masters results of 33-MC. Sixth place in 2019 US PGA is only Major top-30 finish. Dismal Florida Swing does not indicate much hope of Green Jacket joy.

Shane Lowry

Open champion in 2019, having finished US Open runner-up in 2016. Appears to have cracked the Augusta code, with results of 25-21-3-16 over the last four years, and solid recent form makes the Irishman of outright interest.

Peter Malnati

Ever-smiling 36-year-old won his second PGA Tour title last month, nine years after his first. Masters debut. Never made a cut in a Major.

Hideki Matsuyama

Masters champion in 2021 one of eight top-20s at Augusta. Typically superb iron-play counts for so much at this venue. Sunday 62 meant victory at Riviera in February. Tied seventh in Texas last week. Huge dangerman if notoriously brittle body stays in shape for 72 holes.

Denny McCarthy

Masterful putter has been generally ragged from tee to green this year, but raised his game in the Texas Open last week, losing a playoff. Fatted wedge into water to surrender Texas title to Akshay Bhatia – a typical mental failure from the PGA Tour maiden. Little can be expected on debut.

Rory McIlroy

Four-time Major champion seeking to complete career Grand Slam of Majors. This is the tenth time he has arrived at the Cathedral of Pines looking for the final leg of the Slam. Has gone 34 Majors without winning one. Immense psychological challenge. Arrived at Augusta in great form last year and missed the cut.

Adrian Meronk

LIV defector making second Masters start. Missed cut on debut last year. Four-time DP World Tour champion, but would be a shock Major winner.

Phil Mickelson

Augusta legend who finished low amateur on his debut in 1991, going on to win three Masters titles. Sixth Major victory in the 2021 US PGA, aged 50. Tied second at Augusta last year but may have no more rabbits to pull out of the hat. He finished 47th of 54 in LIV Miami last week.

Taylor Moore

Texan 30-year-old making second Masters start, having tied 39th on debut 12 months ago. Solid all-rounder can make cut without contending.

Collin Morikawa

Two-time Major champion who can typically be relied upon for precise iron-play – the key to Augusta success but recent efforts in that department have been poor. Masters form figures of 44-18-5-10 can be bolstered this week, but needs to tighten up his approaches and improve on the greens.

Grayson Murray

Former hothead who has calmed down aged 30, winning second PGA Tour title in January. Masters debut. Zero top-20s in Majors. Wildly inconsistent.

Joaquin Niemann

Special invite after hugely impressive start to the LIV Golf season. Chilean has won twice on the LIV circuit, following victory in the Australian Open in December and fourth spot in the Dubai Desert Classic in January. Bursting with form and confidence. Progressive Masters results of 40-35-16, but has zero top-tens in Majors from 19 starts.

Jose Maria Olazabal

Veteran Spaniard going to post at the grand old age of 58. Two-time Masters champion. Has missed the cut in 11 of his last 14 Masters. Ceremonial golfer.

Thorbjorn Olesen

Eight-time DP World Tour champion. PGA Tour maiden. Masters results of 6-44-21. Recent Stateside outings have been poor, but a share of 14th spot in Texas on Sunday was encouraging. May struggle to maintain Augusta cut streak.

Matthieu Pavon

Frenchman making enormous career strides, having made DP World Tour breakthrough in October, before shedding PGA Tour maiden tag in a high-class Farmers Insurance Open in January. Masters debut, aged 31.

JT Poston

Georgia-based 30-year-old Carolinian making third Masters start (MC-34). Has never finished in the top 30 in a Major. Having a solid campaign, so may set a Major personal-best.

Jon Rahm

LIV defector has not played the week before the Masters since 2017, but he was in action last week in LIV Golf Miami, finishing fourth. Yet to win on LIV circuit, often folding meekly in the closing stages of events. Defending champion has been talking a good game, but seems unlikely to retain his crown.

Patrick Reed

Masters champion in 2018, outplaying Rory McIlroy in the final twoball. Reed has been a top-ten finisher in four of the last six Masters, but form on the LIV circuit has been shaky this year, so less likely to make an impact this time.

Justin Rose

Popular Englishman came close to Masters glory in 2017 when beaten by Sergio Garcia in a playoff. Rose tied second in 2015 and has six top-tens on his Augusta record. Proven at the venue, but badly lacking form and confidence.

Xander Schauffele

Consistent Majors performer, with 11 top-tens from 26 starts, including three at Augusta. Tied second in the 2019 Masters and third in 2021. Strongly contended at Sawgrass last month, but has been working on swing changes with new coach Chris Como and may need more time to bed in technique before Major breakthrough arrives.

Xander Schauffele (left) and Rory McIlroy are both searching for a Masters breakthroughCredit: Mike Mulholland

Scottie Scheffler

Undisputed world number one and emphatic Masters favourite. Peerless ball-striking has been married to more consistent putting over the last month. Barring injury or illness, he seems almost certain to contend for a second Masters title this week. Augusta form figures of 19-18-1-10. Temperament and course-management unrivalled in modern game. Almost impossible to find negatives over his Green Jacket hopes.

