Well, what a Masters that was. No question about it—Rory deserved the win. The best player walked away with the Green Jacket. We were all braced for a final-round slugfest between McIlroy and DeChambeau, especially with how spicy the first few holes were. But it never quite turned into the fireworks show we hoped for.
That said, I still can’t get my head around Bryson hitting a three-iron off the third tee. He had the momentum, the crowd was buzzing and then he pulls out that club? Strange call. For me, that was the turning point. Rory settled, took a breath, and started to look like a man in control again.
A few commentators piled on about Bryson’s iron play being “shocking.” Bit much, if you ask me. Sure, he was a little off, but people forget just how brutal Augusta is. You can hit a shot that’s literally a few feet off perfect and still end up staring at a double. That’s Augusta all over. Precision isn’t a bonus there—it’s everything. If any part of your game’s not sharp — Augusta will find it, highlight it, and then put your brain on high alert. Miss a couple of early fairways, yank a few putts, fail to get up and down a few times—and suddenly you’re on the world’s prettiest rollercoaster, and it only goes one way.
READ HERE: WHY MCILROY IS MOVING BACK TO THE UK
The damp conditions definitely helped the big hitters, but one of the great subplots was watching Langer and Couples try to battle through the cut. Two old Masters champions, still swinging, still thinking their way around the course. Langer playing his final one, and Couples rocking a full set of hybrids like he’s just there to prove a point. Local knowledge and shot-making over brute force—it was a joy to watch.
Shame they both missed the weekend, but every time I see Langer I have to smile. I played with him in Zambia at his very first pro tournament. He was 17, carded rounds in the high 80s, low 90s, and he was sat in the corner of the locker room looking like the world had ended. I told him, “Don’t worry, lad. It only gets better from here.” And it did. Who knew he’d go on to win two Green Jackets and become one of the most respected players the game’s ever seen? What a career.
Back to Rory—his win has reignited the buzz around him. The hype train is very much back on track, and you can feel it across the game. Loads of us think this might be the push he needed to add more Majors to the trophy cabinet. He’s heading to Quail Hollow for the PGA Championship full of confidence and with a cracking track record there. Hard not to see him as the man to beat.
McIlroy’s Closest Challengers
Could he hold all four Majors at the same time and match Tiger? It’s a big ask—but not impossible. The main challengers? Five names stand out: Scheffler, Schauffele, DeChambeau, Thomas and Koepka
Scheffler is the biggest threat, but he’s still working his way back after that bizarre injury over Christmas. A bit of broken glass, of all things, kept him out for weeks, and it was more serious than people realised. He’s just starting to look like his old self again. Schauffele’s another who’s been dealing with injuries, but with two Majors last season, you can’t count him out. Bryson? He’s got the firepower but needs to get over his Augusta hang-ups. JT is finding his groove again—right in time for the next Major and you can’t ignore Brooks, who has won the PGA three times in the last seven years!.
What makes this era so exciting is the depth. The so-called mid-tier on Tour right now is stacked with talent. These lads know how to score, and they’re fearless. Ludvig Åberg is the perfect example—barely on the radar two years ago, and now he’s right in the mix. Expect a few more like him to pop up this season.
That said, you still can’t ignore experience—just look at Justin Rose. His final round at Augusta was pure class. He nearly holed his approach in the play-off, and honestly, if a few things had gone his way, he could’ve been the one in that jacket. Which brings me to a little bugbear: sudden-death play-offs in Majors.
For a regular Tour event? Fine. But to decide a Major like that feels a little out of place. The US Open used to do a full 18-hole play-off the next day. Bit much these days, sure. But The Open gets it right with their four-hole format. Yes, TV wants a neat ending, but a Major should be something more than just a quick wrap-up. Give it the stage it deserves.
But for now, Rory’s got the jacket, the game looks better than ever, and we’re all strapped in for what could be one of the most exciting seasons in years.
