Masters 2026: Featured Groups For Friday Draw Major Interest
Masters 2026: Featured Groups For Friday Draw Major Interest...
The 2026 Masters Tournament enters its second round Friday, with featured pairings drawing intense scrutiny from golf fans. The groupings, released late Thursday, include marquee names like defending champion Scottie Scheffler, rising star Ludvig Åberg, and fan favorite Rory McIlroy. These pairings are trending as viewers plan their viewing schedules for one of golf's most-watched days.
Augusta National announced the Friday groupings shortly after Thursday's opening round concluded. Scheffler will tee off at 10:42 AM ET alongside Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm, creating a powerhouse trio of recent major winners. McIlroy's quest for his first Masters green jacket continues with a 1:48 PM ET start alongside Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa.
The featured groups gain extra attention this year due to tight leaderboard conditions after Round 1. Five players sit within two strokes of the early lead, setting up potential drama in these high-profile pairings. Television coverage begins at 8:00 AM ET on ESPN, with streaming available via Masters.com and the ESPN app.
Friday's weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and mild temperatures, ideal conditions for low scoring at Augusta. The tournament committee moved several tee times earlier by 10-15 minutes as a precaution against potential afternoon thunderstorms. These adjustments add urgency to the morning featured groups' performances.
Social media reactions to the pairings have been overwhelmingly positive, with many fans praising the competitive balance. The Scheffler-Schauffele-Rahm group in particular has drawn comparisons to "major championship Sunday" intensity. Ticket resale prices for Friday's round jumped nearly 20% overnight after the pairings announcement.
Augusta National's traditional Friday cut line adds stakes to every shot. Only the top 50 players (plus ties) will advance to weekend play, making these featured group performances crucial. Last year's cut fell at +3, eliminating several big names early in the tournament.
Viewership records could be challenged Friday, as the Masters benefits from being the year's first major championship. Last year's second round drew 4.8 million average viewers, a number likely to be surpassed given the star power in this year's featured groups. The tournament continues through Sunday, when a new champion will receive the iconic green jacket.
