Masters Tee Times : The Complete and Essential 2026 Guide

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Introduction

It is Masters week. That means millions of golf fans around the world are doing exactly what you are doing right now: searching for Masters tee times today so they can plan their entire Thursday around Augusta National.

Whether you want to catch Rory McIlroy defend his green jacket, see Scottie Scheffler make his move as the world number one, or simply enjoy every beautiful, nerve-shredding hole of the 90th Masters Tournament, you need the right information before you sit down.

This guide gives you everything you need. You will find the complete Round 1 tee times for Thursday, April 9, 2026, the most exciting featured groups, where to watch on TV and streaming, and everything else that makes this tournament unlike any other event in sport.

Let us get into it.

The 2026 Masters: What You Need to Know First

The 90th Masters Tournament begins Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

This is not just another golf tournament. The Masters is the only major played at the same course every single year. Augusta National is a work of art. Every patch of grass, every azalea, every terrifying green has a story attached to it.

Anticipation for the year’s first men’s major has been bubbling since at least Scottie Scheffler claimed the claret jug with his Open Championship win at Royal Portrush. But you could argue the real excitement started the moment Rory McIlroy slipped on the green jacket in 2025.

Now he comes back as champion. The pressure is extraordinary.

Masters Tee Times : Full Round 1 Schedule (Thursday, April 9)

Here is the complete set of Masters tee times for today’s opening round. All times are Eastern.

Honorary Starters Ceremony

The 2026 Masters will officially begin at 7:25 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 9, when Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson hit the ceremonial tee shots off the first tee in one of the great Masters traditions.

There is nothing else in sport quite like this moment. Three of the greatest champions in golf history start your morning for you. It sets the tone for everything that follows.

Morning Wave Tee Times

Here is the complete list of Round 1 tee times from the morning wave:

7:40 a.m.: John Keefer, Haotong Li
7:50 a.m.: Naoyuki Kataoka, Max Homa, Carlos Ortiz
8:02 a.m.: Jose Maria Olazabal, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Aldrich Potgieter
8:14 a.m.: Angel Cabrera, Sami Valimaki, Jackson Herrington (A)
8:26 a.m.: Charl Schwartzel, Max Greyserman, Ryan Fox
8:38 a.m.: Vijay Singh, Matt McCarty, Rasmus Hojgaard
8:50 a.m.: Kurt Kitayama, Kristoffer Reitan, Casey Jarvis
9:02 a.m.: Bubba Watson, Nicolas Echavarria, Brandon Holtz (A)
9:19 a.m.: Cameron Smith, Sam Burns, Jake Knapp
9:31 a.m.: Keegan Bradley, Ryan Gerard, Nick Taylor
9:43 a.m.: Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Jason Day
9:55 a.m.: Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood, Akshay Bhatia
10:07 a.m.: Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele
10:19 a.m.: Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa, Russell Henley
10:31 a.m.: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Mason Howell (A)
10:43 a.m.: Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Alex Noren
11:03 a.m.: Samuel Stevens, Sungjae Im
11:15 a.m.: Andrew Novak, Tom McKibbin, Brian Campbell
11:27 a.m.: Mike Weir, Wyndham Clark, Mateo Pulcini (A)
11:39 a.m.: Zach Johnson, Michael Kim, Nicolai Hojgaard
11:51 a.m.: Danny Willett, Davis Riley, Ethan Fang (A)
12:03 p.m.: Adam Scott, Daniel Berger, Brian Harman

Afternoon Wave Tee Times

The afternoon wave includes some of the biggest names in the field:

12:56 p.m.: J.J. Spaun, Maverick McNealy, Tyrrell Hatton
1:08 p.m.: Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup, Ludvig Aberg
1:20 p.m.: Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka
1:32 p.m.: Sepp Straka, Ben Griffin, Justin Thomas
1:44 p.m.: Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, Gary Woodland
1:56 p.m.: Harris English, Marco Penge, Si Woo Kim

Additional afternoon groups include Sergio Garcia, Aaron Rai, and Jacob Bridgeman at 1727; Fred Couples, Min Woo Lee, and Fifa Laopakdee at 1715; and Danny Willett, Davis Riley, and Ethan Fang among the earlier starters.

