The 2026 Masters Tournament tees off on Thursday, April 9, and golf fans around the world are asking one question as much as any other: what’s the weather going to be like at Augusta National? The good news is that Mother Nature appears set to cooperate beautifully for the 90th edition of golf’s most prestigious major — but there are some nuances worth knowing before you plan your viewing schedule.
The Masters 2026 Weather Forecast: Day by Day
Here’s the full round-by-round forecast for Augusta National Golf Club this week, based on the latest meteorological data available as of April 3:
Thursday, April 9 — Round 1
Expect a high of 73°F (23°C) with an overnight low of 54°F. There is a modest 16% chance of rain, with an east-northeast wind near 8 mph. Thursday will be the most overcast day of the four rounds, with partly cloudy skies prevailing through much of the morning. Players teeing off in the early groups will face softer, more receptive conditions — something to factor in when reading early scoring trends.
Friday, April 10 — Round 2
Friday improves noticeably, with a high of 76°F (24°C) and lows around 55°F. Rain chances tick up to 22%, but this is still well within “no significant threat” territory. Winds remain light from the east-northeast at around 9 mph. Friday looks set to produce some of the best scoring conditions of the week as cloud cover partially burns off by afternoon.
Saturday, April 11 — Round 3 (Moving Day)
Saturday shapes up as a classic Augusta afternoon, with temperatures climbing to 79°F (26°C). Rain chances drop back to just 14%, and easterly winds at 8 mph provide a gentle, consistent breeze. Moving Day at the Masters is always critical, and the calm conditions mean low scores are absolutely possible. Don’t be surprised if the Saturday leaderboard sees several players make aggressive moves.
Sunday, April 12 — Final Round
Sunday is forecast to be the warmest and sunniest day of the week, with a high of 80°F (27°C) and just an 11% chance of rain. Northeast winds stay light at 8 mph. This is the kind of Augusta Sunday that creates memories: warm, bright, and firm enough to make the famous back nine as challenging as Augusta National’s architects intended. Expect the greens to be running fast by Sunday afternoon, putting a premium on putting precision and course management.
How Weather Shapes Augusta National’s Challenge
Augusta National plays very differently depending on conditions. Wind is typically the biggest variable — when gusts come from the wrong direction, even the world’s best players can unravel on Amen Corner (holes 11, 12, and 13). The gentle 8-9 mph easterly breezes forecast for 2026 represent an almost ideal scenario: enough to affect ball flight and demand shot-shaping, but not enough to turn the course into a weather lottery.
Temperature and ground firmness matter enormously at Augusta. A warm, dry week means the greens firm up and the course plays longer and more demanding — taking away the easy option of spinning approach shots to a stop. Wet conditions allow balls to hold greens more easily, reducing Augusta’s chief defense. With low rain probability all week, expect conditions to firm progressively from Thursday to Sunday, rewarding experience, precision, and course management over raw power.
This context matters for assessing contenders. Players like Scottie Scheffler — whose ball-striking precision is arguably unmatched in world golf — tend to thrive when Augusta plays firm and fast. Scheffler enters as the clear favorite. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, who completed his career Grand Slam last year in dramatic fashion, faces the added challenge of managing a back injury. The forecast conditions will demand the complete game across all four rounds. For a full breakdown of how weather affects each hole, see our Augusta National hole-by-hole guide.
Amen Corner and the Wind Direction
Augusta’s 12th hole — the par-3 Golden Bell, widely called the most treacherous hole in major championship golf — can look entirely different depending on wind direction. With consistent easterly breezes forecast for the week, players will be dealing with a relatively conventional wind scenario at Amen Corner, which plays more predictably than the swirling gusts that can make the 12th a nightmare in years when conditions are variable.
This could lead to more stable scoring at the iconic short par-3, allowing drama to concentrate on other areas of the course — particularly on the par-5 13th (Azalea), where big drives with the right wind angle open up reachable eagle opportunities, and on the closing stretch from the 15th through the 18th. For those watching at home, pay close attention to how players handle the second shot at 15 and 16 as the final round progresses.
What the Forecast Means for Viewers and the Leaderboard
For viewers, Sunday’s clear and warm forecast is the headline. A bright, dry final round at Augusta National is ideal for television — the azaleas will be in full bloom, shadows will lengthen dramatically in the late afternoon, and Amen Corner will be electric under blue skies. Clear conditions also mean no weather delays to disrupt your Sunday schedule.
For those tracking the betting markets, firm, low-wind conditions tend to favour precision ball-strikers and elite putters over long hitters who rely on stopping the ball quickly on soft greens. Players with strong Augusta track records in similar conditions are worth monitoring. Our Masters 2026 odds and betting analysis breaks down the full field and who offers the best value given current form and course fit.
For a full picture of the field heading into Augusta, our complete 2026 Masters guide covers the format, prize money, broadcast details, and all the key storylines. TV and streaming details are in our Masters 2026 viewing guide. And for those curious about the favorites versus the dark horses, check out our Masters 2026 contenders analysis.
Key Takeaways for Masters Week 2026
- Temperatures will climb progressively from 73°F on Thursday to 80°F on Sunday — classic warm Augusta spring conditions.
- Rain chances are minimal throughout (11–22%), with no significant precipitation expected on any day.
- Light 8–9 mph easterly winds will provide a gentle challenge without producing chaos at Amen Corner.
- Firm, fast conditions will favour precision ball-strikers over power hitters, putting a premium on putting and course management.
- Sunday’s forecast is ideal for a spectacular final round — warm, clear, and set up for drama on Augusta’s famous back nine.
- Plan your viewing with confidence: no weather delays expected, particularly on the weekend.
The weather won’t be the story of the 2026 Masters — but it will shape every shot of it. With ideal conditions aligned for four competitive rounds, the 90th Masters looks set to produce the kind of pure test of golf that Augusta National was designed to deliver. The question now is simply: who has the game, the nerve, and the course knowledge to claim a green jacket when conditions offer no excuses?
