The Masters Tee Times have been released as Rory McIlroy begins his title defence at Augusta National on Thursday, 2026 ET. McIlroy will tee off at 10: 31 AM ET with Players champion Cameron Young and amateur Mason Howell, while Shane Lowry is set to go out earlier in the day. The schedule also places Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele among the key names in the field.
McIlroy Gets Prime Position in The Masters Tee Times
McIlroy’s group is one of the headline pairings in The Masters Tee Times, with the Masters champion set for a mid-morning start that keeps him near the center of the opening-round schedule. The defending champion completed the career Grand Slam with an emotional playoff victory over Justin Rose 12 months ago, and now begins the next chapter of that run with two familiar but contrasting playing partners: Young, a Players champion, and Howell, the 2025 US Amateur winner.
Shane Lowry is first among the Irish golfers to start, teeing off at 9: 43 AM ET alongside Dustin Johnson and Jason Day. Just ahead of McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau and Matt Fitzpatrick are out at 10: 07 AM ET with Xander Schauffele. Jon Rahm is scheduled for 1: 08 PM ET with Ludvig Aberg and Chris Gotterup, while world number one Scottie Scheffler starts at 1: 44 PM ET with Robert MacIntyre and Gary Woodland.
The event begins early, with honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson opening proceedings at 7: 25 AM ET. The tournament proper gets under way at 7: 40 AM ET in a 91-man field.
How The Masters Tee Times Shape the Opening Round
The layout of The Masters Tee Times creates a clear early focus on the championship groups near the top of the field. McIlroy is seeking to become only the fourth man, and the first in 24 years, to win back-to-back Masters titles, joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo in that rare company.
That makes his tee time a central part of the opening round, especially with Scheffler, Rahm and DeChambeau also set for prominent slots. The field is stacked with major winners and recent form players, and the first round has been arranged to place several of them in view from the start.
What Howell’s Masters Debut Adds to the Day
Mason Howell’s presence gives the morning group extra weight. The high school senior is making his Masters debut after winning the US Amateur, and the pairing means he will share the stage with McIlroy in one of the most watched groups on Thursday. Howell has described the moment as a full-circle experience because McIlroy was his favorite player growing up.
He arrived at Augusta National and played nine holes earlier in the week, saying he wants to enjoy the week, stay composed and try to put together four good rounds. For a first-time Masters player, the task is steep, but the setting and the company make the opening round one of the day’s most closely watched storylines. When McIlroy steps onto the first tee, The Masters Tee Times will already have framed the pressure, the history and the expectation around Augusta National.
