The Masters 2026 – beginner’s guide: All you need know ahead of Rory McIlroy’s title defence at Augusta National | Golf News

Who is taking part in in The Masters and why is it such an essential date within the sporting calendar? Here’s our beginner’s information, protecting all you need to know concerning the first golf main of the yr at Augusta National, solely dwell on Sky Sports Golf…

What is The Masters and how do I watch?

The Masters is one of the 4 main championships in males’s skilled golf and is really distinctive within the sense that it’s the just one to be held at the identical location yearly, the world-well-known Augusta National golf course.

First performed in 1934, this yr’s match would be the ninetieth in its historical past – with Sky Sports bringing you extra protection than ever earlier than from Augusta National.

Wall-to-wall protection from the match begins at 2pm on Thursday, with Featured Group motion and common updates from across the course obtainable on Sky Sports Golf till the worldwide broadcast window begins at 6pm.

The similar timings will apply on Friday, earlier than an earlier begin kicks in for the weekend – with protection beginning at 4.30pm ahead of full protection getting beneath means at 5pm and lasting till lengthy after the ultimate putt is holed.

The infamous Amen Corner stream may also be obtainable, specializing in the well-known three-gap stretch from the eleventh, with that Featured Group providing additionally obtainable on the Sky Sports+ channel.

A feed of the fourth, fifth and sixth holes will go dwell every day as quickly because the opening group attain that half of the course and one other stream covers the fifteenth and sixteenth holes, with Featured Groups additionally obtainable on Sky Sports+.

Who makes up The Masters field?

The prime 50 on the planet at the tip of the earlier calendar yr earn an invitation, as do these inside the highest 50 in the course of the week earlier than the match takes place, whereas earlier winners maintain a lifetime exemption and every other main winners from the final 5 years are additionally included within the subject.

The prime 12 and ties from final yr’s Masters are allowed to return, as are the highest 4 and ties from the opposite three majors in 2025, with each winner of PGA Tour occasions that award a full-level allocation in direction of the season-ending Tour Championship additionally getting a spot.

A brand new exemption class for this yr’s contest has seen extra invitations given to winners of six nationwide Opens – the Genesis Scottish Open, Spanish Open, Japan Open, Hong Kong Open, Australian Open and the South African Open.

The final three winners of The Players and all qualifiers for final season’s Tour Championship earn an invitation, plus the champions of 5 of the world’s greatest novice titles, whereas The Masters committee can even invite a participant who has not certified.

Invites are given to the 2 finalists of the US Amateur and the winner of The Amateur Championship, together with the winners of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Latin America Amateur Championship, the US Mid-Amateur and the NCCA Division 1 Men’s Individual Champion.

There are currently 91 players – as of April 4 – set to tee it up at Augusta National.

Which gamers may very well be in competition?

Rory McIlroy returns as defending champion after finishing a profession Grand Slam at final yr’s match, and whereas there’ll undoubtedly be much less strain on the Northern Irishman, he’ll begin as one of the favourites.

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler will probably be trying to reclaim the title he received in 2022 and 2024, however arrives in comparatively poor kind, having completed exterior of the highest 20 at his final two tournaments.

The most certainly contender from LIV Golf needs to be Bryson DeChambeau, who has simply received successive titles in South Africa and Singapore. 2023 champion Jon Rahm additionally seems to be in good nick having misplaced a play-off to DeChambeau in Johannesburg.

Tommy Fleetwood and Ludvig Åberg will each be chasing a primary main title, whereas their European Ryder Cup crew-mate Matt Fitzpatrick arrives in tremendous kind having completed second at The Players earlier than profitable the Valpsar Championship.

Last yr’s runner-up Justin Rose already has a PGA Tour win to his title this season, and after lacking successive cuts, appeared to have regained some kind when he completed T13 at The Players.

From an American perspective, Cameron Young was victorious final month at The Players, whereas two-time main champion Xander Schauffele is in good kind and has recorded 5 prime-10 finishes in his final seven appearances at Augusta.

Why will Tiger Woods not be playing?

Five-time champion Tiger Woods will probably be absent from Augusta for a second successive yr.

Woods was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) after being involved in a car crash in Florida on March 27, the place he admitted to trying at his telephone as his dashing Land Rover clipped the again of a truck and rolled onto its facet.

