Masters Friday Tee Times Revealed As Leaders Chase Green Jacket
Masters Friday Tee Times Revealed As Leaders Chase Green Jacket...
The 2026 Masters Tournament enters its second round Friday with tee times now set for golf's top contenders. Fans are eagerly tracking the pairings after Thursday's opening round delivered surprises, including a strong showing from rising star Jordan Spieth and a shaky start for defending champion Scottie Scheffler.
Friday's tee times begin at 8:00 AM ET at Augusta National, with featured groups including Tiger Woods paired with Rory McIlroy at 10:42 AM. The tournament is trending nationwide as Americans tune in for the tradition unlike any other during a busy sports weekend that also includes NBA playoff races.
Weather forecasts call for partly cloudy skies with mild winds, creating ideal scoring conditions. Tournament officials moved several tee times earlier by 15 minutes to account for potential afternoon thunderstorms. The cut line will be determined after Friday's play, eliminating roughly half the field.
Viewership spikes are expected during the 1:00-3:00 PM ET window when most leaders complete their rounds. ESPN will broadcast live coverage starting at 3:00 PM ET, while Masters.com offers free streaming of featured groups and holes. The tournament's app has seen record downloads this week.
Local businesses in Augusta, Georgia report packed hotels and restaurants as fans flock to the event. Secondary ticket prices have jumped 35% since Thursday's action, with Saturday badges now selling for $1,200+ on resale markets. The economic impact for the region is estimated at $120 million.
Key storylines include whether Woods can make the cut in his 30th Masters appearance and if Scheffler can rebound from his opening 73. The tee sheet shows several compelling pairings, including Jon Rahm with Justin Thomas at 9:24 AM and Bryson DeChambeau with Viktor Hovland at 10:06 AM.
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley confirmed the club has no plans to alter the course setup despite Thursday's scoring average of 72.8 being nearly two strokes higher than last year's opening round. The famed Amen Corner (holes 11-13) played as the toughest stretch Thursday with a combined scoring average of +0.85.
Friday's weather could create moving day conditions before the weekend. The forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-70s with humidity around 65%, potentially softening the famously firm greens. Winds are expected to remain below 10 mph until late afternoon.
Mobile traffic to Masters-related content has surged 58% since Wednesday according to Google Trends data, with tee times being the most-searched term. The tournament's social media accounts gained over 200,000 new followers during Thursday's broadcast.
Golf analysts emphasize that Friday positioning is crucial at Augusta, where only four winners since 2000 have been outside the top 10 after 36 holes. The last five champions all shot under par in their second rounds.
