Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, will have difficult competition as he seeks to retain his title at the Masters, which begins on April 6 at Augusta National.
Scheffler is attempting to become only the fourth player in history to win back-to-back green jackets, joining Nick Faldo, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.
We take a look at some of the key candidates for the year's first men's major championship in this story.
Despite playing 54 holes there lately, the world number two said he was making a second reconnaissance trip. McIlroy's 2021 missed cut is the only big blemish on his nine-year Masters record. His last round of 64 last year was spectacular.
Scheffler won in his third appearance at Augusta National in 2022. The American defended his WM Phoenix Open title and won the Players Championship by five strokes before reaching the semi-finals.
Since last year's Masters, so much has taken place in men's golf. The Australian failed and finished third, but he was fifth in 2018 and 2020 and won his first major at the 150th Open at St Andrews last July before joining LIV Golf.
Since his three victories, third place, and seventh place in five tournaments returned him to the top of the world rankings, Rahm's form has declined. The former US Open champion will want to win again after a tie for 27th in last year's Masters interrupted a run of four consecutive top 10s.
Conners appears unexpected in a list of big champions. After missing the cut on his Masters debut in 2015 and failing to qualify until 2019, when he finished 46th, the 31-year-old Canadian has quietly piled up three consecutive top 10s.