Masters 2026 Featured Groups Announced As Tournament Begins

Masters 2026 Featured Groups Announced As Tournament Begins...

The 2026 Masters Tournament kicked off today at Augusta National Golf Club, with featured pairings drawing immediate attention from fans. The groupings, released Wednesday morning, include top contenders like defending champion Scottie Scheffler, rising star Ludvig Åberg, and a resurgent Tiger Woods.

Scheffler will tee off alongside Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm in Thursday's marquee grouping, reigniting their rivalry. Woods, competing in his 30th Masters, is paired with past winner Hideki Matsuyama and young phenom Tom Kim. The trio tees off at 10:42 AM ET Friday.

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley confirmed record ticket demand this year, with secondary market prices reaching $3,500 for practice round badges. ESPN's early coverage Wednesday drew 2.1 million viewers, up 18% from 2025, reflecting growing anticipation.

The featured groups trend comes as golf enjoys renewed popularity following last year's PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger. Sportsbooks report heavy betting action, with Scheffler remaining the 5-1 favorite despite McIlroy's strong recent form. Tournament organizers expect over 50,000 daily spectators.

Weather forecasts show ideal conditions through Sunday's final round, with temperatures in the mid-70s. The Masters app has already seen 1.3 million downloads this week as fans track real-time leaderboard updates and featured group coverage.

Augusta National's new concession pricing structure also made headlines, with the iconic pimento cheese sandwich holding at $1.50. The club confirmed no major course changes from last year's tournament, where Scheffler won by three strokes.