Masters 2025: Scottie Scheffler on Augusta National defence, Champions Dinner and hayfever

The world number one is, unsurprisingly, favourite to don the Green Jacket again on Sunday. If he does, he will become just the fourth player after Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Sir Nick Faldo (1989-1990) and Tiger Woods (2001-2002) to win successive titles.

He would also equal record six-time champion Nicklaus’ feat of winning three in four years, after claiming his first title in 2022. Not that Scheffler seems too bothered by creating his own bit of history.

“I really don’t focus a lot on that stuff,” he said.

“I focus a lot on the preparation and getting ready to play. I try to have a good attitude and approach the shots the right way. And that’s what I define success as.

“When I step on the first tee on Thursday, I’m going to remind myself that I’ve done what I needed to do to play well, and it’s all about going out and competing.

“I really try not to look too much into the past. I try not to look too far into the future. I just like to stay in the present and just go one week at a time.”

And after a slow start to the year, Scheffler feels like he’s hitting form at just the right moment, with one major a month coming up for the next four months.

He finished joint runner-up in Houston two weeks ago after climbing the leaderboard with a seven-under-par 63 in the final round.

“This year, coming off an injury, was definitely a different feeling than I’ve had in the past few years,” he said.

“But this is definitely as prepared as I’ve felt going into any event this year and I’m excited to get the tournament going.”