Masters 2026 Tee Times Announced As Tournament Nears Climax

Masters 2026 Tee Times Announced As Tournament Nears Climax...

The 2026 Masters Tournament tee times were released early Saturday morning, setting the stage for a dramatic weekend at Augusta National. Golf fans across the U.S. are scrambling to adjust their viewing schedules as the final pairings feature a showdown between defending champion Scottie Scheffler and rising star Michael Thorbjornsen.

The tee times are trending today as the tournament enters its critical third round, with unpredictable weather forecasts adding urgency to the schedule. Augusta National officials moved several groups earlier to avoid potential afternoon thunderstorms, affecting marquee players like Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm.

Saturday's featured pairing tees off at 2:45 PM ET, with Scheffler and Thorbjornsen drawing the largest gallery of the day. The two have been separated by just one stroke through 36 holes, reigniting the rivalry that began at last year's U.S. Open. CBS Sports will broadcast the round live starting at 3 PM ET.

Tiger Woods' 1:20 PM tee time has also drawn significant attention after the five-time champion made the cut on the number Friday evening. The 50-year-old is playing alongside Will Zalatoris in what could be Woods' final competitive round at Augusta.

Local ticket prices outside Augusta National have surged to over $2,000 following the tee time announcement, according to secondary market data from SeatGeek. The Masters app saw record traffic Saturday morning as fans checked updated pairings and weather alerts.

Sunday's final round tee times will be determined by Saturday's results, with leaders traditionally going off last in the afternoon. Tournament officials confirmed they may implement split tees if severe weather threatens to disrupt play.

Viewership records could fall this weekend as the tournament coincides with minimal sports competition. No NBA or NHL playoff games are scheduled for Saturday afternoon, leaving golf as the day's premier sporting event.

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley told reporters the course is playing "faster than any Masters in recent memory" due to dry conditions. This has led to higher scores and more dramatic leaderboard swings, further amplifying interest in the tee times and player matchups.