The masters start time is now central to how fans will track the 90th Masters, because the opening tee schedule frames the event’s first competitive picture. The tournament runs from 9 to 12 April, with a 91-strong field, and the earliest wave of attention will fall on Thursday’s first tee at 12: 40 BST. With Rory McIlroy defending and Scottie Scheffler again viewed as the man to beat, the start time does more than open play: it sets the tone for four days of shifting expectations.
Opening round schedule and the masters start time
The first round begins on Thursday, 9 April, with the first tee set for 12: 40 BST. Friday’s second round follows the same opening tee time, also at 12: 40 BST. For the third and fourth rounds, tee-times are still to be confirmed. Live text commentary for rounds one and two begins at 12: 30 BST, while rounds three and four will be covered from 17: 00 BST.
For viewers trying to map the competition around the masters start time, those details matter because the opening two days establish the rhythm before the weekend pairings are finalized. The structure also means the earliest live coverage arrives before the first shot, which gives the event a longer lead-in than a simple tee-off marker would suggest.
Why this year’s Masters carries added weight
This is the 90th Masters, and the field is set at 91 players. The tournament’s history stretches back to 1934, when Horton Smith won the first edition. This year’s line-up includes defending champion Rory McIlroy and two-time winner Scottie Scheffler, both of whom sit at the center of the pre-tournament conversation.
Scheffler arrives after a mixed start to 2026: a win, a third and a fourth place in his first three starts, followed by two finishes outside the top 20 after poor first rounds. Even so, he remains widely considered the player to beat at Augusta. McIlroy, meanwhile, has had a less smooth build-up than 12 months ago. A back injury forced him to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational and affected him at the Players Championship, though he appears to be past the niggle and stays among the frontrunners.
Favorites, form and the pressure of expectation
Beyond the leading duo, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm give the field further depth. DeChambeau is seeking a first Green Jacket after faltering last year, when he was paired with McIlroy in Sunday’s final group. His recent two victories on the breakaway circuit strengthen his case, even if his presence there remains divisive. Rahm, the 2023 winner, is also expected to feature high on the leaderboard, helped by his position atop the LIV standings this year.
What makes the masters start time matter in this context is that the early schedule can quickly shape the storylines. A strong opening wave can transform how the leaders are viewed, while a slow start can sharpen pressure on the pre-tournament favorites before the field settles into the weekend.
How coverage and timing shape the weekend picture
Sport will provide live commentary on Radio 5 Live and Radio 5 Sports Extra across all four days, alongside live text commentary, in-play clips, video highlights, reaction and analysis on its website and app. That creates a layered coverage model around the first tee rather than relying only on the final leaderboard.
The wider impact reaches beyond one tournament. With 91 players, two confirmed rounds of tee times, and a global field that includes major champions and LIV-linked contenders, the Masters remains one of golf’s clearest pressure tests. The early schedule, the leading names, and the uncertainty over the weekend pairings all feed the same question: once the masters start time arrives, who will already have seized control before Sunday even takes shape?
