(4/8/25)

In golf, careers are defined by major championships won. Being in the exclusive fraternity of green jackets separates major champions from the others. For every player teeing it up at Augusta next month, winning the green jacket is life-changing. For some players, especially those who haven’t won The Masters or a major championship, being in Butler Cabin on Sunday would mean more than someone who’s been there, done that. However, someone who has been there, done that, could make history and put themselves in rare air. Here are some players who would benefit from winning The Masters, more than the rest of the field.

Rory McIlroy

Unequivocally, no one would benefit from a Masters triumph more than Rory McIlroy. McIlroy was nine holes away in 2011 from having his first major championship come at The Masters. What transpired was a back nine all too familiar to those who came so close, yet so far. After a final round 80, McIlroy stormed back that June to easily win the U.S. Open and claim his first of four major championships. McIlroy has had some close calls, recently in the 2022 Open Championship and the 2024 U.S. Open. McIlroy has won three of the four majors. However, his last major victory came in the 2014 PGA Championship. Most golfers don’t get the opportunity to play in that many majors, let alone be one of the top players in the world for that amount of time. McIlroy’s career is very successful, and if he were to end his career with four majors, it would, on the surface, seem disappointing due to his quick success in his career. However, staying one of the top five players in the world for a decade and a half, at least, is a phenomenal feat.

Another phenomenal feat is the career grand slam. Only five players have won the career grand slam: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. Five of the finest players this game has ever seen have accomplished the game’s ultimate quest. McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, and Jordan Spieth are the only three active players who have won three of the four majors, with Spieth and Mickelson each winning The Masters. McIlroy can etch his name into history and become the most accomplished player of the post-Tiger generation, should he complete the career grand slam. The weight of trying to overcome the demons of the 2011 Masters, 2022 Open Championship, 2024 U.S. Open, and trying to complete the career gram slam, while being possibly the biggest name in the game, is heavier than any weight the other players in the field carry.

Collin Morikawa

Collin Morikawa has won two major championships but hasn’t won since the 2021 Open Championship. His record at The Masters is very impressive. In the Covid-Delayed 2020 Masters, Morikawa made the cut and finished T-44, in 2021 he finished T-18, 2022, he was solo fifth, 2023, he was T-10, and last year claimed T-3. In the other 2024 majors, he had a T-4 finish in the PGA Championship, T-14 at the U.S. Open, and T-16 in The Open.

This would also thrust Morikawa into a new level of golf status. It would be his third major championship (2020 PGA Championship, 2021 Open Championship), and he’d be one U.S. Open victory away from completing the career grand slam. At 28, Morikawa has a long runway to pick off more majors and continue to put himself in contention. It would be surprising if Morikawa were to end his career with only two majors given his age and being a top-five player in the world for most of his career. However, going through a long drought of no majors won could bring the same pressure from the media and fans as Rory McIlroy is dealing with. With the combination of a great track record at Augusta plus a great major season last year, Morikawa could be in contention for the green jacket.

Bryson DeChambeau

The man who once said Augusta was a par 67 for him is still searching for his first green jacket. Bryson DeChambeau is golf’s greatest showman, and it was on full display at Pinehurst #2 last year, when he won his second U.S. Open. DeChambeau on top of his U.S. Open Championship, finished solo second at the PGA Championship. He finished one shot behind Xander Schauffele, who needed to birdie the 72nd hole to win his first major. In the Masters, DeChambeau had his best showing with a T-6 finish.

DeChambeau has played Augusta National solid, but nothing too special until last year. He missed the cut in 2022 and 2023, and before that, his best finish was a T-21 in 2016 when he also took home low amateur honors. DeChambeau has an opportunity to hold two of the four major titles at once and win his third major championship. Separating himself from the two-time major champions would go a long way for DeChambeau’s legacy on the course. It’s still a hell of an accomplishment to be a major champion and a multi-time major champion. Getting to three would separate him from some of the two-timers who might not have the credentials as the three-plus major champs.

According to Data Golf, DeChambeau lost 0.18 strokes around the green, and that’s not a winning formula at Augusta. If he gains 0.50 strokes around the green, maintains his 0.49 strokes gained putting from 2024, and is accurate off the tee, that formula would get the scientist on the first page of the leaderboard again, and possibly a green lab coat.

Justin Thomas

Here’s another two-time major winner, that could solidify his status as one of the top players in this generation of players with a green jacket. JT has won a dozen times on the PGA Tour, has a Players Championship, three Ryder Cup and President’s Cup team appearances, won the FedEx Cup, and has two PGA Championship titles. Until recently, Thomas has played the Masters very well. He’s missed the cut in his last two starts, but in 2022 finished T-8, and in 2020 finished solo fourth, his best finish at the Masters.

There’s no question that when Thomas is humming, his game is up there with the best in the world. The problem has been he’s had a very up-and-down career. He’s been a great addition to Team USA in the Ryder and President’s Cups, he’s had many moments of greatness, but it seems like he gets on a roll, then a slump. Then back on a roll before sinking back into a slump. In 2023, Thomas failed to be in the top 70 in the FedEx Cup Standings, shockingly missing the PGA Tour’s postseason. In the last two years, Thomas has missed the cut in majors five times.

This season, JT has been a man on a mission. He finished solo second at The American Express and Valspar Championship. Thomas has two more top 10s in the WM Phoenix Open where he was T-6 and The Genesis where he was T-9. His worst finish this season is T-48 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Thomas has been superb with his approach shots, gaining at least 0.60 strokes on the field in all but one start this season, according to Data Golf. His putting has been a key contributor to his success in 2025. Accuracy off the tee is the Achilles heel for JT, but if he finds the fairway early and often, this could be the year Justin Thomas puts himself in the next echelon of golf.

Brooks Koepka

Brooks Koepka plays golf to win majors, and he’s not afraid to tell you so. The five-time major champion has the most major titles of this generation, and the green jacket has eluded Koepka. In 2023, Brooks finished T-2, in 2020 he had a T-7 finish, and in 2019 he was one shot short of Tiger Woods for another T-2. Koepka has struggled in majors since his 2023 triumph a the PGA Championship. He finished T-17 at the 2023 U.S. Open, but hasn’t finished better than that. While he has made the cut at every major since the 2022 Open Championship, it’s surprising Koepka hasn’t had a better finish.

Major championships are what define golfer’s careers. PGA Tour or LIV Golf victories feel good in the moment, but other than Tiger’s 82 PGA Tour victories, that stat is faceless. Koepka is correct to put all his resources and energy into the majors, and it’s worked for him. His three PGA Championships and two U.S. Open’s, were extremely impressive. Winning the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Open’s and the 2018 and 2019 PGA Championships. That’s a Tiger Woods-esque run of golf. Koepka has had some injuries that left him unsure if he would return to the major championship-winning Brooks Koepka the golf world was used to seeing. The 2023 PGA Championship was a reminder to the golf world that Brooks still has his fastball.

Being the most successful player in majors for a generation is hard to do. It means you’re probably one of the all-time greats of the game. A sixth major championship would tie Brooks with Phil Mickelson, Lee Trevino, and Nick Faldo. Koepka would also be one Open Championship away from completing the career grand slam. He would also get to at least seven major championships should he complete the career grand slam and thrust himself into even more rare air.

Koepka finished second at LIV Singapore, and T-7 at LIV Adelaide this year. He’s shown the capability of putting together some good rounds of golf, but can he do it at Augusta, where he’s been the bridesmaid twice before? Only time will tell.

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