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A look at the leading Australian and international contenders at the 2020 Masters.
AUSTRALIANS AND TOP INTERNATIONAL CONTENDERS AT THE MASTERS
ADAM SCOTT (Aus)
Age: 40
World Ranking: 15
Worldwide wins: 31
Best in a Major: Win (2013 Masters)
Masters Played: 18 (16 cuts made)
Best Masters: Win (2013)
Why he can win: Scott is the only Australian to own a green jacket after his breakthrough win in 2013. Won on the PGA Tour prior to the pandemic break.
Why he might not: Scott has played little golf this year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and catching the virus recently himself. He'll need to be at his best around the greens.
JASON DAY (Aus)
Age: 34
World Ranking: 41
Worldwide wins: 13
Best in a Major: Win (2015 PGA Championship)
Masters Played: 9 (8 cuts made)
Best Masters: T2 (2011)
Why he can win: Has proven he can play well at Augusta with three top-5 Masters finishes and was a co-leader through 36 holes in 2019. Finished T7 last week in Houston.
Why he might not: At any given moment Day's troublesome back can cause major issues and take him out of the running.
CAMERON SMITH (Aus)
Age: 27
World Ranking: 45
Worldwide wins: 4
Best in a Major: T4 (2015 US Open)
Masters Played: 3 (3 cuts made)
Best Masters: T5 (2018)
Why he can win: Stormed home at Augusta in 2018 to jump into the top-5. Loves to put his best foot forward on the big stage.
Why he might not: Prior to a recent Top-10 in LA, Smith hadn't got near contending since his win at the Sony Open in Hawaii in early January.
MARC LEISHMAN (Aus)
Age: 37
World Ranking: 26
Worldwide wins: 6
Best in a Major: T2 (2015 Open Championship)
Masters Played: 7 (4 cuts made).
Best Masters: T4 (2013)
Why he can win: Proved he has what it takes in 2013 by storming to the first-round lead and holding on for 4th. He had another top-10 in 2018 and won on the PGA Tour back in February.
Why he might not: Has been in dreadful form since returning after the pandemic break.
LUKAS MICHEL (Aus)
Age: 26
World Ranking: 1440
Worldwide wins: 0
Best in a Major: On debut
Masters Played: On debut.
Best Masters: On debut.
Why he can win: As an amateur, in his first trip to Augusta, the 2019 Mid-Amateur champion would need a miracle to claim a green jacket. The West Australian will be aiming to become the low amateur.
Why he might not: No amateur has won the Masters and an amateur golfer hasn't won a major since 1933.
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU (USA)
Country: USA
Age: 27
World Ranking: 6
Worldwide wins: 8
Best in a Major: Win (2020 US Open)
Masters Played: 3 (3 cuts made)
Best Masters: T21 (2016)
Why he can win: Is hitting the ball a country mile and comes off a dominant six-shot win at the US Open. DeChambeau has the capacity to break golf if he produces another long and accurate display.
Why he might not: Expectation is a tough burden. As the prohibitive favourite, DeChambeau has to keep a level head if things don't go his way.
RORY McILROY (NIR)
Age: 31
World Ranking: 5
Worldwide wins: 26
Best in a Major: 4 Wins (2011 US Open, 2012, 2014 PGA Championship; 2014 British Open)
Masters Played: 11 (10 cuts made)
Best Masters: 4 (2015)
Why he can win: Five of his 11 starts have finished with a top-10 result at Augusta National and he stands to complete the career grand slam with a victory.
Why he might not: The pressure of claiming the career grand slam gets bigger every year. Hasn't won a major since 2014.
BROOKS KOEPKA (USA)
Age: 30
World Ranking: 12
Worldwide wins: 9
Best in a Major: Win (2017 US Open, 2018 US Open, 2018 PGA, 2019 PGA)
Masters Played: 4 (4 cuts made)
Best Masters: T2 (2019)
Why he can win: Has four majors already and was runner-up at the Masters in 2019 and recently in contention at the 2020 PGA with a round to play.
Why he might not: Knee and hip problems have plagued Koepka over the last 18 months. If they flare up again he could struggle.
JON RAHM (ESP)
Age: 26
World Ranking: 2
Worldwide wins: 11
Best in a Major: T3 (2019 US Open)
Masters Played: 3 (3 cuts made)
Best Masters: 4 (2018)
Why he can win: Heavy contender in his last two Masters starts and has only become better since, including a stint at world no.1. Went close to winning his last start in Los Angeles.
Why he might not: Rahm has shown he can channel and use his emotions to his advantage, but with wet conditions his patience will be tested.
TIGER WOODS (USA)
Age: 44
World Ranking: 33
Worldwide wins: 95
Best in a Major: 15 Wins (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019 Masters; 2000, 2002, 2008 US Open; 2000, 2005, 2006 British Opens; 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007 PGA Championship)
Masters Played: 22 (21 cuts made)
Best Masters: Won (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019)
Why he can win: Never write off a champion. Plenty did and then he won the 2019 Masters to break a long major drought. The all-time best winner on the PGA Tour.
Why he might not: His back continues to trouble him and if it becomes a slog, Woods might struggle to get enough distance.
DUSTIN JOHNSON (USA)
Age: 36
World Ranking: 1
Worldwide wins: 24
Best in a Major: Win (2016 US Open)
Masters Played: 10 (8 cuts made)
Best Masters: T2 (2019)
Why he can win: The world No.1 comes in off a FedExCup-winning season and a near victory at the Houston Open last week. Was runner-up at his last Masters.
Why he might not: When it rains stairs become slippery. Johnson has no weakness except perhaps the chance of a freak accident like a few years back when he slipped down some stairs pre-tournament.
