Masters Round 3 Tee Times Announced Amid Tight Leaderboard
Masters Round 3 Tee Times Announced Amid Tight Leaderboard...
The tee times for Round 3 of the 2026 Masters Tournament were released Saturday morning, drawing intense interest as the leaderboard remains tightly contested. With several top players within striking distance, Saturday's pairings could determine the final outcome at Augusta National.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will tee off at 2:45 PM ET alongside rising star Ludvig Ã…berg, just one stroke behind co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele. McIlroy, seeking his first Masters win to complete the career Grand Slam, will play in the final group at 3:05 PM ET with Schauffele.
The tee times are trending nationwide as golf fans analyze potential moving day drama. Saturday's weather forecast calls for ideal scoring conditions, raising expectations for low rounds that could shake up the leaderboard. ESPN and CBS will provide live coverage starting at 3 PM ET.
Tiger Woods, who made his record 24th consecutive cut Friday, will begin his third round at 1:25 PM ET with Max Homa. The 50-year-old legend sits seven strokes back but remains a fan favorite at Augusta.
Local favorite Justin Thomas, just three shots off the lead, drew an early 12:35 PM ET tee time with Hideki Matsuyama. Tournament officials moved up all tee times by 30 minutes due to potential afternoon thunderstorms in the forecast.
The Masters app has seen a 40% spike in traffic since the tee times were posted, according to Augusta National officials. Golf fans are particularly focused on the Scheffler-Ã…berg pairing, which features this year's two hottest players on tour.
With no player holding more than a two-stroke advantage, Saturday's round sets up as one of the most pivotal moving days in recent Masters history. The tournament committee kept traditional pairings intact, avoiding any controversial groupings that could distract from the competition.
Augusta National members reported strong ticket demand for Saturday's round, with secondary market prices doubling since Friday evening. The famous Amen Corner (holes 11-13) is expected to be packed as players navigate the course's most treacherous stretch.
Saturday's tee times come after a dramatic Friday that saw defending champion Jon Rahm miss the cut by one stroke. The Spaniard's early exit removed a major contender from the field, opening opportunities for other players to make a move.
Golf analysts predict the tournament could be decided by which player handles the pressure of Saturday's pivotal round. With perfect scoring conditions expected, low numbers could come from anywhere on the leaderboard.
