Masters 2026 TV Coverage Start Times For Thursday's Opening Round

Masters 2026 TV Coverage Start Times For Thursdays Opening Round...

Golf fans across the U.S. are searching for Masters Tournament broadcast details as ESPN prepares to air live first-round coverage from Augusta National on Thursday, April 10. The 90th edition of the prestigious event begins at 8:00 AM ET with featured group coverage, followed by the main ESPN telecast at 3:00 PM ET.

Augusta National confirmed the schedule Wednesday after weather delays impacted practice rounds earlier this week. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler will tee off at 10:42 AM ET alongside Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele in one of the day's most anticipated groupings.

ESPN's main broadcast team of Scott Van Pelt and Curtis Strange will anchor coverage through 7:30 PM ET. Streaming options include Masters.com, the ESPN app, and Paramount+ with CBS Sports, which will take over weekend coverage starting Saturday.

The tournament's limited commercial breaks and iconic scenery make it one of the most-watched sporting events each spring. This year's field includes 89 competitors, with 16 first-time participants vying for the green jacket.

Viewership is expected to surge following last year's record ratings, when Sunday's final round averaged 12.1 million viewers. Tiger Woods' recent practice round appearances have further boosted interest, though the 50-year-old legend remains a longshot at +6000 odds.

Golf Channel will provide pre-tournament analysis starting at 7:00 AM ET Thursday, while SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio offers hole-by-hole commentary. Augusta National's strict broadcast policies mean no coverage will air before the scheduled start times.

Fans planning to watch should note the time difference for West Coast viewers, where coverage begins at 5:00 AM PT. The Masters app provides real-time leaderboard updates and select live feeds from Amen Corner and other iconic holes.