For so long, only five golfers had ever achieved the career Grand Slam.

Yet finally, after over a decade of heartbreak, last year Rory McIlroy ended his wait not only for a fifth major title, but his first triumph at the Masters.

It did not come easy for McIlroy, who wobbled in his final round and had to edge out Justin Rose in a play-off, but he got over the line in emotional scenes at Augusta National.

But a year on since his crowning moment, McIlroy has added just one additional trophy to his collection, having won the Irish Open (a DP World Tour event).

As a kid growing up in Northern Ireland, I dreamed of winning all four majors. Being able to bring these trophies home was truly surreal. pic.twitter.com/VgG7Z5Zmph

— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) April 2, 2026

His best finish in a PGA Tour tournament since his Masters success was T2 at both the Scottish Open and the Genesis Invitational.

McIlroy's form in 2026 has been indifferent, but he has already said he is out to enjoy his return to Augusta, and perhaps the lack of pressure will aid him as he aims to take another slice of history?

World number one Scottie Scheffler is not playing up to par, but cannot be counted out, and Bryson DeChambeau is always likely to pose a threat, while veteran stars Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods will both be absent.

Here, we delve into some of the key Opta insights ahead of the season's first major.

Rory's hunt for more glory

McIlroy joined Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Woods as the only players to win the career Grand Slam. He became the first European to do so.

Now, McIlroy is out to become the first player to go back-to-back at the Masters since 2002.

Woods was the last player to achieve consecutive titles at Augusta. The only other two players to do it are Nicklaus (1965 and 1966) and Nick Faldo (1989 and 1990).

Ten of the last 11 majors have been won by American players, with the only exception being McIlroy.

But what of Rose, who came so close to ending his own Masters agony?

Rose’s second place last year was his third runner-up finish at the Masters, after 2015 and 2017.

The 45-year-old will be aiming to become the oldest winner of the Masters since Nicklaus, who was 46 when he won his 18th and final major 40 years ago, in 1986.

Only two of the last 12 Masters have been decided by a play-off – both involved Rose (he lost to Sergio Garcia in 2017 and McIlroy in 2025).

Can Scheffler correct his slide?

Scheffler is on his worst run of results in close to four years. But given just how good the 29-year-old is, then there has to be some context to his "struggles".

He is still at the top of the world rankings, despite having failed to finish in the top 10 in his last three PGA Tour appearances. However, he has not finished outside of the top 25 in 18 months.

This is the fifth Masters in a row that Scottie Scheffler will enter as the No. 1 player in the world. That ties Tiger Woods’ record set from 2000-2004 and repeated again in 2006-2010. #themasters pic.twitter.com/sxsZNsqdde

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 7, 2026

Two-time Augusta champion Scheffler is hoping to become just the third player, after Nicklaus and Woods, to win the Masters three times before turning 30.

Since the start of 2022, he has won four majors. The only other player to win multiple majors in that time is Xander Schauffele (two).

Plus, since the start of 2020, Scheffler leads all players for major wins (four) and top-10 finishes (16).

Scheffler is the only player to have recorded a top-10 finish at Augusta in each of the last four editions.

Across the four majors last year, Scheffler was 32 under par, 21 strokes better off than any other player (McIlroy, -11).

He won the PGA Championship and The Open in 2025, becoming the seventh player this century to win multiple majors in the same year, after Woods, Padraig Harrington, McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and Schauffele.

This is the fifth Masters on the spin that Scheffler heads into as world number one, which ties the record set by Woods between 2000 and 2004, and which he then repeated between 2006 and 2010.  

The other contenders

DeChambeau's last two appearances at the Masters have seen him finish T6 and T5. Previously, he had never finished inside the top 20 at Augusta.

The two-time major champion comes into the event on the back of successive wins on the LIV Golf League. 

Former world number one Koepka is out to complete a "grand slam" of the US majors. Byron Nelson and Ray Floyd are the only other players to have won the three American majors, but not The Open.

World number 10 Schauffele has finished inside the top 10 in each of the last three Masters.

Since 2017, only McIlroy (19) has recorded more top-10 finishes at majors than Schauffele (17, in 34 appearances) – he also holds the current longest streak for cuts made at majors: 15.

Cameron Young heads to Georgia as world number three. He has recorded six top-10 finishes in majors since 2022. Only Scheffler, McIlroy, DeChambeau, and Schauffele have more in that span.

However, Young holds the record for the most top-10s without a victory during this period. Entering his fifth Masters, his Augusta record stands at two top-10s and two missed cuts.

Chris Gotterup is the only multiple winner so far on the PGA Tour in 2025 – he won the Sony Open in January and the WM Phoenix Open in February.

He placed third at The Open last year, his best major finish. This will be his first appearance at the Masters.