Masters 2026 Tee Times Announced As Tournament Begins Thursday
Masters 2026 Tee Times Announced As Tournament Begins Thursday...
The 2026 Masters Tournament officially begins Thursday morning at Augusta National Golf Club, with tee times now confirmed for the first round. Golf fans across the U.S. are searching for start times as anticipation builds for one of sports' most prestigious events.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler will tee off at 10:42 AM ET alongside Rory McIlroy and rising star Tom Kim in one of the featured pairings. Tiger Woods, making his 30th Masters appearance, starts at 1:24 PM ET with Jason Day and Max Homa.
Morning groups begin at 8:00 AM ET when honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson hit ceremonial tee shots. The early wave includes major winners like Jon Rahm (8:36 AM ET) and Jordan Spieth (9:12 AM ET).
This year's Masters has drawn extra attention due to several factors. Augusta National recently completed course changes to lengthen the par-5 13th hole, while LIV Golf players like Brooks Koepka (10:18 AM ET) return under the tournament's special invitation criteria.
Television coverage begins at 8:00 AM ET on ESPN, with streaming available via Masters.com and the ESPN+ platform. Weekend rounds will air on CBS, maintaining the tournament's 68-year broadcast tradition with the network.
Weather forecasts show mostly sunny conditions with highs near 80°F during the opening rounds, though weekend thunderstorms could impact play. Tournament officials have contingency plans for potential delays.
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley confirmed Wednesday that the club has no plans to alter its limited commercial sponsorship model or expand beyond current ticket allocations. The Masters remains one of the toughest tickets in sports, with practice round passes reselling for over $1,000 this week.
Golf analysts predict low scoring conditions if winds remain calm, with the altered 13th hole potentially yielding more aggressive play. The Masters winner will take home a record $3.6 million from the $20 million purse, along with the iconic green jacket.
