Nick Taylor will be the first Canadian off at Augusta National on Thursday, with his opening Masters round set for 9: 31 a. m. ET. The 37-year-old from Abbotsford, B. C., is among three Canadians in the field for the 2026 Masters, and he will tee off alongside Ryan Gerard and Keegan Bradley. The announcement of first- and second-round tee times came Tuesday afternoon ET, setting the stage for a busy week at Augusta.
Nick Taylor gets the early start
Nick Taylor is making his fourth Masters start and arrives with a clear target: manage Augusta National well and avoid the mistakes that can quickly change a round here. He is a five-time PGA Tour winner and his best Masters finish came in a tie for 29th in 2020.
The Canadian group will be split across the day. Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, is scheduled to begin at 11: 27 a. m. ET with Wyndham Clark and amateur Mateo Pulcini, while Corey Conners will go off at 12: 44 p. m. ET with Harry Hall and Michael Brennan. The timing means the Canadians will be spread across morning and early afternoon waves in the opening round.
Masters week has a Canadian rhythm
At Augusta, Tuesday has become a familiar gathering point for the Canadian contingent, with Weir continuing to play a central role in sharing advice and encouragement. That routine has helped shape the week for Taylor, Conners and Weir as they prepare for one of golf’s most demanding tournaments.
Conners said his game is in a strong place after work at home last week and back-to-back top-15 finishes on the PGA Tour. He said his body, mind and golf game are feeling good, and he expects a firm and fast Augusta National to reward elite ball-striking. Taylor, meanwhile, said he has been asking questions and trying to learn the course in every possible way.
What the schedule means for the Canadians
Weir will make his 27th Masters start this week, 23 years after his playoff win over Len Mattiace made him the first Canadian man to win a major championship. Conners comes in as the top Canadian in the Official World Golf Rankings, while Taylor continues to build experience after finally making the weekend at Augusta in 2025.
For Taylor, the challenge is simple and unforgiving: stay patient, choose carefully, and avoid forcing shots that can turn into bigger problems. That approach, paired with an early tee time and a familiar Canadian support system, gives Nick Taylor a clear opening to start the week on steady ground at the Masters.
