The 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year — and with the field stacked deeper than ever, every shot on those iconic fairways matters. Whether you're tracking the live leaderboard, hunting for free streams, or just catching up on where things stand, here's your complete guide.

ℹ️
The Masters 2026 takes place April 9–13 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Final round play wraps Sunday, April 12, with the Green Jacket ceremony to follow.

Masters 2026: Tournament Schedule & Format

The Masters follows a four-round stroke-play format across one of the world's most demanding courses. The 36-hole cut falls after Round 2, keeping only the top 50 players (plus ties) and anyone within 10 shots of the lead.

Round Date Details
Round 1 Thursday, April 9 Morning and afternoon waves
Round 2 Friday, April 10 Cut applied after play
Round 3 Saturday, April 11 Moving Day — chase begins
Round 4 Sunday, April 12 Final round and Green Jacket
Playoff (if needed) Sunday, April 12 Sudden death, Hole 18 then 10

How to Watch Masters 2026 Free

You do not need a cable subscription to watch the Masters — multiple free and low-cost options exist:

Key Facts
  • Masters.com and Masters app — Free featured group streams (no account needed) and Amen Corner live cam from Round 1 through Sunday
  • ESPN / ESPN+ — First and second round coverage, plus featured group feeds all four days (ESPN+ subscription required for extended streams)
  • CBS (free over-the-air) — Weekend coverage Saturday and Sunday afternoons, completely free with an antenna
  • Paramount+ — Stream CBS coverage live without cable; free trial available
  • YouTube TV / Hulu + Live TV / FuboTV — All include CBS and ESPN; free trials typically 7 days
  • Masters on Peacock — Selected featured groups streamed free in the app

Pro tip: Masters.com is genuinely excellent. The Amen Corner stream (Holes 11, 12, 15, 16) and the featured group trackers are free and in HD — no login required.

Masters 2026 Key Contenders

Heading into Augusta, the field is led by the players who have dominated world golf over the past year:

Scottie Scheffler
World No. 1, defending Masters champion (2022, 2024); statistically the most consistent ball-striker on tour
Rory McIlroy
Chasing the career Grand Slam; his 2025 US Open win reignited belief he can finally conquer Augusta
Jon Rahm
Two-time major champion; thrives on demanding, precise courses like Augusta
Xander Schauffele
2024 Open Champion and PGA Champion; riding back-to-back major momentum
Collin Morikawa
Elite iron play perfectly suited to Augusta demanding approach shots
Viktor Hovland
Resurgent form after swing rebuild; a threat on any major stage

Augusta National: Holes That Decide the Masters

Augusta is not just beautiful — it is brutally strategic. Three stretches tend to determine the champion.

Amen Corner (Holes 11–13) The famous stretch where tournaments are won and lost. Hole 12 (Golden Bell) — 155 yards, par 3 — is the most dangerous short hole in major golf. The swirling wind off Rae Creek destroys scores in an instant.

The Par-5s (Holes 2, 8, 13, 15) Augusta par-5s are reachable in two, making eagle a genuine scoring option. Players who can overpower the course with distance and confidence on these holes gain a massive edge.

Holes 16–18 (The Closing Gauntlet) The 16th par-3 over water is a Sunday theater staple. Holes 17 and 18 demand precise tee shots under immense pressure when the jacket is on the line.

Historically, the 54-hole leader at Augusta wins the Masters roughly 54% of the time — but the back nine on Sunday has produced more dramatic reversals than any other stretch in golf.

Masters 2026 Cut Line: What You Need to Know

The Masters cut rule is unique in professional golf:

  • Top 50 players (plus ties) after 36 holes advance to the weekend
  • Any player within 10 strokes of the 36-hole leader also makes the cut, regardless of position
  • All past Masters champions are exempt from the cut — they always play all four rounds
  • Former winners including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson compete even outside the top 50

This rule means the leaderboard on Sunday can include legendary names who would not survive cuts on the regular tour.

Green Jacket Tradition

The winner receives the iconic green jacket in a ceremony at Butler Cabin, fitted and presented by the previous year champion. If a past champion wins again, he presents the jacket to himself — a surreal Augusta quirk that has happened multiple times in tournament history.

The jacket cannot officially leave Augusta National grounds except during the champion first year — after which it must be stored at the club.

April 9, 2026
Round 1 tee times begin 8:00 AM ET
April 10, 2026
Round 2; cut announced by early evening ET
April 11, 2026
Moving Day; CBS coverage begins 3:00 PM ET
April 12, 2026
Final round; CBS coverage 2:00 PM ET, conclusion approx 7:00 PM ET

Masters 2026 Winner Odds (Pre-Tournament Favorites)

Odds heading into tournament week placed the favorites as follows:

Player Odds
Scottie Scheffler +400
Rory McIlroy +600
Jon Rahm +900
Xander Schauffele +1200
Collin Morikawa +1400
Viktor Hovland +1600
Tommy Fleetwood +1800
Min Woo Lee +2200

Value hunters often target the +2000 to +4000 range at Augusta, where course difficulty equalizes the field more than at any other major.

Where to Follow the Live Leaderboard

For stroke-by-stroke live scoring:

  • Masters.com — Official, fastest updates, hole-by-hole data
  • PGA Tour app — Includes shot tracking and ShotLink data
  • ESPN app — Live leaderboard integrated with TV coverage
  • Google — Search Masters leaderboard for a real-time score widget

The Masters remains the crown jewel of professional golf — four days on the game most storied stage, where history is made on every green. Whether you are watching from a couch in Georgia or streaming overseas in the middle of the night, the 2026 edition promises to be one worth following every shot.