The Masters - storylines to follow: Rory McIlroy's title bid, Scottie Scheffler's form, English hopes at Augusta and more

Can Rory McIlroy successfully defend his title at The Masters? Will Scottie Scheffler bounce back from his blip and can an Englishman challenge for victory at Augusta National? We take a look at five storylines to follow ahead of the opening major of the year...

McIlroy returns as a Grand Slam champion

It's rare for Rory McIlroy to feel new experiences heading into a tournament but it's something he's fully relishing this week, as he makes his first major at Augusta National as a Grand Slam winner.

McIlroy's lifetime exemption at The Masters is confirmed after last year's dramatic play-off win, ending an 11-year wait for the elusive fifth major and giving him extra privileges at this year's contest.

• The Masters LIVE! Latest build-up and headlines
• When is The Masters live on Sky? Key TV times
• Who has qualified for The Masters? Full 2026 field
• Get Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract

The Northern Irishman has embraced the spectator role at the Augusta National Women's Amateur and the Drive Chip and Putt National Finals over the weekend, appearing at both in his Green Jacket ahead of him hosting the Champions Dinner for the first time on Tuesday evening.

McIlroy will have the opportunity to join other exclusive clubs with a successful title defence, which hasn't been achieved since Tiger Woods did it in 2002, while another win would see him equal Sir Nick Faldo's tally of six major titles.

Form and fitness have been question marks for McIlroy heading into the tournament, having withdrawn mid-event at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month and failed to contend at The Players, but the world No 2 remains among the favourites.

While the pressure to complete the career Grand Slam and conquer his golfing Everest has been achieved, the golfing world will want to keep seeing McIlroy contending for more major success. Don't rule it out again this week.

Scheffler on the slide ahead of major season?

It seems ludicrous to suggest a player who hasn't finished outside the top 25 of a tournament in 18 months is 'out of form', although Scheffler's failure to contend in recent starts has been a far cry from his traditional dominant best.

The world No 1 heads into this week having failed to post a top-10 finish in his last three PGA Tour appearances, his worst run of results in nearly four years, although he remains the pre-tournament favourite to win his fifth major in as many seasons.

Scheffler's drop-off has predominantly come from his iron play - a key attribute around Augusta National - as he currently sits 80th on the PGA Tour for strokes gained approach and outside the top 130 for proximity to the hole.

"He [Scheffler] seems to be a little frustrated on the course every now and then, which is a side of him we didn't see [in recent season]," Butch Harmon said ahead of The Masters. "But he's still Scottie Scheffler and he's a phenomenal competitor.

"Whether he has his A game, his B game, his C game, it doesn't matter; he gives you 110 per cent. I think if you're looking for the automatic favourites, it is probably going to be Rory [McIlroy] and Scottie."

Only eight players in history have won The Masters on three or more occasions. Despite his recent dip, it would be no surprise to see Scheffler - who became a father for the second time last month - add to that tally.

A new English winner of the Green Jacket?

This year's edition marks the 10th anniversary of Danny Willett capitalising on a back-nine collapse from Jordan Spieth to join Faldo as the only English winner of The Masters.

Willett returns among an eight-strong contingent of Englishmen in this week's field, with Justin Rose looking to go one better than last year's runner-up finish and claim an elusive second major title.

Rose is already a winner on the PGA Tour this season at the Farmers Insurance Open and has an impressive record at Augusta National, with former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick also impressing with his Valspar Championship victory last month.

"He [Rose] just took Torrey Pines - a very hard golf course - apart and won easily," Harmon added. "He has gained some distance with his driver, he's playing with a tremendous amount of confidence and he has a good track record here. I think if you're looking for someone other than the two favourites, that's who I would say."

FedExCup champion Tommy Fleetwood has four top-10s in his last five starts and has previously finished tied-third at The Masters, while Harry Hall and Marco Penge are among the debutants looking to become the first-time winner since Fuzzy Zoeller.

Tyrrell Hatton and Aaron Rai complete the English line-up and will both be looking to become the first player to make The Masters their maiden major title since Scheffler's dominant win in 2022.

England won the football World Cup in 1966, while Faldo's last Masters win came in 1996 before Willett's win in 2016. Could another year ending in six bring another English champion?

DeChambeau ready to challenge as Rahm looks for more

DeChambeau arrives with back-to-back wins in his last two LIV Golf League starts and believes his game is in a 'great place' to challenge for a maiden Masters win, 12 months after missing out to McIlroy.

The two-time US Open champion has posted top-10 finishes in six of his last eight majors and has been no worse than sixth in his last two starts at Augusta National, with DeChambeau backed by many to avenge last year's disappointing Sunday.

"Look, his game suits it there [Augusta National] and he hits the ball a long way," Harmon said about DeChambeau. "He's a tremendous competitor. He putts well. When you look at guys going to Augusta, you look at who's hot coming in there, and obviously he is.

"The scores he's shot on LIV have been really low to win. People say, 'well, the competition isn't the same', but a win's a win. The more you win, the more confidence you have."

DeChambeau only trails Jon Rahm in this season's LIV Golf League individual standings and is among 10 players from the circuit involved this week, with Rahm feeling confident of contending for a third major title.

"I'm really happy with all parts of my game," Rahm insisted on Monday. "I've been playing really good golf, the swing feels great, physically I feel good and mentally I feel really good. At that point, it just becomes execution."

New era with Woods and Mickelson absent

The last time The Masters was held without either Phil Mickelson or Woods in the field, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player were both still competing and Scheffler wasn't even born.

Jose Maria Olazabal's 1994 victory was the last time both were absent, with Woods unavailable after 'stepping away' from golf - following last month's car crash - and Mickelson missing due to a 'personal health matter' in his family.

Woods had been targeting a first competitive start since July 2024 but withdrew shortly after his car crash on March 27, the second successive year he's missing from The Masters, with the 15-time major champion unable to attend as McIlroy host the Champions Dinner for the first time.

"Unfortunately, there'll be a couple of guys that won't be in that room, which is a shame," Mcllroy added. "I want to make sure that they're acknowledged as well - they've been two of the greatest champions that The Masters has ever seen."

Although two of golf's greats will not be part of this week's field, a world-class line-up will still be gathered for the opening major of the year. Excitement is building and this year's champion seems harder to predict than ever.

Who will win The Masters? Watch the opening major of the year exclusively live from April 9-12 on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the first round begins on Thursday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: The Masters - storylines to follow: Rory McIlroy's title bid, Scottie Scheffler's form, English hopes at Augusta and more