Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are the two favorites to win The Masters next week.
Scheffler and McIlroy certainly haven’t been at their scintillating best on the PGA Tour in 2026, with just one victory between them so far.
However, April is when the best players in the world usually begin to really warm up.
Scheffler has won The Masters twice before while McIlroy finally got the job done at Augusta National last year after a thrilling playoff victory over Justin Rose.
However, McIlroy having skipped three tournaments before The Masters could well be a big mistake.
The same goes for Scheffler, although it’s a very different scenario for the world number one as he didn’t have a choice with his wife, Meredith, giving birth.
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy must break 12-year Masters trend
Despite their lack of action, the world number one and two are still being heavily backed to win the first major championship of the year.
Augusta National is a golf course that suits both of their games perfectly.
However, Scheffler and McIlroy will have to break a 12-year trend if either of them are to get their hands on another green jacket this year.
Since 2015, every Masters champion has played at least once in the two weeks leading up to the tournament at Augusta National.
Interestingly, Scheffler and McIlroy are not the only big names who will not be playing for three weeks or more in the build-up to The Masters.
Out of the favorites to win The Masters, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Cam Young, Justin Rose and Patrick Reed will not have played for a minimum of three weeks by the time they tee it up at Augusta National next week.
The last player to win The Masters having not played in the previous two tournaments was Bubba Watson way back in 2014.
Scheffler and McIlroy swimming against the tide ahead of The Masters
Scheffler had obviously planned to play at the Texas Children’s Houston Open but he withdrew because of the expected arrival of his second child.
Meanwhile, McIlroy has chosen not to play since The Players Championship earlier this month.
Who knows, perhaps the two best players in the world will be refreshed and raring to go at Augusta National now due to the extra time off they have both enjoyed.
That said, the fact that nobody has won at Augusta National since 2014 having not played in one of the two tournaments before The Masters really is very telling indeed.
Entering the tournament with a good rhythm and flow is clearly very important.
Scheffler and McIlroy will have to flip the script this year if either of them are to win The Masters.
