When Does The Masters Start: Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy headline early 2026 odds at Augusta National
When does the masters start is the question hanging over Augusta National this week as the 2026 Masters gets underway and the betting market begins to settle. Scottie Scheffler enters as the clear favorite, with Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy also positioned near the top of the board. With Thursday’s opening drives only days away, the field is taking shape around the names most likely to shape the first major of the year.
Scheffler opens as the clear favorite
Scottie Scheffler stands at +500 in the pre-tournament Masters odds and remains the prohibitive favorite. The World No. 1 is a two-time Masters champion, and this week he is chasing Masters win No. 3 and major win No. 5. He has not started this season at the same level as his best stretches, but he did win the American Express, giving him a recent victory heading into Augusta.
Jon Rahm is next at +900. The 2023 Masters champion arrives in second place in the odds, giving the top of the board a familiar look as the week begins. Bryson DeChambeau follows at +1000 after winning the two most recent LIV Golf events this year. Rory McIlroy sits fourth at +1200, with the defending champion and five-time major winner trying to build on last year’s memories and chase a second green jacket.
When does the masters start and who is in the mix
When does the masters start matters because the pre-tournament market has already separated a top tier from the rest of the field. Ludvig Aberg closes out the top five at +1400, while Xander Schauffele sits next at +1600. Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick are both listed at +2000, and Tommy Fleetwood follows at +2200.
The rest of the top 25 includes Justin Rose at +2800, Collin Morikawa at +3000, Robert MacIntyre at +3250, Patrick Reed at +3500, Hideki Matsuyama and Min Woo Lee at +4000, Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth at +4500, and Chris Gotterup at +5000. Russell Henley, Shane Lowry, Si Woo Kim and Viktor Hovland are all at +5500, while Akshay Bhatia is priced at +6000 and J. J. Spaun and Nicolai Hojgaard are both at +6500.
What the odds board says now
The early board reflects a tournament built around a small group of proven names at Augusta National, with the last three Masters champions among the top betting favorites. That keeps the focus on experience, recent form and the ability to handle a course that quickly exposes mistakes.
One point that stands out is the balance between proven champions and players trying to break through. Scheffler, Rahm, DeChambeau and McIlroy all have major-winning credentials, while Aberg, Young and others are trying to force their way into the conversation as the week opens.
What’s next at Augusta National
With the tournament set to officially begin this week, the odds will continue to shape the conversation around who has the clearest path to the green jacket. The field now turns to Thursday’s opening drives, and when does the masters start is no longer a preview question but a live countdown to the first tee shot at Augusta National.
