What to expect at the 2026 Masters: Players, tournament schedule and more
It's officially Masters week! The tradition unlike any other is underway for the 90th playing of the tournament at iconic Augusta National as top golfers like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Rose and more vie for the coveted green jacket and fans watch all the picturesque on-course action.
How to watch the 2026 Masters Tournament?
Coverage of the Tournament is available across multiple platforms, including online and the official Masters app powered by IBM with new AI-enhanced features and broadcast coverage.
Click here for the full tournament schedule, including various viewing options from the driving range to specific holes and pairings.
Thursday and Friday will be broadcast on Amazon Prime and ESPN. Saturday and Sunday will be broadcast on Paramount+ and CBS.
What is the Masters Tournament?
The Masters marks the first major of the professional golf season and is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious tournaments and courses in the world.
The exclusive, invite-only field is comprised of past Masters champions and other PGA tournament winners, which this year expanded with six new qualifications that provide "an invitation to winners of select national open championships across several international tours."
The legendary par-72 course designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones is well known for its pristinely manicured grounds, with holes named after the surrounding flora, such as No. 5 Magnolia and No. 13 Azalea.
Equally as timeless are the fan-favorite, signature Southern concessions. Hit menu items include the pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches, just $1.50 each, plus sweet treats like Georgia pecan caramel popcorn for $2 and Georgia peach ice cream sandwiches for $3. The fare has become a catalyst for at-home kits and Augusta-inspired pop-ups nationwide during Masters week. Like the clubhouse pimento menu at Shake Shack, featuring pimento cheese topped burgers and chicken sandwiches, available all month long.
The iconic phrase "a tradition unlike any other," made famous by Jim Nantz, has been upheld by longstanding partnerships such as Mercedes-Benz, now in its 19th year with Augusta National Golf Club to elevate both player and fan experiences.
"We are on air, on ground, in-vehicle with all kinds of ways to really expand the experience of the tournament," Mercedes-Benz chief marketing officer Melody Lee told ABC News. "We both believe, in talking to those at Augusta National that it's about building on top of that tradition -- in a way that innovation is really meaningful for patrons of the game."
When is the 2026 Masters Tournament?
Masters week kicked off with practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday, before the beloved family-filled Par 3 contest on Wednesday, in which players compete in a nine-hole round as their wives, girlfriends and children sport the classic white caddie coveralls.
Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer told ABC News that aside from his wins, the first time driving down Magnolia Lane, and the past Champions dinner, that "the Par 3 contest is a lot of fun" and one of his favorite parts of the week.
Tournament play officially started Thursday, the official cut line is after the second round on Friday and the top players will finish the weekend play on Sunday, April 12.
Who's playing in the 2026 Masters? Storylines to watch
Reigning champion Rory McIlroy has returned to Augusta and will host the "most exclusive dinner in all of sport" for the Champions Dinner on Tuesday night with fellow past winners, but noted in an interview with Golf Channel that Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will be missed.
"Unfortunately, there will be a couple of guys that won't be in that room, which is a shame, but I want to make sure that they're acknowledged as well," he said. "They've been two of the greatest champions that the Masters has ever seen. But it's going to be a really cool night. I can't wait. I hope everyone enjoys the dinner and enjoys everything that I've selected."
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson won't play this year
Last month, Woods was charged with driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test during an accident in Jupiter Island, Martin County Sheriff's Office said, as previously reported by ABC News.
Since the incident, the five-time Masters winner waived his right to an arraignment and entered a not guilty plea last week.
Woods broke his silence last week and announced he is stepping away from the sport to seek treatment and focus on his health.
Last week, Mickelson -- a three-time Masters winner -- announced on social media that he will not play in the tournament and "will be out for an extended period of time" as his family continues to "navigate a personal health matter."
"I have great respect for Augusta National Golf Club and it is definitely the most special week of the year," Mickelson wrote in a statement. "I wish everyone the best of luck and will be watching."
This marks the first Masters in 32 years without Woods or Mickelson.
Top contenders to watch at Augusta
As McIlroy chases a repeat win, two-time Masters champion and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is among those in the field, teeing off less than two weeks after his wife Meredith gave birth to their second son, Remy.
Among the rest of the 91-player field, Cameron Young is seeking his first green jacket off the heels of his biggest career win at The Players Championship, which is widely referred to as an unofficial major that takes place just weeks before the Masters.
Bryson DeChambeau, who was in contention in the final pairing last year with McIlroy and finished tied for fifth, recently won back-to-back LIV Golf League events and was ranked among the top contenders by ESPN to potentially win his first Masters this year.
New AI, digital experiences for 90th Masters Tournament
Champion Partners like Mercedes-Benz tap into the shared legacy with Augusta National, rooted in honoring history to bring experiences to both players and fans.
From crafting bespoke Masters vehicles like Langer's custom green S-Class and a new matching green leather patron chair for his first non-competing return to Augusta, to new in-vehicle displays of Amen Corner, Mercedes executed new ways to experience golf off the course.
"We really wanted to honor Bernhard Langer's long legacy of excellence in golf and two Masters championships is something to be celebrated," Lee said of building the car "that really delighted him" and he now drives around the hallowed golf grounds.
The Masters app is also available in select Mercedes cars equipped MBUX packages so drivers can check scores, watch videos and listen to the action at Augusta live on center and passenger screens.
For the first time in 30 years of collaboration, IBM launched new interactive AI in the Masters app to help fans experience over 50 years of historic on-course excitement through full-length clips and precise replays to relive some of the most iconic moments of the tournament.
Using conversational prompts, AI agents from watsonx pull up the fan’s request by skimming the Masters’ historical database back to 1968; whether it’s a niche announcer call or specific shots like Tiger Woods’ chip-in on hole 16 from his 2005 win or Bubba Watson’s wedge hook shot on hole 10 when he went on to win in 2012.
The newly enhanced AI-powered hole insights, which are like having a virtual caddie for the tournament, can show each shot taken by every player on any hole at Augusta with enhanced visuals and contextual statistics to analyze and predict how it might impact the player’s position and outcome.
