Masters 2026 Tee Times: When Thursday's First Round Begins
Masters 2026 Tee Times: When Thursdays First Round Begins...
The 2026 Masters Tournament begins Thursday morning at Augusta National Golf Club, with tee times starting at 8:00 AM ET. Golf fans across the U.S. are searching for start times as the year's first major championship returns to Georgia.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler will headline the morning groups, teeing off at 10:42 AM ET alongside Rory McIlroy and rising star Tom Kim. Tiger Woods, making his 30th Masters appearance, gets an afternoon start at 1:24 PM ET with Jason Day and Max Homa.
ESPN will broadcast early coverage beginning at 8:00 AM ET Thursday, with CBS taking over at 3:00 PM ET. Streaming options include Masters.com, the ESPN+ platform, and Paramount+.
The tournament's timing coincides with peak spring weather in Augusta, with forecasted highs near 80 degrees. Tournament chairman Fred Ridley confirmed Wednesday that no major course changes were made since last year's event.
Interest spikes annually as casual fans tune in for the Masters' iconic visuals - from Amen Corner to the green jacket ceremony. This year's field features 89 players, including 16 first-time participants. The winner receives $3.6 million from a record $20 million purse.
Augusta National's gates open at 7:00 AM ET Thursday, with practice facilities available earlier. Security remains tight following last year's weather-related Saturday evacuation, though no protests or disruptions are anticipated.
Viewership is expected to surpass 2025 levels, particularly among younger demographics drawn to golf's new stars. The Masters app has already been downloaded over 1 million times this week, setting a new tournament record.
