Masters Tournament 2026 Begins Today At Augusta National
Masters Tournament 2026 Begins Today At Augusta National...
The 90th Masters Tournament tees off Thursday morning at Augusta National Golf Club, drawing global attention to one of sports' most prestigious events. Golf fans across the U.S. are searching for start times as Tiger Woods makes his highly anticipated return and defending champion Scottie Scheffler seeks back-to-back green jackets.
First-round play begins at 8:00 AM ET with honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson hitting ceremonial tee shots. Featured groups including Woods, Scheffler, and Rory McIlroy will take the course between 10:18 AM and 1:48 PM ET, with ESPN providing live coverage starting at 3:00 PM ET.
This year's tournament marks Woods' first competitive appearance since withdrawing from last year's Masters due to injury. The 50-year-old legend is paired with Jason Day and Max Homa for the opening rounds, creating one of the most-watched groupings in recent Masters history.
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley confirmed Wednesday that the course will play at 7,555 yards - the longest in tournament history - with recent rains creating challenging conditions. The weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and highs near 80°F during Thursday's opening round.
Google search interest spiked Thursday morning as fans checked start times and streaming options. CBS Sports and ESPN will share television coverage throughout the weekend, while Masters.com offers free live streams of featured groups and amen corner action.
Ticket resale prices reached record levels this week, with practice round badges selling for over $1,000 and tournament day passes exceeding $2,500 on secondary markets. The economic impact on Augusta, Georgia is estimated at over $120 million for the local economy.
Security measures have been heightened following last year's protest incident, with new clear bag policies and increased law enforcement presence. Tournament officials emphasize these changes won't affect the spectator experience at the famously pristine course.
The Masters remains the only major golf championship held at the same location annually, maintaining traditions like the Champions Dinner and Par 3 Contest while introducing limited changes like expanded concession options and upgraded spectator areas.
With perfect spring weather expected through Sunday's final round, golf analysts predict scoring conditions could rival the record-setting 2020 tournament held in November. The winner will take home a record $3.6 million from the $20 million total purse.
