As we transfer into autumn, the countdown has already begun for the 2025 US Masters, with speak already rife in regards to the runners and riders. So, which golfers are among the many bookies’ favourites, who might be a darkish horse this yr and may anybody cease the reigning champion Scottie Scheffler?
The principle challengers
The 2025 US Masters will happen on 7-13 April on the Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership in Georgia. The early betting has already begun, with a flurry of flutters already made on Scottie Scheffler. Unsurprisingly, Scheffler, who triumphed final yr with a four-shot victory and who has held the primary rating for greater than 100 weeks, is the favorite at this stage.
With operators providing several types of free bets for the competitors already, we are able to count on to see loads of stakes on the opposite frontrunners over the approaching months. In any case, whereas Scheffler is 5-1 with most bookmakers for the win and evens for a top-five end, he is just one of a bunch of contenders for the Masters Trophy.
First amongst his challengers are Ludvig Åberg and Jon Rahm. The Swedish Åberg has had a stellar two years since turning skilled, hovering as excessive as fourth on this planet rankings, serving to Europe to win the Ryder Cup and ending runner-up to Scheffler on this yr’s US Masters occasion. Rahm received the 2023 trophy, and the Spaniard will certainly be seeking to reclaim his crown regardless of his shocking fall to 14th within the rankings.
Loads of pretenders
Different challengers embrace Xander Schauffele, who’s at present second within the rankings, although admittedly a long way behind Scheffler, and has claimed each the PGA Championship and the Open Championship. US golfers Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark and Bryson DeChambeau may additionally fancy their possibilities on residence soil, with People having dominated the trophy since its inception. Other than Europe and the US, as quantity seven on this planet, Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama can also be among the many favourites after claiming prime spot in 2021.
The bookies are refusing to rule out Rory McIlroy both. The Irishman could have had a well-publicised failure on the US Open, however he stays among the finest golfers on this planet and can absolutely be seeking to lastly snag that main after a 10-year drought. After all, some punters may fancy a darkish horse with lengthy odds who may sneak a win, a lot because the Brit Danny Willett did in 2016, when he went from odds of 50-1 to turn out to be the primary European champion in 17 years.
Nonetheless forward of the sector
Let’s not overlook Scottie Scheffler himself, in fact. Along with his two Masters championships, Scheffler has a complete of 17 skilled tour wins and has been on prime of the rankings since March 2022. He stays fallible, nevertheless, and is but to win any of the opposite majors in his profession up to now. Regardless of this, he’s nonetheless the one probably to say the well-known trophy this time round too.
All of that may change within the subsequent few months, in fact. In golf, maybe greater than every other sport, kind, temperament and mentality are simply as important as means and bodily health, and as everyone knows, they will swing from one excessive to the opposite in a blink of a watch. One factor is for sure, nevertheless: as we get nearer to the motion and pleasure builds, it will likely be fascinating to see who else emerges as a contender for the crown.