Rory McIlroy will begin his bid to retain the Green Jacket in familiar company when the opening rounds of The Masters get under way at Augusta National Golf Club this week, with the Masters 2026 tee times for Rounds 1 and 2 now confirmed.
Defending champion handed intriguing opening pairing
The defending champion has been paired with Cameron Young and rising amateur Mason Howell for the first two days, as tournament organisers once again honour the tradition of grouping the reigning champion with the current US Amateur champion. It is a draw that blends proven pedigree with youthful ambition, and one that promises early intrigue.
History in sight for McIlroy at Augusta
McIlroy arrives as the world No 2 after completing the career Grand Slam in unforgettable fashion last year, prevailing in a dramatic play off that finally secured his place among the game’s immortals. Now he returns with history once again within reach, aiming to become only the fourth player to successfully defend the title at Augusta.
Masters 2026 tee times put McIlroy in early spotlight
His campaign will begin in the morning wave on Thursday, teeing off at 10.31am local time, which is 3.31pm UK and Ireland time. Young, who continues to chase a breakthrough major triumph, adds further strength to the group, while Howell steps onto the grandest stage of his young career as the youngest player in the field.
Elsewhere, world No 1 Scottie Scheffler finds himself on the opposite side of the draw. He will play alongside Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and former US Open champion Gary Woodland in what looks a formidable three ball for the opening rounds.
Star studded groups promise major drama
There is no shortage of star power across the draw. Justin Rose, last year’s runner up, will head out later in the day alongside Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka, while Bryson DeChambeau joins Matt Fitzpatrick and Xander Schauffele in another eye catching group set to tee off mid morning.
Masters 2026 tee times for Rounds 1 and 2 highlight strong British and Irish challenge
The ceremonial start remains one of the most cherished traditions in golf, with Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson returning to strike the opening shots on Thursday morning at 7.25am local time, which is 12.25pm UK and Ireland time. Shortly after, John Keefer and Haotong Li will officially get play under way at 7.40am local time.
Among the British and Irish hopefuls, Tommy Fleetwood begins his pursuit of a first major title in the early wave alongside Akshay Bhatia and former champion Patrick Reed. Shane Lowry is also out early, joining Dustin Johnson and Jason Day in a group rich with experience.
With a 91 player field assembled and storylines unfolding across every corner of the draw, the Masters 2026 tee times underline just how much anticipation surrounds another compelling chapter at Augusta. All eyes, however, will inevitably settle on McIlroy as he attempts to turn last year’s breakthrough into the start of a new era of dominance.
Full Masters 2026 tee times for Rounds 1 and 2 – Thursday 9 April (BST)
12.40pm
John Keefer, Haotong Li
12.50pm
Naoyuki Kataoka, Max Homa, Carlos Ortiz
1.02pm
Jose Maria Olazabal, Rasmus Neergaard Petersen, Aldrich Potgieter
1.14pm
Angel Cabrera, Sami Valimaki, Jackson Herrington (a)
1.26pm
Charl Schwartzel, Max Greyserman, Ryan Fox
1.38pm
Vijay Singh, Matt McCarty, Rasmus Hojgaard
1.50pm
Kurt Kitayama, Kristoffer Reitan, Casey Jarvis
2.02pm
Bubba Watson, Nicolas Echavarria, Brandon Holtz (a)
2.19pm
Cameron Smith, Sam Burns, Jake Knapp
2.31pm
Keegan Bradley, Ryan Gerard, Nick Taylor
2.43pm
Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Jason Day
2.55pm
Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood, Akshay Bhatia
3.07pm
Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele
3.19pm
Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa, Russell Henley
3.31pm
Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Mason Howell (a)
3.43pm
Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Alex Noren
4.03pm
Samuel Stevens, Sung jae Im
4.15pm
Andrew Novak, Tom McKibbin, Brian Campbell
4.27pm
Mike Weir, Wyndham Clark, Mateo Pulcini (a)
4.39pm
Zach Johnson, Michael Kim, Nicolai Hojgaard
4.51pm
Danny Willett, Davis Riley, Ethan Fang (a)
5.03pm
Adam Scott, Daniel Berger, Brian Harman
5.15pm
Fred Couples, Min Woo Lee, Fifa Laopakdee (a)
5.27pm
Sergio Garcia, Aaron Rai, Jacob Bridgeman
5.44pm
Harry Hall, Corey Conners, Michael Brennan
5.56pm
J J Spaun, Maverick McNealy, Tyrrell Hatton
6.08pm
Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup, Ludvig Aberg
6.20pm
Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka
6.32pm
Sepp Straka, Ben Griffin, Justin Thomas
6.44pm
Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, Gary Woodland
6.56pm
Harris English, Marco Penge, Si Woo Kim
Masters 2026 tee times for Rounds 1 and 2 – Friday 10 April (BST)
12.40pm
Samuel Stevens, Sung jae Im
12.50pm
Andrew Novak, Tom McKibbin, Brian Campbell
1.02pm
Mike Weir, Wyndham Clark, Mateo Pulcini (a)
1.14pm
Zach Johnson, Michael Kim, Nicolai Hojgaard
1.26pm
Danny Willett, Davis Riley, Ethan Fang (a)
1.38pm
Adam Scott, Daniel Berger, Brian Harman
1.50pm
Fred Couples, Min Woo Lee, Fifa Laopakdee (a)
2.02pm
Sergio Garcia, Aaron Rai, Jacob Bridgeman
2.19pm
Harry Hall, Corey Conners, Michael Brennan
2.31pm
J J Spaun, Maverick McNealy, Tyrrell Hatton
2.43pm
Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup, Ludvig Aberg
2.55pm
Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka
3.07pm
Sepp Straka, Ben Griffin, Justin Thomas
3.19pm
Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, Gary Woodland
3.31pm
Harris English, Marco Penge, Si Woo Kim
3.51pm
John Keefer, Haotong Li
4.03pm
Naoyuki Kataoka, Max Homa, Carlos Ortiz
4.15pm
Jose Maria Olazabal, Rasmus Neergaard Petersen, Aldrich Potgieter
4.27pm
Angel Cabrera, Sami Valimaki, Jackson Herrington (a)
4.39pm
Charl Schwartzel, Max Greyserman, Ryan Fox
4.51pm
Vijay Singh, Matt McCarty, Rasmus Hojgaard
5.03pm
Kurt Kitayama, Kristoffer Reitan, Casey Jarvis
5.15pm
Bubba Watson, Nicolas Echavarria, Brandon Holtz (a)
5.32pm
Cameron Smith, Sam Burns, Jake Knapp
5.44pm
Keegan Bradley, Ryan Gerard, Nick Taylor
5.56pm
Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Jason Day
6.08pm
Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood, Akshay Bhatia
6.20pm
Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele
6.32pm
Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa, Russell Henley
6.44pm
Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Mason Howell (a)
6.56pm
Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Alex Noren
(a) denotes amateur
