Overview
- Practice rounds that began Monday set up the 90th Masters for April 9–12, with a finalized field of 91 players.
- Rory McIlroy returns as the defending champion seeking a rare back-to-back win after last year’s playoff that completed his career Grand Slam.
- Players and officials report Augusta National is already playing firm and fast, a setup expected to reward long hitters through the week.
- The cross‑tour battle is in focus as LIV standouts Bryson DeChambeau, who won his last two events, and Jon Rahm arrive in strong form.
- This is the first Masters since 1994 without Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson, with Woods stepping away after a March 27 DUI arrest and not guilty plea and Mickelson citing a personal health matter.