This Week in Golf: Just eight more sleeps until Augusta – The anticipation builds for the first Major of 2025!

With The Masters just over a week away, golf is firmly in Augusta mode. This week, the global golf calendar is relatively quiet, with the DP World Tour and the HotelPlanner Tour (formerly the Challenge Tour) taking a break. But on the PGA Tour, the Valero Texas Open offers one final golden ticket to The Masters, granting its winner the last coveted invitation to the year’s first major.

For many of golf’s elite, this week serves as a final opportunity to fine-tune their game, rest, and strategize before they step onto the hallowed fairways of Augusta National from April 10-13.

A significant storyline heading into The Masters is the decision to grant special invitations to Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard (No. 79 in the Official World Golf Ranking) and Chile’s Joaquín Niemann (No. 84). These gestures reflect Augusta National’s evolving recognition of talent beyond traditional ranking criteria, ensuring the tournament truly gathers the best players from across the globe.

Rory vs. Scottie: A Battle for Supremacy

At the top of the OWGR, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler continue their battle for world No. 1. They have firmly established themselves as the two most dominant forces in the men’s game. But for McIlroy, this Masters holds extra significance—can he finally complete his career Grand Slam?

It has been an astonishing 3,888 days since Rory last tasted major glory at the 2014 PGA Championship. Since then, he has come agonizingly close on several occasions but has yet to don the coveted green jacket. Could 2025 be the year he finally conquers Augusta and cements his place among the all-time greats?

Fleetwood eyes Spotlight

England’s Tommy Fleetwood, a UAE resident, continues to hover just outside the top 10 in the OWGR, currently sitting in 11th place. While his consistency has been undeniable, he still seeks that elusive breakthrough victory on the PGA Tour. A win at Augusta would be a dream start to his major championship legacy.

LIV Golf and the OWGR Debate

With only two LIV Golf players—Tyrrell Hatton (No. 18) and Bryson DeChambeau (No. 19)—currently inside the top 50 of the OWGR, the ongoing debate surrounding LIV Golf’s standing in the global rankings continues. Some of the tour’s biggest names, including Jon Rahm (No. 75), Patrick Reed (No. 112), Cameron Smith (No. 123), and Brooks Koepka (No. 231), find themselves far from their historical positions.

Is this an accurate reflection of the state of the men’s game, or is it time for a recalibration of the ranking system? The discussion remains a hot topic in golf circles worldwide.

Players in Form Ahead of Augusta

Among those arriving in top form is Min Woo Lee (No. 22), who claimed victory on the PGA Tour last week. Another player to watch is Dubai resident Thomas Detry (No. 26), whose steady rise continues with an impressive season so far.

With just eight days until the first tee shot is struck at Augusta, excitement is reaching fever pitch. The Masters is not just a tournament—it’s a tradition, a spectacle, and the ultimate test of golfing greatness.