Adam Schenk

PGA Tour maiden aged 32. One-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour. Masters debutant. Has missed the cut in his last three Majors. Solid recent form, including fifth place in Texas Open last week, suggests he can make weekend this time.

Charl Schwartzel

Masters champion in 2011 and third in 2017, but far less effective in his late-30s, struggling to make an impact on the LIV circuit. Tailed off in LIV Miami last week. Has become a generally awful putter.

Adam Scott

Former world number one has shown glimpses of his best over the last year and should not be dismissed at the age of 43. Masters champion in 2013, having tied second in 2011. Has made 14 consecutive Augusta cuts. Tied 14th in Texas on Sunday. Lively outsider.

Neal Shipley

A 23-year-old amateur from Ohio State living the dream. World number 37 amateur. Runner-up effort in US Amateur secured ticket to Augusta, where he has already played more than 100 holes in practice.

Vijay Singh

Evergreen Fijian veteran who still has a spring in his step aged 61. A 34-time PGA Tour champion. Masters victor in 2000, but has not made the Augusta cut since 2018.

Cameron Smith

The 2022 Open champion has eyecatching Masters results of 55-5-51-2-10-3-34, but lacklustre LIV Golf form makes the Aussie difficult to fancy this time. Almost two years as a LIV player seems to have dented competitive edge. Withdrew after one round of LIV Miami last week with food poisoning.

Jordan Spieth

Texan ace has enjoyed a long love affair with Augusta, seemingly able to contend for the Green Jacket no matter what his form coming into the Masters. Making 11th Augusta start this week, aged 30, having shown some timely form in San Antonio last week. Masters results of 2-1-2-11-3-21-46-3-MC-4 speak for themselves. Obvious runner.

Sepp Straka

Georgia-based Austrian who was on the triumphant European Ryder Cup team last year. Steady Masters form of 30-46, seventh in last year’s US PGA and second in the Open. Lacking 2024 form and putter has been cold, but has shown recent signs of getting back to ball-striking best and looks the most appealing outsider in the field.

Jasper Stubbs

Asia-Pacific Amateur champion, a shock victory which came when he was the 476th-ranked amateur in the world. The 21-year-old Aussie looks like a lamb to the slaughter.

Nick Taylor

Underrated Canadian who won his national Open last year, then the Phoenix Open in February. Former world number one amateur and four-time PGA Tour champion. Tied 29th in only previous Masters (November, 2020). Turns 36 on Sunday. Can make cut without contending.

Sahith Theegala

Swashbuckling Californian who made a barnstorming Masters debut last year, finishing ninth, before enjoying his PGA Tour breakthrough five months later. Has the game to thrive at Augusta and recent form has been impressive. Great each-way investment.

Justin Thomas

Two-time US PGA champion who has regularly excelled from tee to green at Augusta, before suffering on the greens. Best Masters result came in the 2020 November edition (fourth place). Has been putting abysmally. Parted company with long-time caddie Jim Mackay last week. Difficult to fancy.

Erik van Rooyen

Increasingly self-assured South African. Failed to make cut in previous two Masters and has missed cut in last six Majors but his second PGA Tour title came in November and weekend golf seems likely this time.

Camilo Villegas

Colombian veteran claimed a fifth PGA Tour title in November, nine years after his previous success. This is his first Masters since missing the cut in 2015. Another missed cut seems likely given a trying 2024 campaign to date.

Bubba Watson

Dual Masters champion, but last victory was in 2014 and recent Augusta performances have been underwhelming. An injury-prone 45-year-old struggling to make an impact on the LIV circuit.

Mike Weir

Canadian left-hander making 25th Augusta appearance aged 53. The 2003 champion has missed the cut in 11 of his last 13 Masters.

Danny Willett

The 36-year-old Englishman, who has been recovering from shoulder surgery, is set to make his first start since last year’s BMW PGA Championship in September. The 2016 Masters champion has missed five cuts in his seven Augusta starts since claiming the Jacket and another seems almost certain if he makes it to post.

Gary Woodland

US Open champion in 2019 his last PGA Tour victory. The 39-year-old is attempting to get his career back on track after brain surgery. It is difficult to see a poor Masters record improving this week.

Tiger Woods

Five-time Masters champion and 15-time Major winner. The best player of his generation. His 2019 Augusta triumph was arguably the greatest comeback story in sporting history. Has not missed a Masters cut since 1996. Can battle through to the weekend again aged 48, but contending is surely beyond his ailing body.

Cameron Young

PGA Tour maiden who has finished runner-up seven times, most recently in the Valspar Championship last month. Masters results of MC-7. Four top-eight finishes in last seven Majors. A sensible top-20 investment, but an ambitious outright one.

Will Zalatoris

Popular Californian who has finished second and sixth in his two previous Masters. Six top-eight finishes in his last nine Majors. Has made strong comeback from injury this year. Poor at Sawgrass and in Houston in last two starts, though, and difficult to trust with putter.

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