Masters Elite: Introducing the top ten golfers playing at Augusta National

Almost impossible task: Win the Masters. Next hardest: Ranking the top ten golfers playing at Augusta this week. With so many former winners and top players, it's a frustrating exercise in splitting hairs. We did it anyway.

The roar of the crowd echoes through the Georgia pines as the Masters Tournament begins again. This year, Augusta National welcomes a field full of talent, both familiar faces and rising stars. With a green jacket and golf immortality, the competition is fierce. But which of these competitors is ahead? We dive into the action and rank the top ten golfers vying for Masters glory in 2024.

The Challenge of Augusta National

Augusta National Golf Club is a respected name in the golf world. Each year, the Masters tournament brings together the ten best golfers in the world to compete on a golf course unlike any other. While the beauty of the golf course is undeniable with its iconic Amen Corner and blooming azaleas, Augusta National is notorious for its difficulty. Uneven surfaces, difficult winds and lightning-fast greens require maximum precision and strategic course management. Even the most experienced professional golfers will be tested by Augusta's unforgiving layout, making it a true test of skill and mental fortitude.

Ranking criteria for our top 10 golfers

It's an annoying argument that's better suited to friends at the bar than here because it's somewhat subjective. We decided to make the question less about “Who has the best chance of winning” and more about “Who ARE the top 10 golfers by skill level who fit here?” I think we did it. If you would like information on all other golfers, please check out Ryan's Player Guide. He goes well beyond the top 10 golfers.

The ten best golfers playing at the Masters

1. Scottie Scheffler – I don’t think that’s controversial. If he's not at the top of your rankings, your rankings are bad

2. Jon Rahm – It is more difficult to defend since he went to LIV, but he is the defending champion here and has shown many times in recent years that he can be called the best golfer in the world.

3. Xander Schuffele – Not many trophies in the trophy case, but his numbers have been breathtaking this season. It was difficult to rank him better than Rory from a “career success” perspective, but he's playing better golf at the moment and deserves this spot.

4. Rory McIlroy – It's been a decade since he won a major, but he's always there. His stats on tour this year haven't been up to his standards, but he's still one of the few guys who can win this year.

5. Brooks Koepka – A five-time major champion who almost won this tournament last year. There is perhaps an argument that it should be higher in all circumstances.

6. Wyndham Clark – What some thought was a bit unconventional may have turned out to be more of an indicator of the future. He played some good golf last year after his victory at the US Open.

7. Viktor Hovland – Not as in shape as he probably hoped, but still one of the best tee-to-green players in the world.

8. Joaquin Niemann – Another LIV golfer who will be hard to judge next to the PGA players he no longer competes with week in and week out, but still someone who has won on both the Tour and the DP World Tour and LIV has.

9. Hideki Matsuyama – a former champion here playing great golf on the way to Augusta. A little plagued by injuries, he is in danger of adding another jacket to his wardrobe when he is fully healthy.

10. Will Zalatoris – Injuries have derailed 2023 a bit, but he's still a guy who has consistently been one of the best players in the majors over the past few years.

Wild cards and dark horses

Some big names like Ludvig Aberg, Patrick Cantlay, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Max Homa narrowly miss out on the top ten. It was difficult to keep him on the list of top 10 golfers.