2026 Masters Tournament Preview: Schedule, Field, and Key Contenders at Augusta National

The 2026 Masters Tournament, the first major of the golf season, will take place from April 9 to 12 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. This marks the 90th edition of the event, which maintains an invitational format with a field of 91 players.

Entry is based on criteria such as past major winners, top world rankings, and select amateurs, making it the smallest field among the four majors.

The tournament follows a four-round stroke play format. m. local time. After Friday, the field is cut to the top 50 players and ties, who advance to the third round on Saturday, known as moving day, and the final round on Sunday, which concludes with the presentation of the green jacket to the winner.

Augusta National Golf Club presents a par-72 course measuring 7,565 yards. The layout includes the signature Amen Corner stretch on holes 11 through 13, a sequence known for its challenges in precision and course management. The course has been the fixed venue for the tournament since its inception, contributing to its distinct traditions.

Scottie Scheffler enters as the world number one and betting favorite at 7/1 odds. He has won the Masters twice in the past four years and recently secured victory at The American Express in January, followed by finishes of third, fourth, 12th, and 24th in subsequent events.

Jon Rahm follows at 10-12/1 odds, while defending champion Rory McIlroy is listed around 11-14/1 despite recent back issues.

Other notable contenders include Bryson DeChambeau at 10-14/1, Ludvig Aberg, Xander Schauffele, Cameron Young, and Tommy Fleetwood. Longer-shot options such as Jason Day at 70/1, Corey Conners at 100/1, and Sungjae Im at 110/1 have potential based on historical upsets at the event. J.

Spaun, ranked fifth in the world after winning the Texas Open last week, as a value pick at 80/1 odds. Rory McIlroy returns to defend his title after winning in 2025, completing the career Grand Slam. The New York Times noted that entering each of the last four Masters, including this one, a top player has arrived with significant momentum, such as Scheffler's three PGA Tour wins and rise to world number one before the 2022 event.

Questions persist about McIlroy's fitness due to recent back problems. The field includes players from the LIV Golf tour, such as DeChambeau and Rahm, amid the ongoing rivalry with the PGA Tour. For the first time in decades, neither Tiger Woods nor Phil Mickelson received invitations, signaling a generational shift.

The tournament upholds traditions like the champions dinner hosted by the previous winner, the par-3 contest on Wednesday, and honorary starters including Jack Nicklaus. The Masters was founded in 1934 by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts as the Augusta National Invitational, adopting its current name in 1939.

It has been held annually at the same venue, producing notable moments such as Jack Nicklaus's six victories and Tiger Woods's 1997 win.

The winner receives a green jacket, symbolizing honorary membership at the club, along with a prize from the purse, which totaled $18 million in 2025. Augusta National's traditions extend to details like quartz-based white bunker sand and meticulous course presentation. The event's exclusivity and rituals have established it as a premier global sporting competition.