The Masters 2026: Rory McIlroy Defends Title at Augusta National
The Masters returns today with Rory McIlroy aiming to defend the championship he secured in a dramatic play-off victory over Justin Rose last April. This win ended McIlroy's decade-long major drought and completed his career Grand Slam, making him a focal point as he seeks to join legends Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods as only the fourth player to retain the Green Jacket.
Top Contenders and British Hopes
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler leads the charge to challenge McIlroy, entering as the favourite despite a relatively subdued start to the season by his high standards. 2023 champion Jon Rahm is also a strong contender, backed by an impressive early-year performance, while LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau brings momentum with consecutive top-six finishes in his last two Masters appearances.
British optimism runs high with Matt Fitzpatrick and Bob MacIntyre showing strong form on the PGA Tour in recent weeks, adding depth to the field of potential winners.
Round One and Two UK Tee Times
All times are in BST. Selected groups for Round One include:
- 14:43: Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Jason Day
- 14:55: Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood, Akshay Bhatia
- 15:07: Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele
- 15:19: Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa, Russell Henley
- 15:31: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Mason Howell
- 18:08: Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup, Ludvig Aberg
- 18:20: Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka
- 18:44: Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, Gary Woodland
Round Two tee times feature key matchups such as:
- 14:43: Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup, Ludvig Aberg
- 14:55: Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka
- 16:19: Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, Gary Woodland
- 17:56: Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Jason Day
- 18:08: Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood, Akshay Bhatia
- 18:20: Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele
- 18:32: Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa, Russell Henley
- 18:44: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Mason Howell (a)
How to Watch the Masters on TV and Live Stream
In the UK, all four rounds of the Masters will be broadcast on Sky Sports Golf or Sky Sports Main Event. Viewers can also live stream the action via Sky Go for comprehensive coverage.
The Masters TV Schedule (All Times BST)
- Thursday, April 9: 14:00-00:30 – The Masters first round
- Friday, April 10: 14:00-00:30 – The Masters second round action
- Saturday, April 11: 16:30-00:30 – The Masters third round action
- Sunday, April 12: 16:30-00:30 – The Masters final round action
The Masters Odds: Favourites to Win
Current betting odds highlight the top contenders, with Scottie Scheffler leading at 5/1. Other notable odds include:
- Bryson DeChambeau – 9/1
- Jon Rahm – 9/1
- Rory McIlroy – 10/1
- Xander Schauffele – 11/1
- Ludvig Aberg – 12/1
- Matt Fitzpatrick – 16/1
- Tommy Fleetwood – 16/1
- Cameron Young – 16/1
- Robert MacIntyre – 20/1
- Justin Rose – 22/1
- Min Woo Lee – 25/1
- Hideki Matsuyama – 25/1
- Collin Morikawa – 28/1
- Patrick Reed – 28/1
- Brooks Koepka – 30/1
- Si Woo Kim – 33/1
- BAR – 35/1
Odds are provided by BOYLE Sports and are subject to change.
