Scottie Scheffler has chance to conquer feat managed only by the few 

Scottie Scheffler holds his son Bennett as wife Meredith laughs during the par-3 contest at the Masters golf tournament. Pic: George Walker IV/AP

The Masters tournament has always been conducive to repeated success. 

Going back to its first champion in 1934 (Horton Smith) to its most recent winner in 2024 (Scottie Scheffler), 18 players have collected multiple green jackets accounting for 50 of the 88 Masters trophies issued.

Successful defenses, however, are more elusive. 

Only three players – Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Tiger Woods (2001-02) – have presented the green jacket to themselves in consecutive years.

World No. 1 Scheffler could move into that most exclusive fraternity if he picks this week to become the sixth player to win three Masters, joining Jimmy Demaret, Sam Snead, Gary Player, Faldo and Phil Mickelson as three-time champions.

Scheffler is approaching the opportunity with the same dismissive relevance as his did last month at the Players Championship when he arrived as the only player in that tournament’s history to win back-to-back.

“When I tee it up on Thursday, I start the tournament even par just like everybody else,” Scheffler said. “Last year doesn’t have a lot to do with this year, outside of I can go back on some of the experience that I’ve had playing well on this golf course and reflect on that.

“Let’s say I get off to a bad start on Thursday, and I can use some stuff that I’ve done here the past few years as confidence to kind of turn things around. But at the end of the day, when I step on there on Thursday, we’re at even par, and it’s a totally new golf tournament. 

"Last year means nothing.” 

Of his 13 career PGA Tour victories, Scheffler has proven capable of defending. He backed up his maiden win at the 2022 WM Phoenix Open with another there in 2023. 

He became the only player in the 50-year history of the Players to win consecutively at TPC Sawgrass in 2023 and ’24.

It both his Masters wins, Scheffler came in hot off multiple early-season victories that lifted him to the top of the OWGR when he arrived at Augusta. 

But Scheffler has yet to win in 2025, though he came close with a one-shot runner-up in his last start at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

“I would say that I feel very prepared for this golf tournament,” Scheffler said. “This is definitely the most prepared that I’ve felt all year. … “This year coming off an injury (after Christmas) was definitely a different feeling than I’ve had in the last few years. But as far as preparedness goes, this is definitely as prepared as I’ve felt going into any event this year, and I’m excited to get the tournament going.” 

While Scheffler remains the betting favorite ahead of Rory McIlroy, the door is certainly open for McIlroy and others to step through.

Conditions are expected to be ideal the remainder of the week, with relatively cool and dry forecasts allowing the course to firm up after some soaking rain on Sunday and Monday.

Among the players to watch are a contingent of LIV stars led by 2023 champion Jon Rahm, who delivered a disappointing title defense of his own last year.

“So I think it's just the sheer amount of talent in the field and people playing well. It's just hard to catch up when somebody starts strong and can keep it going strong for the rest of the tournament.

“Not my favorite major season last year, that's true … feel like I’m playing much better golf coming into this week,” Rahm said.

Whoever wins understands they’ll need to start strong to keep pace with an expanding roster of challengers in the 95-player field.

“Just the sheer amount of talent in the field and people playing well, it’s just hard to catch up when somebody starts strong and can keep it going strong for the rest of the tournament,” said Rahm.