The 2024 iteration of the fabled Masters tournament is drawing ever closer with sports fans seemingly undecided as to which star names will lift the permanent Masters Trophy and of course don the always prestigious green jacket that has since been claimed by several legendary names throughout history.
There are very few sporting events that draw in the major level of fan fare and wide broadcasting attention that the Masters so often provides on a yearly basis.
It is the first of the four official major tournaments that are scattered across the golfing schedule, with many fans often proclaiming that this event is arguably the most coveted and widely entertaining out any other golf outing.
The 2024 Masters are set to get underway later this year on the 11th of April at the Augusta National Golf Course located in the state of Georgia with the event often drawing around 40,000 patrons every year who eagerly watch in anticipation as to which next golfing star will take home a green jacket and place their name firmly into the tournament’s iconic folklore.
Heading into the 2024 Masters, there are several competitors who are expected to rank amongst the top contenders to claim the tournament’s many prestigious prizes with fans already speculating as to which names will meet or even succeed their lofty expectations, and which names will ultimately disappoint and perhaps be the centerpiece of a potential upset defeat.
These are the top contenders to keep a watchful eye on throughout the Masters tournament who could be set to enjoy a successful outcome at the event’s conclusion:
Scottie Scheffler
According to the latest Masters odds on DraftKings, the 2022 champion Scottie Scheffler is expected to enter the 2024 event as the quintessential favorite with a rather lobsided +450 projected outright winner.
At just 27 years of age, the American starlet has already claimed a major title which came in his aforementioned 2022 Masters winning tournament where he dethroned Rory McIlroy by three strokes and a score of 10 under par.
Scheffler would finish as joint runner-up in the 2023 PGA Championship alongside Viktor Hovland as they were bested on a nine under par showing by fellow American star Brooks Koepka who is also a viable contender for this year’s Masters.
Scheffler’s 2024 has so far been a great success as he has won both The Players Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational which has left many fans and bookmakers labelling the American as the top contender to win his second Masters in just three years.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy has enjoyed one of the most successful careers out any other star names of his generation as he is a four-time winner of the majors which includes two PGA Championship wins (2012, 2014), the 2011 U.S. Open and of course his showing at The Open Championship in 2014.
Alongside his major and individual awards, which includes several player of the year accolades, there remains one major honor that has forever eluded the Northern Irish sensation, which of course is that he is yet to claim a green jacket.
McIlroy is entering the 2024 Masters at +1000 outrights meaning that he is still a major contender to end his Masters title drought and to finally put the finishing touches on a hall of fame worthy career.
In 2022, McIlroy finished as runner-up to the formally mentioned Scottie Scheffler which currently remains his best ever finish at the Masters during his entire career.
With all the palpable amount of hype that surrounds the always devastating McIlroy heading into the event, many fans are now pondering as to whether this can finally be the year when the 34-year-old can exorcise his prior demons and walks home with that much awaited green jacket.
Jon Rahm
While the likes of McIlroy and Scheffler may be the preferred or safe picks for a potential title outcome, fans should also be skeptical of the impact that can certainly be showcased by last year’s winner Jon Rahm who is looking to be the first player since Tiger Woods to win back-to-back Masters tournaments, which came way back in 2001 and 2002.
The Spaniard has remained one of the top names in the golfing scene following his showings at the 2023 Masters and of course his prior major tournament performances that included his U.S. Open winning campaign back in 2021.
The former world number one is aiming to claim even greater plaudits by winning a second consecutive Masters tournament which would put him in elite company as only three other golfers across the competition’s entire history have completed this remarkable feat.
Other noteworthy contenders include Jordan Spieth (+1800), Will Zalatoris (+1800), Viktor Hovland (+2000) and Brooks Koepka (+2000).
Golf fans will have their own personal preference as to which names they strongly believe will claim a green jacket following the 2024 Masters event, with this year’s tournament sure to bring about some truly outstanding golfing action that could certainly produce several surprising outcomes.
