Rory McIlroy has been grouped alongside Cameron Young and newbie Mason Howell for the first two rounds of his title defence at The Masters.
The world No 2 accomplished the profession Grand Slam with final yr’s dramatic play-off win at Augusta National and is now trying to turn into simply the fourth participant in historical past to win back-to-back editions of The Masters.
McIlroy is within the early-late aspect of the draw and can tee off at 10.31am native time (3.31pm UK and Ireland) on Thursday alongside Young, who’s trying to turn into the third successive participant to win The Players and The Masters in the identical season.
Rory McIlroy is trying to defend his title at The Masters
Howell – the youngest participant within the area – completes that threeball, with event officers persevering with the custom of pairing the earlier yr’s winner with the reigning US Amateur champion.
A area of 91 gamers are scheduled to contest the opening main of the yr, with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler on the alternative aspect of the draw alongside Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre and former US Open champion Gary Woodland.
Last yr’s runner-up Justin Rose additionally faces a late-early begin with 2015 champion Jordan Spieth and five-time main winner Brooks Koepka, whereas Bryson DeChambeau goes out at 10.07am native time (3.07pm UK and Ireland) with Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick.
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Speaking forward of the 2026 Masters event, three-time runner-up Justin Rose claims that he has no regrets from his near-misses at Augusta National
Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson will return for the Honorary Starters ceremony on Thursday morning at 7.25am native time (12.25pm UK and Ireland), forward of John Keefer and Haotong Li getting the opening spherical beneath means at 7.40am.
Tommy Fleetwood begins his bid for a maiden main title within the morning wave with Akshay Bhatia and 2018 champion Patrick Reed, with Ryder Cup team-mate Shane Lowry within the earlier threeball alongside former world No 1s Dustin Johnson and Jason Day.
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Ahead of the 2026 Masters event, Jamie Weir talks you thru Augusta National in numbers.
“I definitely feel like this year you have 10 to 12 guys who have a really legitimate opportunity to win the Green Jacket,” Reed stated. “It just makes this event a little bit more special and even more fun going out there and playing against the best.”
Thursday’s key R1 tee instances
USA except acknowledged; (x) denotes newbie
1443 Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry (Irl), Jason Day (Aus)
1455 Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Akshay Bhatia
1507 Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick (Eng), Xander Schauffele
1519 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Collin Morikawa, Russell Henley
1531 Rory McIlroy (NIrl), Cameron Young, Mason Howell (x)
1808 Jon Rahm (Esp), Chris Gotterup, Ludvig Åberg (Swe)
1820 Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose (Eng), Brooks Koepka
1844 Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre (Sco), Gary Woodland
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McIlroy and a few of golf’s most acquainted faces mirror on the second the place he achieved his lifelong dream of successful The Masters to finish the profession Grand Slam
When is The Masters stay on Sky Sports?
Wall-to-wall protection from the event 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 identical timings will apply on Friday, earlier than an earlier begin kicks in for the weekend – with protection beginning at 4.30pm forward of full protection getting beneath means at 5pm and lasting till lengthy after the ultimate putt is holed.
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The most surprising moments from Masters historical past, together with Jordan Spieth’s collapse on the twelfth gap and an injury-plagued Tiger Woods being tackled by safety
The infamous Amen Corner stream may even be obtainable, specializing in the well-known three-hole 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 stay 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 will win The Masters? Watch the opening main of the yr completely stay on Sky Sports. Live protection of the first spherical begins on Thursday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.
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