Collin Morikawa is ready to tee it up at Augusta National, but the journey to the first tee has been a physical and mental challenge. The two-time major champion, currently ranked 7th in the world, is battling through a nagging back issue that forced him to withdraw from The Players Championship after just one hole and skip last week's Texas Open for treatment.

"It's unfortunate, but that's just the body, and I can't push it," Morikawa admitted. While he's been hitting balls for about a week and says his back feels fine, he acknowledged his body is "not exactly where I want to be" and that other parts aren't fully cooperating. For a player whose swing is built on precision and consistency, this state of flux is a significant hurdle at the most demanding tournament of the year.

Despite the discomfort, Morikawa's track record at Augusta provides reason for optimism. He has made the cut in all five of his previous Masters appearances, including a T3 finish last year and three total top-10s. His ability to grind is being tested. "This isn’t a place where you want to be uncomfortable, but sometimes you’ve got to find other ways to get around a golf course," he said, emphasizing a day-by-day, positive approach to managing his game and his health.

Meanwhile, the tournament favorite, Scottie Scheffler, is navigating a different kind of preparation—parenthood. The two-time Masters champion and his wife, Meredith, recently welcomed their second child, Remy, news they kept private for about nine days, similar to how they announced the birth of their 2-year-old son, Bennett. Scheffler is fiercely protective of his family's privacy, stating his desire for his children to have "a normal upbringing, or as normal as I can."

That normalcy, however, comes with unique challenges when your father is the world's top golfer, a global sports star recognized everywhere he goes. With over $100 million in career earnings and the weight of expectation on his shoulders, Scheffler is balancing the pinnacle of his professional life with the beginnings of his most important role. "Bennett is still 2," Scheffler noted, "so the hard parenting hasn’t really started yet." For now, his focus is on the course, where he aims to add a third green jacket to a life that is rapidly expanding off it.