The 2026 Masters Tournament begins Thursday, April 9, at Augusta National Golf Club, and golf fans will have more ways to watch than ever before. A total of 27 hours of combined live coverage will be spread across Prime Video, ESPN, Paramount+, and CBS, ensuring that virtually every meaningful shot from the 90th edition of golf’s most storied major can be watched in real time. Here’s your complete breakdown of when, where, and how to catch every moment.
The Full Broadcast Schedule
Thursday and Friday’s opening rounds will be broadcast across ESPN and Paramount+. ESPN will carry the main broadcast window from 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM ET on both days, while Paramount+ will stream featured groups and Amen Corner coverage starting as early as 10:00 AM ET. For cord-cutters, the Paramount+ streams may actually provide more compelling viewing during the early rounds, as they follow the marquee pairings hole by hole rather than cutting between groups.
Saturday’s third round shifts to CBS, which has been the traditional home of Masters weekend coverage for decades. Expect CBS coverage to run from approximately 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM ET, with Paramount+ again providing streaming coverage of featured groups and holes earlier in the day.
Sunday’s final round will also air on CBS, with coverage typically beginning at 2:00 PM ET and running until the champion is decided. Prime Video will supplement with additional streams throughout the week. In total, the combination of linear television and streaming platforms will deliver 27 hours of live coverage, not counting the par-3 contest on Wednesday, practice round coverage, and on-demand replays.
What to Watch For
The storylines heading into Augusta are extraordinary, even by Masters standards. Defending champion Rory McIlroy returns seeking back-to-back titles, a feat accomplished only three times in Masters history by Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods. McIlroy’s 2025 victory completed the career Grand Slam, making him just the sixth golfer ever to win all four major championships, and his title defense adds historic weight to every shot he plays this week.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is the betting favorite at +500, seeking his third green jacket after victories in 2022 and 2024. Scheffler’s consistency at Augusta is remarkable: he has finished in the top five in four of his last five appearances, and his combination of elite ball-striking and improved putting makes him the player the rest of the field is trying to catch.
Bryson DeChambeau, now at +1000 alongside McIlroy, has steadily improved his Augusta results and brings the longest driving in the field. Ludvig Aberg, the young Swede who finished runner-up in 2024 and seventh in 2025, offers significant value at +1400 for those tracking the betting markets. The full field breakdown, including the first-timers who could surprise, adds depth to the viewing experience.
The Course and Conditions
Augusta National plays at a record 7,565 yards for 2026, with the 17th hole lengthened by 10 yards to 450 yards as the only course modification. The club has also opened a new Player Services Building behind the tournament practice area, featuring locker rooms, dining areas, physio and fitness facilities, reflecting the modern tour player’s comprehensive performance infrastructure.
Weather will be a significant factor, as it always is at the Masters. Augusta in April can produce anything from sunny and calm conditions that yield a birdie-fest to cold, windy days that push winning scores into single digits under par. Checking the forecast heading into Thursday will give you a sense of whether to expect a scoring shootout or a survival test.
For newer golf fans, Augusta National’s back nine is where the drama traditionally unfolds. Amen Corner, the stretch from the 11th through the 13th holes, features water hazards and risk-reward decisions that have produced some of the most iconic moments in golf history. The par-3 12th, a deceptively simple-looking 155-yard shot over Rae’s Creek, has ended more Masters dreams than any other hole on the course.
How to Get the Most from Your Viewing
To maximize your Masters viewing experience, consider starting with the featured group streams on Paramount+ or the Masters app during the morning hours, then switching to the main ESPN or CBS broadcast for the afternoon action. The featured groups typically include the tournament leaders and biggest names, giving you focused coverage of the players most likely to contend.
The Amen Corner stream is another must-watch. Positioned at the 11th, 12th, and 13th holes, this camera angle captures the most dramatic stretch of the course in a continuous feed that lets you see every player navigate the critical middle section of the back nine.
If you’re watching with friends or family who are less familiar with golf, the Masters is the perfect introduction to the sport. The beauty of Augusta National, the relatively small field of 90-plus players compared to regular tournaments, and the dramatic stakes make it accessible viewing even for non-golfers. Use the opportunity to explain how course management and shot strategy work, as the risk-reward decisions players face at holes like the par-5 13th and par-5 15th are easy to understand and endlessly entertaining to watch.
For those looking to improve their own game based on what they observe, pay attention to how the professionals manage their approach shots. The pre-shot routines of players like Scheffler and McIlroy are models of consistency, and their green-reading processes offer insights into how putting technique and technology intersect at the highest level.
Key Takeaways
The 2026 Masters offers 27 hours of live coverage across ESPN, Paramount+, CBS, and Prime Video, beginning Thursday, April 9. McIlroy defends, Scheffler leads the odds, and Augusta National plays at a record 7,565 yards. Start with featured group streams in the morning, switch to the main broadcast in the afternoon, and keep the Amen Corner feed on a second screen for the most complete viewing experience. This is shaping up to be one of the most compelling Masters fields in recent memory.
