The 2025 Masters Tournament has concluded, delivering an exciting competition.
In a dramatic final round that kept fans on edge, Rory McIlroy secured a birdie on the first playoff hole, defeating Justin Rose and achieving a career Grand Slam. The top finishers included Patrick Reed in third place, Scottie Scheffler in fourth, and Sungjae Im and Bryson DeChambeau tied for fifth.
How will this victory impact McIlroy`s performance for the remainder of the season? Which other players impressed? And who are the frontrunners for the upcoming major championships, starting with the PGA Championship in May?
Here are some of the most significant questions emerging from the Masters as we look ahead to the rest of the 2025 golf season.
What`s Next for Rory This Year?
After a long wait to win the Masters green jacket, complete the career Grand Slam, and end a major championship drought of over a decade, one has to wonder if this victory will unlock a new level in Rory`s career.
McIlroy has long been recognized as one of the most talented and accomplished golfers of his generation, with over 50 victories worldwide and holding the No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking for over 100 weeks.
His major drought since the 2014 PGA Championship might have been the only thing preventing him from being universally placed among golf`s all-time greats, alongside legends like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tiger Woods.
Now, with this win, McIlroy no longer carries the pressure of completing the Grand Slam, particularly at Augusta National.
`Today was tough,` McIlroy admitted after his Sunday round. `I was incredibly nervous this morning, especially on the first tee, which showed with the double bogey. But it actually calmed me down, and I was able to recover and demonstrate the resilience I`ve often spoken about.`
`It was a significant burden, and thankfully, I no longer have to carry it. It frees me up knowing I`ll be returning here each year, which is wonderful.`
Even before questions were posed at his post-round press conference, McIlroy turned to the media, smiling, and asked, `What will we talk about next year?`
Don`t worry, Rory. The conversation has already shifted to how many more majors he might win, not just in his career, but this year. However, to play devil`s advocate, one might ask how McIlroy will manage the emotional comedown from such a momentous victory.
McIlroy`s reaction on the 18th green Sunday clearly showed the immense relief this win brought. While it`s true he may feel liberated to pursue more major titles, golf is a sport where each tournament is a fresh start.
McIlroy has been intensely focused on the process during his 11-year major drought, especially in recent years, to keep giving himself opportunities. Now, as he aims to add to his PGA Tour and major championship count, it will be interesting to see how his hunger evolves and if it remains as intense.
The positive news? Currently, he`s playing the best golf, and the upcoming majors this year—Quail Hollow (where he`s won four times), Oakmont, and Royal Portrush (his home course)—are all potentially favorable for his game.
Beyond Rory`s Win, What`s the Biggest Masters Takeaway?
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler wasn`t at his absolute best at Augusta National, but he still performed well enough to finish solo fourth at 8 under par. Scheffler`s iron play was slightly off his usual world-class standard, and he struggled to build momentum until a Sunday 69 nearly put him in contention when McIlroy faltered on the back nine.
Scheffler hit greens in regulation 62% of the time and fairways 71% over the 72 holes. Among players who made the cut, he ranked 26th in strokes gained: approach (.630) and 58th in strokes gained: off the tee (-.110).
`I think this week was one where I could have easily become frustrated with my play, my swing, or course conditions, especially when not hitting where I aimed,` Scheffler said. `But I`m proud of how we persevered and fought hard. … Mentally, I felt this was my strongest performance all year, even if my overall game wasn`t quite there.`
Scheffler was aiming to join Nicklaus as the only golfers to win three Masters 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 clearly the dominant player in 2024, but hasn`t won yet this year. Rory is on a similar trajectory to Scottie last year, with three wins at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Players Championship, and the Masters.
Despite the division in professional golf, major championships remain incredibly compelling. Four times a year, the world`s best golfers compete against each other, bringing with them a wealth of captivating storylines.
Since the emergence of LIV Golf, the idea of a tour rivalry has lessened, replaced by more engaging narratives that arise when the tours converge at major events.
This Masters, like recent majors, has highlighted top-tier talent, producing dramatic finishes and deserving champions. Majors continue to hold immense intrigue and power in the golf world.
Reunification in golf may eventually occur, potentially benefiting the sport as a whole. But for now, majors feel more significant than ever and consistently deliver high-stakes drama.
Who Were the Biggest Winners (Besides McIlroy) at the Masters?
Apart from McIlroy, I`d highlight a couple of veteran former Masters champions: Zach Johnson and Bubba Watson.
