Masters Tee Times Today: Key Pairings And Fan Favorites
Masters Tee Times Today: Key Pairings And Fan Favorites...
The 2026 Masters Tournament enters its third round today, April 13, with tee times drawing intense interest as contenders jockey for position at Augusta National. Golf fans across the U.S. are tracking the schedule closely, as Tiger Woods makes a surprise weekend appearance and rising stars like Scottie Scheffler chase the lead.
Morning pairings begin at 9:35 AM ET, with marquee groups including defending champion Jon Rahm teeing off at 10:45 AM alongside Rory McIlroy. Woods, who barely made the cut Friday, starts at 11:30 AM with young rival Will Zalatoris—a must-watch matchup for traditional broadcast and streaming viewers.
Today's tee times are trending nationally as weekend viewers plan their viewing schedules around key moments. The Masters remains the most-watched golf event in America, with CBS and ESPN+ carrying live coverage starting at 10 AM ET. Augusta's notoriously shifting weather also plays a factor, with light rain forecast for the afternoon rounds.
Notable early starters include Jordan Spieth (9:55 AM) and Ludvig Ă…berg (10:15 AM), both within five strokes of leader Xander Schauffele. The Swedish phenom Ă…berg has drawn particular attention after his record-breaking Friday 66.
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley confirmed all tee times remain unchanged despite the weather, though players may face softer greens. Weekend ticket holders began lining up at dawn to secure prime viewing spots, especially near Amen Corner where critical shots often unfold.
Digital engagement spiked overnight as the Masters app saw a 40% increase in tee time searches compared to Saturday 2025. Golf analysts highlight the 1:05 PM grouping of Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, and Hideki Matsuyama as potentially decisive for the championship.
For East Coast viewers, NBC's Golf Channel will provide pre-round coverage starting at 8 AM ET, featuring analysis of yesterday's dramatic cut line that eliminated stars like Justin Thomas. The tournament's official website continues updating real-time leaderboard and weather alerts.
Today's tee times carry extra significance with the Masters implementing its new "double-cut" rule this year, trimming the field to just 30 players for Sunday. Several bubble contenders like Tony Finau (10:25 AM tee time) need strong performances to survive the secondary cut.
Augusta's gates opened at 7:30 AM to patrons holding the coveted weekend badges that resell for over $2,500. Security remains tight following last year's protest incident, with new bag size restrictions in effect. The club expects peak crowds between 11 AM and 2 PM as the leaders prepare for moving day.
Mobile alerts for tee time changes have been activated for over 1.2 million subscribers, per Masters officials. With three Americans currently in the top five, domestic viewership is projected to surpass 15 million during the afternoon broadcast window.
As players warm up on the practice range, caddies report firmer-than-expected conditions despite overnight showers. The 13th hole's lengthened layout continues drawing scrutiny, with early starters averaging 0.8 strokes higher on the par-5 compared to Thursday's rounds.