A sheriff’s officer report described Woods’ eyes as ‘bloodshot and glassy’, his pupils dilated and hydrocodone drugs – used to deal with extreme ache – in his pocket at the scene, whereas physique digicam footage – launched on April 2 – confirmed him arrested at the roadside.

Woods has entered a not guilty plea, taking the case to a jury trial, though has since introduced he will be “stepping away” from golf for a “period of time” to hunt therapy and deal with his well being.

Before the incident, it had been unclear whether or not the 50-yr-outdated would have been match sufficient to take part at Augusta, the place he was final victorious in 2019.

Woods’ first look of the yr in TGL – the indoor competitors he and Rory McIlroy are founders of – on March 24 had raised hopes he would characteristic at The Masters, however his future within the skilled recreation has now been left unsure.

Who makes the lower and what are the lower guidelines?

The midway lower at The Masters is completely different to any of the majors, with solely the bottom 50 and ties after 36 holes getting via to the weekend.

There have been loads of modifications to how the match makes use of a lower via the years, with the outdated ’10-shot rule’ that noticed you make the lower if inside 10 strokes of the midway lead not present.

Who won The Masters last year?

It lastly occurred! Rory McIlroy accomplished a profession Grand Slam, and in essentially the most dramatic of circumstances.

Having received the opposite three majors by the tip of 2014, McIlroy had waited greater than a decade to change into the sixth man to finish the outstanding feat.

McIlroy begun the ultimate spherical two pictures clear, and recovered from making a double bogey at the primary to ascertain a 4-shot lead with 9 holes to play.

However, a surprising cost from Justin Rose and a rollercoaster again-9 for McIlroy left the Northern Irishman needing to make a par at the 18th to seal victory.

A missed six-foot par putt resulted in a play-off, however McIlroy steadied himself to make a birdie at the identical gap he had simply bogeyed, cueing massively emotional scenes on the 18th inexperienced.

Two-time champion Patrick Reed ended up third, whereas Scheffler was fourth. DeChambeau was alongside McIlroy within the last group however struggled to a 3-over last spherical, leaving him tied for fifth with Sungjae Im.

What is on McIlroy’s Champions Dinner menu?

After claiming his first Masters win, Rory McIlroy earned the honour of choosing the menu for the annual Champions Dinner served on match week at Augusta National.

The reigning Masters champion traditionally chooses the meals served to fellow winners within the Augusta clubhouse on the Tuesday night earlier than the intense motion begins Thursday morning.

McIlroy will cater to followers of 1990 Chateau Lafite Rothschild and 1989 Chateau d’Yquem, so too sticky toffee pudding fanatics and grilled elk slider scranners.

The 36-yr-outdated’s menu features a first course of yellowfin tuna carpaccio, adopted by an possibility of different wagyu filet mignon or seared salmon – accompanied by conventional Irish Champ – earlier than being rounded off by sticky toffee pudding for dessert.

He might also symbolize the primary participant to incorporate brussels sprouts in his choice. Couple that with bacon-wrapped dates, and it’s a daring transfer.

McIlroy revealed how his mom Rosie had beforehand served him bacon-wrapped dates, whereas he and his spouse Erica have loved a dish of yellowfin tuna carpaccio at their favorite restaurant in New York.

What is the prize cash and the way a lot does the winner get?

The prize cash breakdown for 2026 is but to be confirmed, however it’s anticipated to stay just like final yr, wherein McIlroy banked a then report $4.2m (roughly £3.17m).

The whole prize cash for the sector was $21m (£15.87m), with all professionals making the lower incomes a minimal of $51,000 (£39,000).

Where is Augusta National and what’s it like to visit as a fan?

The Masters is held at Augusta National golf course in Augusta, Georgia within the United States. Founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, the course was designed by Jones and Alister MacKenzie and opened for play in 1932. Since 1934, it has performed host to The Masters match.

Mobile telephones are strictly banned from the course, with even cameras banned exterior of apply days. Anyone caught with any offending gadgets is requested to go away the course. If a patron must make an emergency name, there are telephone banks positioned across the course they’ll use.

Some of the opposite guidelines embody patrons not being allowed to lie down on the grounds, whereas working can be forbidden. In phrases of costume code, backward-dealing with hats are a strict no-no, denims aren’t allowed and sneakers have to be worn at all instances – with excessive heels and flip flops on the no listing.