Johnson, 49, had dropped to 289th in the world rankings after struggling in 2024 and early this season, with only a T-21 finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January. He reduced his play last fall to watch his son`s senior football season, and seemed to be considering the PGA Tour Champions as he approaches 50 next year.
He has also been managing a right elbow injury since last summer.
The 2007 Masters winner made six birdies in an eight-hole stretch for a Saturday 66, his best-ever round at Augusta National. He tied for eighth at 5 under, his best PGA Tour finish since 2021.
`I still feel like I`ve got it,` Johnson stated. `Whether it`s pride or whatever you want to call it.`
Watson, 46, hasn`t been prominent in the LIV Golf League, with his best finish this season being a T-12 in Saudi Arabia. He`s currently 36th in individual points.
However, the two-time Masters champion matched his career low with a Sunday 68 and tied for 14th at 3 under. It was his best Augusta finish since a T-12 in 2019.
This was Watson`s 17th Masters start, and his course knowledge was clearly advantageous.
`You always seek information,` Watson said. `But as you age, that information isn`t quite as effective as it used to be.`
Looking beyond Rory, Max Homa, who tied for 12th, stands out.
Homa was likely seeking a positive week more than anyone, having missed five consecutive cuts before Augusta and openly discussing his struggles with his swing.
How did he turn it around?
For Homa, it seems the answer was playing Augusta National for four straight days. He shot under par in every round.
`It`s incredible. It`s been really unpleasant lately,` Homa said after making the cut on Friday. `It feels good not to be my own worst enemy out here.`
Homa clearly feels comfortable at Augusta, which showed. Following his T-3 finish last year, this T-12 earns him an automatic invitation next year.
Of course, Homa aims for more than just positive weeks; he wants consistency and wins. There`s still work ahead.
`Tough times don`t last; tough people do,` Homa noted. `Ultimately, if you can get out of your own head, it`s just one tournament. Missing a cut by one stroke can feel awful, but you`re always closer than you think.`
Biggest Masters Disappointment?
The PGA Tour and LIV Golf League seem far from resolving their differences and reuniting golf, meaning we`ll likely only see the best golfers compete against each other three more times this season.
While many prominent names missed the Masters cut, LIV Golf captains Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, and Dustin Johnson were particularly notable.
Koepka, a five-time major winner, missed the cut after a quadruple-bogey 8 on the 18th in the second round. Koepka, with three PGA Championship and two U.S. Open titles, has finished outside the top 25 in his last six majors.
Johnson, the 2016 U.S. Open and 2020 Masters champion, missed the cut with rounds of 74 and 73. While not terrible scores, DJ has missed the cut in four of his last six major starts and didn`t crack the top 30 in the other two.
Smith`s move to LIV Golf was surprising given his peak form after winning the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in 2023. He tied for sixth at the 2024 Masters but then struggled in subsequent majors, including a missed cut at The Open.
Early Favorites for the Remaining Majors?
McIlroy will likely be favored at the next major, the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, from May 15-18. He`s won the Wells Fargo Championship at this course four times, and set course records twice. A sixth major and third PGA Championship title next month wouldn`t be surprising. I`m predicting McIlroy for a second consecutive major win.
I anticipate Scheffler will have a couple of victories before the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh on June 12-15. He had three consecutive top-10 major finishes before a T-41 at Pinehurst No. 2 last year. Oakmont`s narrow fairways and numerous bunkers will favor accurate players. Scheffler is too good to go a year without a major win.
McIlroy will also be a sentimental favorite at the Open Championship`s return to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland on July 17-20. He missed the cut there in 2019 after a disastrous first round. Keep an eye on Irishman Shane Lowry, the previous Open champion at Royal Portrush, who is also playing excellent golf.
Mark has the favorites right, so I`ll add some other contenders.
Ludvig Åberg has now finished in the top 10 at Augusta for two years running. Despite limited top major finishes, his game is suited to almost any major setup. Åberg has the ball-striking ability to compete with Scheffler and McIlroy, and has shown he can charge late on Sundays.
Also, watch Xander Schauffele. He didn`t appear fully recovered from his rib injury at Augusta, but still managed a T-8 finish after a first-round 73.
And let’s not forget Bryson DeChambeau, who led the tournament early on Sunday. This loss won’t deter him from contending in majors. Quail Hollow and Oakmont are likely to suit DeChambeau`s power game, giving him chances for more major titles.