The Featured Groups You Cannot Miss

Not every group gets the featured group treatment. Augusta National selects specific pairings for dedicated broadcast and streaming coverage throughout the day. These are the groups you want to plan your Thursday around.

Group 1: Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele (10:07 a.m.)

This is the first marquee group of the morning. DeChambeau, who played in the final pairing a year ago, will link up with Matt Fitzpatrick and Xander Schauffele for a 10:07 a.m. ET start.

This pairing is loaded with major championship pedigree. You have a former US Open champion in DeChambeau, a former US Open champion in Fitzpatrick, and a reigning Olympic gold medalist in Schauffele. All three want this green jacket badly. Watch this group carefully from the very first tee shot.

Group 2: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Mason Howell (10:31 a.m.)

This is the one everyone talks about on Masters Thursday. Defending champion Rory McIlroy will begin his quest to become the first back-to-back Masters champion since Tiger Woods in 2001-02 at 10:31 a.m., playing alongside Cameron Young and amateur Mason Howell.

Tradition means defending champion Rory McIlroy will be paired with U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell. Think about what that means for Howell. He is a college amateur, and his first competitive round at Augusta National comes alongside the reigning champion. That is either a dream or a nightmare, depending on how you look at it.

McIlroy finally captured his first title and green jacket last year at Augusta National. With it, he completed the career Grand Slam and etched his place in tournament history. Now comes the harder part: doing it again.

Group 3: Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup, Ludvig Aberg (1:08 p.m.)

The afternoon features a fascinating group that brings together a LIV Golf standout and two PGA Tour talents. Jon Rahm, who has been crushing it on LIV Golf, is set to play alongside Chris Gotterup, who has been crushing it on the PGA Tour. Ludvig Aberg seeks to turn his stellar play at Augusta National into his first green jacket.

Aberg’s story here is one of the most compelling. He nearly won the Masters in 2024 on his debut. He knows Augusta better than almost any first-time competitor in recent memory. At 1:08 p.m., this group steps onto the course carrying serious green jacket expectations.

Group 4: Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka (1:20 p.m.)

You rarely see a pairing this loaded with major championship history. Spieth has won the Masters before. Rose has finished runner-up here in heartbreaking fashion. Koepka is one of the most clutch major championship performers of his generation. This group tees off at 1:20 p.m. and the drama will be real from hole one.

Group 5: Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, Gary Woodland (1:44 p.m.)

The world number one and heavy favorite, Scottie Scheffler, will be on the opposite side of the tee sheet, going off in the penultimate group at 1:44 p.m. with Robert MacIntyre and Gary Woodland.

Scheffler is the top-ranked golfer in the field and the betting favorite. He has not played in several weeks and is at the course with his newborn son, Remy, who made the trek to Augusta just nine days after he was born. That is the kind of story that makes sports worth watching. He is trying to win a major championship with a brand-new baby at home and the weight of the world on his shoulders.

What Channel Is the Masters On Today?

Knowing the Masters tee times today only gets you so far. You also need to know where to watch.

ESPN and CBS will share coverage of the 2026 Masters on TV. ESPN will air the first and second rounds on Thursday and Friday, while CBS will air the third and final rounds on Saturday and Sunday.

Here is the Thursday broadcast and streaming schedule:

Prime Video: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET
ESPN: 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET
Masters.com and the Masters App: Full round stream from 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET
Featured Groups: 9:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Masters.com, Masters App, Paramount Plus, Prime Video, ESPN App, and DirecTV
Amen Corner (holes 11, 12, and 13): 10:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Masters.com, Masters App, Paramount Plus, Prime Video, ESPN App, and DirecTV
Featured Holes (15 and 16): 11:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

If you want to watch every important shot of the day, Masters.com and the Masters App give you the most comprehensive coverage. The featured groups coverage is especially useful for tracking your favourite players from tee to green.

The Big Storylines to Watch During Round 1

Can McIlroy Make History?

McIlroy is looking to become the first back-to-back Masters champion in over two decades. The problem is that his 2026 season has not been sharp. He withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with back discomfort and finished well down the leaderboard at The Players Championship. His preparation raises questions. His talent answers them. Today, you find out which one wins.

