It does not take long when speaking with any golf fan at this time of year before the conversation inevitably moves towards predictions for the Masters, with the first major of the year just around the corner.
The Masters marks the official start of the golf season in the eyes of many. What has come before on the PGA Tour is almost an appetiser, with the biggest events set to come in quick succession over the next four months.
Rory McIlroy looks set to go into Augusta National as the favourite. McIlroy has won twice on the PGA Tour before April for the first time in his career, including at the Players Championship.
Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler is going to be there or thereabouts. The world number one has not won in 2025, but he has ended two of his previous three visits to Augusta National by having a green jacket placed upon him.
Brandel Chamblee tips player to beat Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy to win the Masters
However, it is another name Brandel Chamblee currently expects to see triumph amidst the Georgia pines.
Speaking on Dan on Golf, Chamblee suggested that he could see one PGA Tour star end their long wait for a win in dramatic fashion.
“It’s a bit early. I will be grinding all week. Early call would be Collin Morikawa, he would be my favourite. The heavy emphasis on cutting it off hook lies, on iron play, he is much improved at pitching. Very good [short game],” he said.
“Scheffler is way off his game compared to where he was last year going into the event or two years ago or three years ago. Way off his game.
“But still he would be my second favourite.
“And then Rory is always an interesting choice going into the Masters. It is his worst major and yet he is chipping the ball beautifully, scrambling beautifully. But right now if I had to bet, I would bet on Collin Morikawa at this point.”
How Collin Morikawa has performed on the PGA Tour in 2025
Morikawa has perhaps been the best player on the PGA Tour this season. Certainly, the 28-year-old is the best without a victory this year, with Morikawa finishing second at The Sentry and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
He is second on tour for strokes gained; sitting in first for tee to green and approach to green. It appears that the vintage iron game of Morikawa is definitely back.
| Strokes gained category | Collin Morikawa’s PGA Tour rank (2025) |
| Off the tee | 15th |
| Tee to green | 1st |
| Approach | 1st |
| Around the green | 34th |
| Putting | 67th |
| Total | 2nd |
And given how Augusta tests whether you can correctly choose your moments to be aggressive towards flags, Morikawa being in such fine form does feel significant.
There would surely be no better place for the American to get over the line and sample that winning feeling once again.
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