PGA Tour Brunch | The Masters
First Round Preview of the 2026 Masters | Augusta National
By TERRY LYONS, EDITOR of Digital Sports Desk
AUGUSTA - Defending champion Rory McIlroy is making his 18th start at the Masters Tournament following his win in 2025, one of eight Top-10s he’s carded at Augusta National. With his victory last year, past winner of the PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open Championship became the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam (Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods).
McIlroy’s seven-stroke comeback after 18 holes in 2025 is tied for the largest in tournament history (Nick Faldo/1990, Tiger Woods/2005) and McIlroy seeks to join Jack Nicklaus (1956, 1965), Nick Faldo (1989, 1990) and Tiger Woods (2001, 2002) as the only players to successfully defend their title at the Masters Tournament.
Misc Notes:
Four-time PGA TOUR winner Chris Gotterup is one of 22 players making his Masters Tournament debut. He is the only player with multiple victories on the PGA TOUR this season (Sony Open in Hawaii, WM Phoenix Open).
The last player to win the Masters Tournament in their first appearance: Fuzzy Zoeller (1979).
The 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth will make his 13th start at Augusta National. Speith owns five Top-3 results in 12 prior appearances (T2/2014, Won/2015, T2/2016, 3rd/2018, T3/2021). In 44 rounds at Augusta National, Speith’s 70.98 scoring average marks the lowest of any player with 25-49 career rounds.
Preview | The Masters
COURSE: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
ARCHITECT: Dr. Alister MacKenzie, Bobby Jones Jr.; Perry Maxwell (1937)
YARDS/PAR: 7,565 yards/Par 72
PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: TBD
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Rory McIlroy
OVERVIEW: (link)
PAST RESULTS: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 750
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @TheMasters
2026 Masters | The Basics:
Tournament site: The Masters
Tee Times: 7:40am to 1:56pm (PGATourCom)
Weather: Today’s forecast is for sunny skies with temperatures reaching 73-degrees and winds at 9mph.
PGA Tour Brunch to post at 7:00am (EDT) tomorrow, with 7:40am tee times.
How to Watch | The Masters
Thursday, April 9, 2026
7:30am - Honorary Starters Ceremony (Masters.com) - streaming only
8:30-10:30am - “On the Range” - Masters.com, Masters app, CBS Sports Digital, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+
9:00-9:45 - “Mornings at the Masters” - Masters YouTube
10:00am - 12 noon, - “Welcome to the Masters” ESPN
Broadcast:
1:00pm - 7:30pm - Masters.com (Streaming)
1:00pm - 3:00pm - Prime
2:00pm - 8:pm - Masters Radio on Sirius/XM and online
3:00pm - 7:30pm - ESPN and ESPNapp
How to Watch: (PGATourCom)
Reminder: The Masters Begins on Prime this Today.
The Field w Update, Tee Times and Leaderboard
The Field: (link)
Update:
Thursday, April 2
Phil Mickelson / WD
Tee Times: (link)
Masters Leaderboard: (link)
What They’re Saying at Augusta National
Five Burning Questions Before the Masters (PGATourCom)
How to Watch (PGATourCom)
Masters Site for Full Coverage (Masters.com)
ESPN Site (ESPN.com)
PGA Tour Site (PGATourCom)
Sports Gambling, and DFS News
Expert Picks for The Masters (PGATourCom)
Sleeper Picks for The Masters (CBS Sports)
PGA TOUR Brunch is brought to you by Digital Sports Desk. Subscriptions to PGA Tour Brunch are the perfect gift for your friends and/or family members who love pro golf. This e-News is not affiliated with The Masters, the PGA Tour or LIV Golf and is solely for news previews and coverage of the events.