Scheffler Playing in His First Tournament Since Becoming a Father Again

Scheffler is at the course with his newborn son, who made the trek to Augusta just nine days after he was born. The world number one has barely touched a golf club in weeks. That is either a recipe for rust or a man completely unburdened and free. History suggests Scheffler finds his best golf at the biggest moments.

LIV vs. PGA Tour on the Biggest Stage

The 2026 Masters brings together players from both tours in a way no other event can. Rahm comes in having won on LIV earlier in the season. DeChambeau nearly won this tournament last year. Augusta National does not care which tour you play on. It only cares about your score.

The 91-Player Field and the Amateurs

There are 21 players competing at Augusta National for the first time this year. Among them is Mason Howell, the US Amateur champion, who gets the extraordinary experience of playing beside McIlroy. For many of those first-timers, just making the cut will be a life achievement. For a handful, today could launch a Masters legend.

Augusta National: Why Every Tee Time Matters

There is a reason people plan their entire day around Masters tee times. Augusta National plays differently at different times of day. Morning conditions tend to be softer, with dew on the greens and lighter winds. Afternoon conditions can get firmer and faster, particularly on the back nine.

Players who tee off early often take advantage of scoring conditions before the course firms up. Players who tee off late face a tougher test but also know exactly what score they need to match or beat.

This is why Scheffler in the penultimate group at 1:44 p.m. is interesting. He will play in afternoon conditions, likely on faster greens, under maximum pressure. That is exactly where the best players in the world tend to thrive.

Conclusion

Today is the day. The 90th Masters Tournament gets underway at Augusta National, and you now have everything you need to follow every shot.

The Masters tee times today run from 7:40 a.m. with John Keefer and Haotong Li all the way through the late afternoon with Scottie Scheffler going off at 1:44 p.m. The biggest featured groups are McIlroy at 10:31 a.m., DeChambeau at 10:07 a.m., Rahm at 1:08 p.m., and Scheffler at 1:44 p.m.

Watch on ESPN from 3:00 p.m. ET, on Prime Video from 1:00 p.m. ET, or stream the entire day on Masters.com and the Masters App.

This is one of those rare days where the whole world watches the same patch of grass and holds its breath together. Enjoy every minute of it.

Who are you rooting for today at Augusta? Drop your pick in the comments, share this guide with a fellow golf fan, and come back tomorrow for the complete Round 2 tee times.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time do the Masters tee times start today? The ceremonial Honorary Starters tee off at 7:25 a.m. ET, and competitive play begins at 7:40 a.m with John Keefer and Haotong Li.

What time does Rory McIlroy tee off today at the Masters? Defending champion Rory McIlroy tees off at 10:31 a.m. ET alongside Cameron Young and amateur Mason Howell.

What time does Scottie Scheffler tee off at the 2026 Masters? Scottie Scheffler goes off in the penultimate group at 1:44 p.m. ET with Robert MacIntyre and Gary Woodland.

What time does Jon Rahm tee off today at Augusta? Jon Rahm tees off at 1:08 p.m. ET alongside Chris Gotterup and Ludvig Aberg.

What channel is the Masters on today? Round 1 coverage runs from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET on Prime Video and from 3:00 to 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Can I stream the Masters for free today? You can watch featured groups, featured holes, and full round coverage on Masters.com and the Masters App throughout the day.

Who are the Honorary Starters at the 2026 Masters? Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson serve as the Honorary Starters and hit the ceremonial opening tee shots at 7:25 a.m. ET.

How many players are in the 2026 Masters field? There are 91 players competing in the 2026 Masters field.

What is the featured group schedule for today? The four featured groups are: Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Xander Schauffele at 10:07 a.m.; Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, and Mason Howell at 10:31 a.m.; Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup, and Ludvig Aberg at 1:08 p.m.; and Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, and Gary Woodland at 1:44 p.m.

Is this the 90th Masters Tournament? Yes. This is the 90th Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Masters Tee Times : The Complete and Essential 2026 Guide

Introduction

The 2026 Masters: What You Need to Know First