But whereas patrons might have guidelines to observe, they’re removed from quick-modified in phrases of the plentiful and inexpensive food and drinks choices obtainable. The Pimento Cheese sandwich – a staple at Augusta – prices the small matter of $1.50!

Anything else I need to know?

Although {golfing} terminology largely stays the identical as every other match, you might come throughout a number of phrases and phrases throughout The Masters that will not be as acquainted…

Amen Corner – Refers to the three-gap stretch from the eleventh to thirteenth at Augusta National, seen as essentially the most tough part of the course – and obtainable as one of the bonus feeds all through the week dwell on Sky Sports.

Azaleas – These are one of most well-known vegetation on show at Augusta National and through The Masters. All the course’s holes are named after timber or shrubs current at the golf course and one of the spots the place azaleas are most prevalent is alongside the thirteenth gap, which bears its title.

Butler Cabin – Placed close to the 18th gap, that is the place The Masters winners are introduced with their Green Jacket. Jack Nicklaus was the primary, in 1965, to conduct his submit-victory interview from inside this constructing.

Champions Dinner – The winner of final yr’s match hosts an unique dinner for all earlier Masters champions, and chairman Fred Ridley, on the Tuesday night time of the week of the Masters. Rory McIlroy has curated a mouth-watering menu after his first Augusta National win.

Crow’s Nest – Located above the library and champions locker room, up a steep set of stairs and on the third ground of the Augusta National clubhouse, this a well-known hideaway reserved just for amateurs competing at the match. Players to have stayed within the Crow’s Nest as amateurs who later went on to win The Masters embody Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw and Tiger Woods.

First and second 9 – Rather than the ‘entrance 9’ or ‘again 9’ getting used to explain the break up in holes at Augusta National, they consult with holes one to 9 because the ‘first 9’ and 10 to 18 because the ‘second 9’. It’s a small distinction, certain, however provides to the distinctive status of the place.

First lower – Augusta has what’s known as the ‘first lower’ and ‘second lower’ of grass when gamers miss the green, versus the tough you would discover at different golf programs.

Green Jacket – The idea of a ‘Green Jacket’ was first launched in 1937 to assist differentiate Augusta National members from different patrons. Since Sam Snead’s victory in 1949, the winner of each Masters match has been rewarded one, with the jacket introduced to the brand new champion by the winner of the earlier yr’s match.

Hogan Bridge – This bridge takes gamers over Rae’s Creek and to the inexperienced on the par-three twelfth gap as half of Amen Corner. It is known as after Ben Hogan, to mark his report-setting low rating of 274 for his 4 rounds at the 1953 match.

Honorary Starters – Most years at The Masters, a bunch of legendary golfers are invited to hit the ceremonial tee pictures on the primary gap to sign the beginning of the match.

Magnolia Lane – This is maybe essentially the most well-known driveway in all of America, welcoming the competing golfers to Augusta National in essentially the most spectacular means. The highway is 330 yards lengthy, lined with magnolia timber on all sides.

Patrons – This is what the folks in attendance at The Masters are referred to, not followers or spectators.

Pine straw – The lush fairways and pristine greens might be the very best-recognized options of Augusta National, however protecting the bottom between many of the holes and at the bottom of a quantity of timber is pine straw, which makes for some difficult lies for gamers once in a while.

Rae’s Creek – This is the daunting stretch of water that famously guards the twelfth and thirteenth greens. At its widest inside Augusta National, the creek runs 60 ft vast and 4 ft deep. It is surrounded by golf’s most vibrant backdrop of blooming azaleas and dogwoods.

Sarazen Bridge – The first bridge at Augusta to be named after a participant, executed so to commemorate Gene Sarazen’s ‘shot heard around the world’. It was unveiled in 1955 to mark the twentieth anniversary of Sarazen’s well-known albatross at the fifteenth gap which is the place the bridge resides.

Tea Olive – This is the title of the opening gap at Augusta National. In protecting with the custom the naming of holes on the course, Tea Olive – a shrub native to jap Asia – could be discovered on the precise of the green and at the rear of the inexperienced. No Masters golfer has ever birdied the primary gap in all 4 rounds.

Who will win The Masters? Watch the opening main of the yr this April solely dwell on Sky Sports. Live protection of the opening spherical begins on Thursday April 9 from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.