Who Are the Favorites to Win the 2023 Masters? Scheffler, McIlroy, Rahm Make List

• Scottie Scheffler won the 2022 Masters to capture his first major title
• Rory McIlroy came close to completing a career Grand Slam last year
• Jon Rahm finished in the top 10 in four of his last six Masters starts

The world’s top golfers will head to Augusta, Georgia, this week for the 2023 staging of the Masters.

A cool $15 million is at stake for the 88-man field, with the champion grabbing the $2.7 million top prize and the coveted green jacket.

Sports Brief looks at who could capture the first major championship of the year.

Here are the three biggest contenders to win the 2023 Masters.

1. Scottie Scheffler

It’s Scottie Scheffler’s world and we are all just living in it. The American cemented his place atop the world golf rankings with a stunning victory at the Players Championship last month.

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He made five consecutive birdies in the final round to win the tournament by five strokes, per Associated Press.

Scheffler has been on fire to start the year, posting top-seven finishes in five of his seven starts, including victories at the Players Championship and the WM Phoenix Open.

He will look to make it three wins this year when he tees off at Augusta National this week. The world no. 1 will fancy his chances of doing just that as he has fared exceptionally well in this event in the past.

Scheffler has finished in the top 20 at Augusta in the past three seasons, including a victory here last year. With the form that he is in right now and his experience with this demanding golf course, expect him to contend this week at the Masters.

2. Rory McIlroy

Can the 33-year-old finally complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters this week? That is the question on everyone’s lips heading into the year’s opening major.

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McIlroy’s getting closer to achieving that ultimate goal, finding the top 5 in two of his last three starts at Augusta National. He finished second last year, shooting a seven-under-par total of 281.

3. Jon Rahm

Rahm would want nothing more than to win the green jacket this week. He loves playing at Augusta National, recording four top-10s in six starts.

An argument can be made that Rahm has played better than the reigning Masters champion in the past months, with the Spaniard having five worldwide victories since November.

Masters traditions

Sports Brief recently reported on the traditions of the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club.

The champion takes home the green jacket, which he returns to the club a year after his triumph.

He also gets to set the menu for the Champions Dinner, which brings the winners under one roof.