The 2026 Masters tee times and pairings for rounds one and two are officially set, and Augusta National has delivered some genuinely compelling groupings for what promises to be a historic week. The 90th Masters begins Thursday, April 9, with defending champion Rory McIlroy chasing back-to-back green jackets and world number one Scottie Scheffler the man everyone else needs to beat. Here is your complete guide to the key groups you cannot afford to miss.
The Ceremonial Start
The 90th Masters gets underway in the most traditional way possible. Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson — three of the greatest champions in Augusta National history — hit the honorary starter tee shots off the first tee at 7:25 a.m. ET on Thursday. Between them, these three legends have claimed 20 major championships and a combined nine Masters titles. Their ceremonial shots are a reminder of everything this tournament stands for before a single competitive stroke is played.
The Key First Round Pairings
Rory McIlroy — 10:31 a.m. ET (with Cameron Young & Mason Howell)
The defending champion is the story of the week, full stop. Rory McIlroy’s bid to become the first back-to-back Masters champion since Tiger Woods in 2001-02 dominates the narrative heading into Thursday. He tees off in the morning wave at 10:31 a.m. alongside two players who could themselves make noise at Augusta: Cameron Young, one of the longest and most consistent ball-strikers on Tour, and amateur Mason Howell, who earned his place here through the amateur circuit.
The morning tee time suits McIlroy strategically. He gets to set a target before the afternoon wave faces potentially firmer, faster conditions. If Rory can post a red number by lunchtime, he places immediate pressure on Scheffler and the rest of the afternoon field. His short game and Augusta course knowledge make him perfectly equipped to handle the morning dew.
Scottie Scheffler — 1:44 p.m. ET (with Robert MacIntyre & Gary Woodland)
World number one Scottie Scheffler goes in the afternoon alongside Scotsman Robert MacIntyre — who has been in excellent form — and Gary Woodland, the 2019 US Open champion. Scheffler arrives at Augusta National as the clear pre-tournament favourite, with his ball-striking consistency and mental composure tailor-made for major championship conditions.
The afternoon draw is a double-edged sword at Augusta. Conditions generally firm up, making approach shots and putting more demanding. But Scheffler’s iron accuracy means he regularly finds greens that other players miss, giving him a relative advantage when the greens speed up. He will also have a complete picture of the morning’s scoring when he steps to the first tee — crucial information for pacing his round intelligently. MacIntyre is not merely a foil in this group; the Scotsman’s creativity around Augusta’s contours could see him in genuine contention by Friday evening.
Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick & Xander Schauffele — 10:07 a.m. ET
The deepest threesome in the morning wave may well be this one. DeChambeau brings his trademark power and an Augusta game that plays to his strengths on the par fives. Schauffele is one of the most consistent performers in major championships over the past several seasons. And Matt Fitzpatrick’s remarkable comeback from outside the world’s top 80 to genuine Masters contender status is one of the great stories of the early 2026 season.
This threesome has the firepower to produce the lowest score of the morning wave. DeChambeau’s ability to reach the par fives in two with wedges in his hands is a genuine tournament weapon, while Fitzpatrick’s precision and short game are exactly what Augusta rewards.
Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup & Ludvig Aberg — 1:08 p.m. ET
The 2023 Masters champion returns, and he goes in the afternoon alongside two of the most exciting young players in the game. Masters rookie Chris Gotterup has been one of the most talked-about newcomers in the field — a player who hits it enormous and plays with supreme confidence. The towering Swede Ludvig Aberg, meanwhile, is already drawing comparisons to the very best ball-strikers in the world.
Rahm’s Augusta experience versus the fearlessness of two players with nothing to lose is a compelling dynamic. Rahm knows every corner of Augusta National and what it demands mentally — but Gotterup and Aberg have not yet learned to fear the course. That combination often produces fireworks.
Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose & Brooks Koepka — 1:20 p.m. ET
If you are looking for drama and history in a single threesome, this is it. Jordan Spieth has three runner-up finishes at Augusta to go with his 2015 victory — nobody has come closer to winning more Masters without collecting additional green jackets. Justin Rose is a major champion who has contended at Augusta multiple times. And Brooks Koepka has demonstrated time and again that he elevates his game in major championships specifically.
All three are playing afternoon golf, meaning they face Augusta at its most demanding. Any one of them posting a sub-70 round on Thursday would be a serious statement heading into the weekend.
Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry & Jason Day — 9:43 a.m. ET
Three former major champions, all with Augusta pedigree, all drawing an early morning slot when the course is most receptive. Johnson’s distance advantage never truly disappears at Augusta; Lowry’s wedge game and putting can carry him through any field; and Day’s Augusta record — including his final round 68 in 2011 as a near-miss — shows he can score when it matters.
What the Draw Tells Us About Contenders
Reading a Masters draw tells you more than just who plays when. The morning wave historically scores slightly better as the greens hold approach shots and the speed is more predictable. McIlroy, DeChambeau, Fitzpatrick, and Schauffele are all in the morning — if any of them posts six or seven under par by early afternoon, the pressure on the entire afternoon field becomes immense.
Scheffler in the afternoon is not necessarily a disadvantage — it is simply a different challenge. His accuracy means he is less exposed to the afternoon pin placements than most. And practice round reports confirm the course is playing firm and fast, with the back nine generating early concern about Amen Corner on both scoring days. Whoever manages holes 11, 12, and 13 most intelligently across both rounds will almost certainly be in the top five come Friday evening.
For further context on the full Masters field, it is worth noting that J.J. Spaun claimed the final Masters invitation at the Valero Texas Open just last week, adding one more intriguing character to an already loaded field. The breadth of talent assembled at Augusta National for the 90th Masters is genuinely exceptional.
What This Means For You: Lessons From Watching the Masters
The Masters is not just great entertainment — it is one of the best classrooms in golf. Here are four things to watch closely this Thursday and Friday that can genuinely improve your own game:
- Study how the world’s best manage the par fives. Augusta’s four par fives — holes 2, 8, 13, and 15 — are where the tournament is routinely decided. Watch which players go for the green in two and which lay up, and pay attention to the reasoning. Knowing when to attack and when to protect your score is one of the most underrated skills in golf, applicable at every handicap level.
- Watch Scheffler’s iron play. No player in the world is more precise with mid and long irons. Notice how he shapes the ball, picks his landing zones, and almost never misses to the dangerous side of the green. This discipline — playing to the fat part of the green — is a simple and transformative lesson for amateur golfers.
- Observe how they putt the back nine. Augusta’s back nine greens are among the most terrifying in major championship golf. Watch the speed of putts from above the hole on 14, 15, and 16. The best players never let the ball run past the hole on those greens. The lesson: always know where your miss should be, and err on the safe side.
- Track who recovers from early bogeys. Masters history is full of players who made a bogey or double early and went on to win. The ability to reset mentally after a setback is arguably the defining skill at Augusta. Watch how the best in the world process adversity and get back to their process.
Key Takeaways
- The 90th Masters begins Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Augusta National Golf Club, with ceremonial tee shots from Nicklaus, Player, and Watson at 7:25 a.m. ET.
- Defending champion Rory McIlroy tees off at 10:31 a.m. with Cameron Young and amateur Mason Howell; world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler tees at 1:44 p.m. with Robert MacIntyre and Gary Woodland.
- The DeChambeau/Fitzpatrick/Schauffele morning group and Rahm/Gotterup/Aberg afternoon group are two of the most compelling pairings in the draw.
- The course is playing firm and fast — Amen Corner management across both rounds will separate the contenders from the field.
- The morning wave has a historical scoring edge at Augusta; McIlroy, DeChambeau, Fitzpatrick, and Schauffele are all in the AM — expect fireworks early.
