The 2025 Masters Tournament has concluded, and it certainly lived up to expectations.
After a dramatic final round, Rory McIlroy secured a birdie on the first playoff hole, defeating Justin Rose and achieving a career Grand Slam. Patrick Reed finished third, Scottie Scheffler fourth, and Sungjae Im and Bryson DeChambeau tied for fifth, rounding out the top contenders.
What implications does this victory hold for McIlroy`s season going forward? Who else performed exceptionally well? And who are the frontrunners for the remaining major championships, starting with the PGA Championship in mid-May?
Here are some of the most significant questions arising from the Masters as we look ahead to the rest of the 2025 golf season.
Where does Rory go from here for the rest of the year?
Mark Schlabach: After such a long wait to finally wear the green jacket and complete the career Grand Slam, ending over a decade without a major victory, one has to wonder if this win will truly unleash Rory`s full potential.
McIlroy has consistently been among the most gifted and accomplished golfers of his era, boasting over 50 victories worldwide and holding the No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking for more than 100 weeks throughout his career.
His major drought since the 2014 PGA Championship might have been the only thing preventing him from being universally recognized among the absolute legends like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tiger Woods.
Now, McIlroy no longer carries the immense pressure of completing the Grand Slam, especially returning to Augusta National each year.
`Today was challenging,` McIlroy admitted after Sunday`s round. `I was incredibly nervous this morning, particularly on the first tee, as evidenced by the double bogey. But as I mentioned, that somehow calmed me down, and I was able to recover and demonstrate the resilience I`ve often spoken about.`
`It was a significant burden to carry, and thankfully, I no longer have to. It liberates me, knowing I`ll be back here every year, which is wonderful.`
Paolo Uggetti: Before any questions were posed at McIlroy`s post-round press conference, he addressed the media with a smile, asking, `What will we discuss next year?`
Rest assured, Rory, the conversation has already shifted to how many more majors he might add to his tally, not just throughout his career but within this year itself. However, playing devil`s advocate, I wonder how McIlroy will manage to come down from the elation of this victory.
McIlroy`s reaction on the 18th green Sunday vividly illustrated the weight lifted off his shoulders. While it`s true he is now liberated to pursue more major titles, the nature of golf is such that he essentially starts anew at the next tournament.
McIlroy has been exceptionally dedicated to his process during this 11-year major drought, especially in recent years, to consistently give himself opportunities. Now, if he aims to further increase his PGA Tour wins and major championships, it will be intriguing to see how his drive evolves and if it remains as intense.
The positive aspect? Currently, no one is playing better golf, and the upcoming major venues this year — Quail Hollow (where he has won four times), Oakmont, and Royal Portrush (his home course) — seem to favor his strengths.
Other than Rory winning, what`s your biggest takeaway from the Masters this year?
Schlabach: World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler wasn`t at his absolute best at Augusta National last week, yet he still managed a solo fourth-place finish at 8 under par. Scheffler`s iron play was slightly below his usual world-class standard, and he struggled to build momentum until a Sunday 69 briefly put him in contention when McIlroy faltered on the back nine.
Scheffler hit 62% of greens in regulation and 71% of fairways throughout the tournament. Among players who made the cut, he ranked 26th in strokes gained: approach (.630) and 58th in strokes gained: off the tee (-.110).
`I believe this was a week where I could have easily become frustrated with my play or swing, or events on the course, not hitting the ball where I aimed,` Scheffler commented. `But I`m proud of how we persevered and competed. … Mentally, I believe this was my strongest performance all year, even if my game wasn`t quite there.`
Scheffler was aiming to join Nicklaus as the only golfers to win three green jackets in a four-year span.
It will be interesting to see if McIlroy can challenge Scheffler for the world No. 1 ranking this season. Scheffler was undeniably the top player in 2024, but he is yet to secure a win this year. Rory is on track to replicate Scheffler`s success from last year, already with victories at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Players Championship, and the Masters.
Uggetti: Despite the division in the golf world, major championships remain incredibly compelling. Four times a year, the best golfers from all tours compete against each other, bringing with them a wealth of narratives.
As time has passed since the inception of LIV Golf, the idea of a direct rivalry between the tours has diminished, replaced by richer storylines that emerge when these tours converge on golf`s grandest stages.
This year`s Masters, like the previous U.S. Open and indeed recent majors, has highlighted the top performers, delivering dramatic conclusions and deserving champions. Majors continue to be the tournaments with the most intrigue and significance.
Perhaps, reunification of golf will eventually occur, benefiting the sport as a whole. But for now, the majors feel more important than ever and consistently deliver excitement.
Biggest winner(s) from the Masters?
Schlabach: Aside from McIlroy, I would highlight a couple of veteran former Masters champions: Zach Johnson and Bubba Watson.
Johnson, at 49, had slipped to 289th in the world rankings after missing eight cuts in 2024 and a quiet start to this season, except for a tie for 21st at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January. He reduced his play last fall to watch his son`s senior year of high school football and seemed to be eyeing the PGA Tour Champions as he approaches 50 next year.
