Scottie Scheffler knows the magnitude of what lies ahead at Augusta National this week. Yet for all the pedigree he brings as the world No 1 and reigning champion, the 27-year-old is acutely aware that the Masters grants no favours for past accomplishments.
“Last year doesn’t have a lot to do with this year,” Scheffler told reporters on Tuesday, ahead of his bid to retain the green jacket. “I start the tournament even par just like everybody else.”
It was in 2022 that Scheffler first slipped on the famed jacket, and he returned last year to reaffirm his status among golf’s elite with a second triumph at Augusta. Should he prevail again this week, he would join a rarefied group of multiple winners and solidify his place in Masters lore.
But while the Dallas native may seem a fixture at the summit of leaderboards, he approaches Augusta with his trademark humility – and pragmatism.
“Let’s say I get off to a bad start on Thursday,” he said. “I can use some stuff I’ve done here the past few years as confidence to kind of turn things around. But at the end of the day, it’s a totally new golf tournament.”
Scheffler has never finished outside the top 20 at Augusta and shares a statistical milestone with Horton Smith as the only players to win two Masters titles within their first five appearances. Still, even the world No 1 isn’t immune to Augusta’s many variables.
“A lot of the strategy changes with the weather,” he explained. “Depending on the firmness of the greens, there are certain pins you can attack – and certain pins you need to steer clear of.”
Scheffler’s lead-in to this year’s tournament has been less than ideal, slowed by a hand injury suffered during a Christmas cooking mishap. In his absence, rivals have found form, not least world No 2 Rory McIlroy, who arrives at Augusta in search of the one major missing from his resume.
The Northern Irishman has already notched two victories in 2025 and appears well-placed to challenge again. Completing the career Grand Slam remains the elusive carrot – a quest that has often brought out both his best and worst at Augusta.
But as Scheffler pointed out, the list of potential contenders is lengthy and littered with proven major winners. Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka – now representing LIV Golf – may no longer dominate the rankings, but their credentials are hard to ignore. Reigning PGA and Open champion Xander Schauffele, meanwhile, looks every inch a player ready for his breakthrough at Augusta.
“It’s one of our jobs to go out there and take it,” said Scheffler, summing up the combative mindset required.
This year’s Masters also unfolds against a subtly altered backdrop. Hurricane Helene’s path of destruction through Georgia last September felled several of Augusta’s iconic pines. Players insist the course’s DNA remains intact, but subtle visual changes have not gone unnoticed.
“There’s a couple of tee shots that are maybe a little less visually intimidating,” McIlroy said. “But really, apart from that, it’s pretty much the same.”
Ireland’s Shane Lowry agreed: “It just visually changes some holes, but I don’t think it changes the golf course one bit.”
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
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