Masters Featured Groups Announced For Friday's Round 2 Action
Masters Featured Groups Announced For Fridays Round 2 Action...
The 2026 Masters Tournament has revealed its featured pairings for Friday's second round at Augusta National, sparking excitement among golf fans. Tournament officials confirmed the groupings early Thursday after Thursday's opening round concluded with several surprise leaders.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler will tee off at 10:48 AM ET alongside rising star Ludvig Ã…berg and veteran Justin Thomas. This marquee group follows Tiger Woods' featured Thursday pairing, which drew record early-round Masters viewership.
Other notable Friday groupings include Rory McIlroy playing with Jon Rahm and Hideki Matsuyama at 1:36 PM ET. The trio features three former Masters champions still chasing the green jacket this year. Younger stars like Will Zalatoris and Cameron Young were paired together at 9:12 AM ET.
The featured group announcements come as Augusta National experiences perfect spring weather conditions. Sunny skies and mild temperatures are forecast for Friday's play, contrasting with Thursday's occasional wind gusts that challenged some competitors.
ESPN and Masters.com will provide featured group coverage throughout Friday's round. The tournament's decision to spotlight these pairings responds to fan demand for more access to top players' early-round performances.
Friday's play could prove decisive, as Masters history shows nearly 80% of winners were in the top 10 after 36 holes. The featured groups include several players currently near the top of the leaderboard after strong opening rounds.
Augusta National members confirmed they expanded featured group coverage this year after positive feedback about Thursday's broadcast innovations. The tournament continues blending tradition with modern fan engagement approaches as golf's popularity surges nationwide.
Tickets for Friday's round sold out within minutes when released last year, reflecting growing enthusiasm for the season's first major. Secondary market prices remain high as fans scramble to see the featured groups in person.
