The Masters 2026 - Field, Tee Times & Preview

The Masters is the first major championship of the golf calendar each year, and the 2026 edition promises to be one of the most anticipated in recent memory. Held at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, the tournament brings together the world's best players to compete for the green jacket - the most coveted prize in golf. Here is everything you need to know about The Masters 2026.

When Is The Masters 2026?

The Masters traditionally takes place during the first full week of April. The 2026 tournament is expected to follow this tradition, with practice rounds and the Par 3 Contest early in the week, followed by four competitive rounds from Thursday through Sunday.

Augusta National typically opens for practice rounds on the Monday of Masters week, giving players a chance to refamiliarise themselves with one of the most demanding courses in professional golf.

Augusta National Golf Club - Course Guide

Augusta National is one of the most famous and exclusive golf courses in the world. Founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts in 1933, the course was designed by Alister MacKenzie on the site of a former nursery - which is why each hole is named after a tree or shrub.

Front Nine Highlights

• Hole 1 - Tea Olive (par 4, 445 yards) - A demanding opening hole with a narrow landing area and an elevated green
• Hole 3 - Flowering Peach (par 4, 350 yards) - A short par 4 with one of the most severely sloped greens on the course
• Hole 4 - Flowering Crab Apple (par 3, 240 yards) - One of the toughest par 3s in major championship golf

Amen Corner

The most famous stretch in golf - holes 11, 12 and 13 - is known as Amen Corner. This is where Masters tournaments are won and lost:

• Hole 11 - White Dogwood (par 4, 520 yards) - A long par 4 with water guarding the left side of the green
• Hole 12 - Golden Bell (par 3, 155 yards) - The shortest hole on the course, but arguably the most dangerous. A shallow green fronted by Rae's Creek, with swirling winds that make club selection agonising
• Hole 13 - Azalea (par 5, 510 yards) - A reachable par 5 for long hitters, but Rae's Creek in front of the green punishes any miscalculation

Back Nine Drama

The back nine at Augusta is where the magic happens. Holes 15 and 16 offer birdie opportunities, while the closing stretch of 17 and 18 demands precision under pressure. Some of the greatest moments in golf history have unfolded on these holes.

Expected Field for The Masters 2026

The Masters has the smallest field of any major, typically around 90 players. Invitations are based on specific qualification criteria, including:

• Past Masters champions - lifetime invitation
• Major championship winners from the previous five years
• Top finishers from the previous year's Masters
• PGA Tour winners from the current season
• Top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking as of the week before the tournament
• Amateur qualifiers - U.S. Amateur champion, British Amateur champion and other top amateur event winners

Players to Watch

The 2026 Masters field is expected to feature the strongest collection of talent in the game:

• Scottie Scheffler - The world number one has shown remarkable consistency at Augusta, and will be among the favourites once again
• Rory McIlroy - The Northern Irishman's pursuit of the career Grand Slam remains one of golf's most compelling storylines. A Masters victory would complete the set of all four majors
• Xander Schauffele - A multiple major champion who thrives at Augusta's demanding layout
• Bryson DeChambeau - His prodigious length off the tee is a significant advantage at Augusta, where the course has been lengthened repeatedly to challenge modern technology
• Collin Morikawa - One of the purest ball-strikers in the game, with a game suited to Augusta's firm, fast greens

Masters Traditions

The Masters is steeped in tradition more than any other golf tournament:

• The Green Jacket - awarded to the champion in a ceremony in the Butler Cabin. The defending champion helps the new winner into the jacket
• The Champions Dinner - held on Tuesday evening of Masters week, where the defending champion selects the menu for all past champions
• The Par 3 Contest - a lighthearted nine-hole event on Augusta's par-3 course, played on Wednesday. Famously, no winner of the Par 3 Contest has gone on to win the Masters in the same year
• Patron, not spectator - Augusta National refers to its gallery members as "patrons," and the atmosphere is famously respectful and reverential

How to Follow The Masters 2026 Live

The Masters generates more excitement than any other week in golf, and following the action live adds enormously to the experience. With GolfMode, you can:

• Track every player's score hole by hole in real time
• Follow your favourite players through Amen Corner and the back nine
• Get instant notifications for eagles, aces and dramatic leaderboard changes
• Compare player stats throughout the tournament

For a complete understanding of the tour these players compete on year-round, see our PGA Tour guide.

Masters History and Records

The Masters has produced some of the most iconic moments in sporting history:

• Most wins - Jack Nicklaus holds the record with six green jackets (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986)
• Lowest 72-hole score - 268 (-20), set in 2020
• Youngest winner - Tiger Woods, who was 21 when he won his first Masters in 1997 by 12 strokes
• Oldest winner - Jack Nicklaus, who was 46 when he won his sixth Masters in 1986 in one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time
• The "Golden Bear" charge - Nicklaus's 1986 victory, where he shot 30 on the back nine on Sunday, remains the most celebrated final round in major championship history

Understanding OWGR and Masters Qualification

The Official World Golf Ranking plays a crucial role in Masters qualification. Players ranked inside the top 50 in the world as of the week before the tournament receive an invitation. This means the OWGR race intensifies in the months leading up to April, with players on the bubble competing fiercely to secure their spot at Augusta.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get tickets to The Masters?

Augusta National operates a lottery system for daily and practice round tickets. Demand far exceeds supply - the waiting list has been closed for years. The most reliable way to attend is through authorised hospitality packages, though these come at a premium.

Why is The Masters always at Augusta National?

Unlike the other three majors, which rotate between courses, The Masters has been held exclusively at Augusta National since its inception in 1934. This permanence is central to the tournament's identity and allows players to build course knowledge over decades.

What is the prize money at The Masters?

The Masters purse has grown significantly in recent years, with the total prize fund exceeding $18 million. The champion's share is typically around $3.6 million, along with the priceless green jacket.

Do LIV Golf players compete at The Masters?

The Masters has its own invitation criteria, separate from any tour. Past champions receive lifetime invitations, and players who meet other qualification criteria - such as world ranking or recent major wins - are also invited, regardless of which tour they compete on.

Track The Masters 2026 live on GolfMode - download free.