The Masters. Augusta National. Azaleas in bloom, Amen Corner giving everyone a heart attack, and some guy who's been grinding on the Korn Ferry Tour for six years somehow making history.
It's the best week in golf — and if you want to watch it like a real fan (not just stumble in for the back nine on Sunday), here's everything you need to know about the Masters 2026 schedule, tee times, and how to follow along.
Masters 2026 Full Schedule at a Glance
| Date | Day | What's Happening |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, April 7 | Practice Round | Players on the course — no competition, lots of prep |
| Wednesday, April 8 | Practice Round + Par-3 Contest | Par-3 Contest in the afternoon |
| Thursday, April 9 | Practice Round | Final tune-up day before the bell |
| Thursday, April 10 | Round 1 | Tournament begins |
| Friday, April 11 | Round 2 | Cut day — 50 players + ties advance |
| Saturday, April 12 | Round 3 | Moving day — leaderboard starts to sort itself out |
| Sunday, April 13 | Round 4 | Champions Dinner reservation, let's go |
Note: Augusta National doesn't release official tee times until about a week before the event. Check Masters.com for the confirmed schedule closer to the tournament.
Tee Time Windows: When to Set Your Alarm
During Rounds 1 and 2, Augusta National uses a split-tee format — players go off both the 1st and 10th holes simultaneously. Tee times typically run from 8:00 AM to 1:45 PM ET.
What this means for casual fans:
- Morning wave (8:00–10:30 AM ET): Early risers get pristine, quiet Augusta National. Leaderboard is empty and everybody's just starting.
- Mid-morning wave (10:00–12:00 PM ET): The sweet spot. Enough action on the course to follow multiple storylines without waking up at dawn.
- Afternoon wave (12:00–1:45 PM ET): Leaderboard starts to fill in, scores come into focus. Best for lunch + TV combo.
For Rounds 3 and 4, tee times flip to a traditional single-tee start from #1. Featured pairings go out in the morning; the top of the leaderboard tees off last (roughly 2:00–3:00 PM ET for the final groups on Sunday). That's when things get interesting.
The Par-3 Contest: Wednesday, April 8
The Par-3 Contest is everything the actual tournament isn't — low stakes, family caddies, hole-in-ones, and players you've never heard of going absolutely nuclear on a 100-yard par-3.
What you need to know:
- Held on Augusta National's separate Par-3 course — 9 holes, none longer than 145 yards
- Players pick their kids, spouses, or parents as caddies. It's genuinely wholesome.
- Starts in the early afternoon (typically 1:00–2:00 PM ET)
- Runs about 2 hours
- Not broadcast on CBS — watch on ESPN+ or the Masters app
- No Masters champion has ever won the Par-3 Contest the same week (the curse is real)
Worth watching? 100%. It's the best 90 minutes of the whole week for casual fans. Low pressure, fun atmosphere, guaranteed hole-in-one celebrations.
How to Watch the Masters 2026
You've got options. Here's where to find coverage:
CBS
Weekend coverage (Rounds 3 and 4) airs on CBS, typically from 3:00–7:30 PM ET on Saturday and Sunday. This is the main event — the leaderboard drama, the walk up 18, the green jacket ceremony.
ESPN / ESPN+
- ESPN carries weekday early round coverage and some weekend morning golf
- ESPN+ streams Featured Groups all four rounds — you pick which pairing to follow for hours at a time. Great if you're into one specific player's journey
- Practice rounds and Par-3 Contest content also live on ESPN+
Masters App + Masters.com
Augusta National runs their own streaming operation and it's legitimately good. You get:
- Live coverage of specific holes (Amen Corner cam is iconic)
- Featured group streams
- Radio broadcast
- The Masters app is free, no subscription required
Best setup for casual fans: TV on CBS for the weekend, Masters app on your phone to catch Amen Corner in real time regardless of what CBS is showing.
The Best Viewing Window for Casual Fans
If you can only carve out a few hours, Sunday afternoon from 3:00–7:00 PM ET is the obvious pick. Leaderboard chaos, Amen Corner drama, and the green jacket ceremony all happen in this window.
But here's the underrated watch window that most people miss: Saturday afternoon (Round 3). This is "moving day" — the round where the real tournament takes shape. The cut has happened, the field is down to 50 players, and the leaders start separating from the pack. Scores move more dramatically on Saturday than any other day. The Sunday narrative is basically written on Saturday.
Set your alarm for Saturday at 2:00 PM ET. You can thank us later.
Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
- Tournament starts: Thursday, April 10
- Round 1 & 2 tee times: ~8:00 AM – 1:45 PM ET (split tee)
- Round 3 & 4 tee times: Single tee, leaders tee off ~2:00–3:00 PM ET
- Par-3 Contest: Wednesday, April 8 (~1:00–3:00 PM ET)
- CBS coverage: Rounds 3 & 4, afternoon (~3:00–7:30 PM ET)
- ESPN+ streaming: Featured groups, all rounds
- Free streaming: Masters app, Masters.com (hole cameras, radio)
- Best casual watch window: Saturday 2 PM + Sunday 3 PM
Now go update your calendar, stock the fridge, and find a green jacket. The Masters is almost here.
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