Additionally, he has been managing a right elbow injury since last summer.
The 2007 Masters champion recorded six birdies in an eight-hole stretch and shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday, his best round at Augusta National. His tie for eighth at 5 under was his best PGA Tour finish since 2021.
`I still feel like I`ve got it,` Johnson stated. `Pride might be the right word, or whatever you want to call it.`
Watson, 46, hadn`t achieved much in the LIV Golf League – his best result this season was a tie for 12th in Saudi Arabia at the opening event. He currently ranks 36th in the individual points standings.
However, the two-time Masters winner matched his career low with a 4-under 68 on Sunday and tied for 14th at 3 under. It was his best finish at Augusta National since a tie for 12th in 2019.
Watson was making his 17th Masters appearance, and his course knowledge was clearly advantageous.
`You`re always seeking information,` Watson said. `But as you age, that information isn`t as effective as it once was.`
Uggetti: If we`re looking beyond Rory, Max Homa is a notable winner, finishing in a tie for 12th.
Perhaps no one needed a positive week on the golf course more than Homa, who had missed five consecutive cuts before arriving at Augusta and openly discussed his struggles with his swing.
So, how do you recover form?
For Homa, playing Augusta National for four straight days seems to be the answer. He broke par in every round.
`It`s incredible. This has been really unenjoyable,` Homa said after making the cut on Friday. `It feels good to not be self-destructing out here.`
Homa clearly feels comfortable at Augusta, and it showed. Following his tie for third last year, his T-12 finish earns him an automatic invitation for next year.
Of course, Homa is aiming for more than just positive weeks; he seeks consistency and victories. There`s still work to be done.
`Tough times don`t last, tough people do,` Homa said. `Ultimately, if you can get out of your own head, it`s just one tournament. Missing a cut by a shot can feel awful, but you`re always closer than you think.`
Biggest disappointment from the Masters
Schlabach: It appears the PGA Tour and LIV Golf League are no closer to resolving their differences and reuniting golf, meaning we`ll likely only see the world`s best compete against each other three more times this season.
While several prominent names missed the cut at the Masters, LIV Golf League captains Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, and Dustin Johnson were among the most disappointing.
Koepka, a five-time major champion, missed the cut after a quadruple-bogey 8 on the 18th hole of the second round. Koepka, with three PGA Championship wins and two U.S. Open titles, has finished outside the top 25 in his last six major appearances.
Johnson, the 2016 U.S. Open and 2020 Masters champion, missed the cut with rounds of 74 and 73, not terrible scores, but DJ has missed the cut in four of his last six major starts and didn`t finish in the top 30 in the other two.
Smith`s move to LIV Golf was particularly surprising as he seemed to be at his peak after winning the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in 2023. He tied for sixth at the 2024 Masters but then tied for 63rd at the PGA Championship, tied for 32nd at the U.S. Open, and missed the cut at The Open.
Too-early favorites for the rest of the majors?
Schlabach: McIlroy will likely be the favorite at the next major, the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, from May 15-18. He has won the Wells Fargo Championship at this course four times (2010, 2015, 2021, and 2024) and set the course record twice with a 62 in 2010 and a 61 in 2015. It wouldn`t be surprising to see him win his sixth major and third PGA Championship title next month. I`m predicting Rory to win a second consecutive major.
I expect Scheffler to secure a couple of victories before the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh from June 12-15. He had three consecutive top-10 finishes in majors before tying for 41st at Pinehurst No. 2 last year. Oakmont`s narrow fairways and numerous bunkers will penalize erratic drives, so I favor players who can control their ball and shape shots. Scheffler is unlikely to go an entire season without a major victory.
McIlroy will also be a sentimental favorite when The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland from July 17-20. He missed the cut when The Open was last held there in 2019, carding an 8 on the first hole and a 7 on the last in an opening round of 79. He nearly made the cut with a second-round 65 but missed the weekend by one stroke. Keep an eye on Irishman Shane Lowry, who won the previous Open Championship at Royal Portrush. He`s also playing excellent golf.
Uggetti: Mark has identified the favorites well, so I`ll add some names to consider.
Ludvig Åberg has now finished in the top 10 at Augusta for two years running, and despite only one other top-12 major finish in eight attempts, his game is well-suited for almost any major championship setup. The 2025 Genesis Invitational winner has the ball-striking ability to rival Scheffler and McIlroy and has repeatedly shown he can mount a charge even late on Sunday.
Also watch Xander Schauffele. This week at Augusta, Schauffele didn`t seem fully recovered from his rib injury earlier this season, but he still managed a T-8 finish after an opening 73.
And let`s not forget the player who led the tournament after two holes on Sunday, DeChambeau. This setback won`t deter him from contending in future majors. Quail Hollow and Oakmont are likely to suit DeChambeau`s power and give him opportunities to add to his major tally.
