2026 Masters Tournament

The 2026 Masters Tournament will be the 90th edition of this historic professional men’s golf event. It’s one of the four major championships and is typically the first held each calendar year. It’s a sanctioned event on the PGA Tour, European Tour (DP World Tour), and Japan Golf Tour.
Subject Golf
Start Date April 9, 2026
End Date April 12, 2026
Status Coming Soon
Location Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, USA
Prize Pool $20,000,000
Participants 88 male golfers
Type Outdoor
Tournament Champion
Format 72-hole individual stroke play
Organizer Augusta National Golf Club

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The official 2026 Masters Tournament rounds take place from April 9 to April 12, 2026. Practice rounds and associated events begin earlier in the week, starting April 6.

The tournament is held in Augusta, Georgia, USA, and is organized and administered by the Augusta National Golf Club. Unlike other majors, the 2026 Masters Tournament is an invitational event run by a private club rather than a national golf organization.

The Masters is widely considered the most prestigious tournament in golf due to its exclusive field, rich traditions (such as the awarding of the “Green Jacket” – a prestigious symbol honoring nearly an 80-year-old tradition, given to the winner), and status as the only major played at the same course every year. Winning the tournament provides a golfer with “immortality” in the sport, including a lifetime invitation to return and compete.

Venue, Competitors’ Structure, and Prize Pool Overview for the 2026 Masters Tournament

The 2026 Masters Tournament will be held at the prestigious 18-hole outdoor natural-grass golf course, Augusta National Golf Club.

The field is expected to include approximately 88 golfers. The Masters is known for having the smallest field among golf’s four major championships, typically keeping the number of invitees under 100.

The total prize fund is $20,000,000. The winner’s share is $3,600,000, which is 18% of the total purse. While the full 2026 breakdown for all positions is finalized closer to the event, the distribution typically follows a standard PGA Tour payout scale:

  • 1st place: $3,600,000
  • 2nd place: $2,160,000
  • 3rd place: $1,360,000

Note: Players who miss the cut typically receive a nominal cash payment (e.g., $10,000) for their participation.

Participating Players in the 2026 Masters Tournament and Qualification Overview

The 2026 Masters field is currently comprised of 88 invited players. While the Masters Committee technically has the discretion to invite any international player, most golfers qualify through 26 established categories.

Key qualified players (selection) are Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tiger Woods, Ludvig Åberg, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Akshay Bhatia, etc. The complete list of all 88 players currently in the field for the 2026 Masters can be found on the official Masters Tournament Invitees page.

Players earn their invitations through several high-performance pathways:

  • Past Masters champions: Winners receive a lifetime invitation to play in the tournament.
  • Recent Major winners: Winners of the U.S. Open, The Open, and the PGA Championship are exempt for 5 years.
  • Performance in previous Majors:
    • The top 12 players (including ties) from the 2025 Masters.
    • The top 4 players from the 2025 U.S. Open, Open Championship, and PGA Championship.
  • PGA Tour success:
    • Winners of individual PGA Tour events that award a full FedExCup point allocation between the 2025 and 2026 Masters.
    • All 30 players who qualified for the 2025 Tour Championship.
  • World Rankings: The top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) at the end of 2025, and the top 50 in the week prior to the 2026 tournament.
  • Amateur & international champions: Winners of specific amateur events (e.g., U.S. Amateur, Asia-Pacific Amateur) and, newly for 2026, winners of six specific national Opens (Scottish, Spanish, Japan, Hong Kong, Australian, and South African).

Structure and Competition Format of the 2026 Masters Tournament

The 2026 Masters Tournament consists of four stages, known as rounds, following a three-day period of practice and ceremonial events.

StageDateDescription
Round 1April 9, 2026Opening round of 18 holes; begins with the honorary starters ceremony.
Round 2April 10, 2026Second round of 18 holes; the 36-hole cut is implemented after play ends.
Round 3April 11, 2026Third round (Moving Day): only players who qualified from the cut participate.
Round 4April 12, 2026Final round of 18 holes, followed by the Green Jacket and trophy presentation.

Note: Prior to the tournament rounds, player arrivals and practice rounds begin on Monday, April 6, and the popular Par 3 Contest (a lighthearted tradition held on the Wednesday before the main tournament starts. It’s a chance for players to relax with their families before the pressure of the Major begins) is held on Wednesday, April 8.

The Masters uses a stroke-play format rather than a “best-of” match system, characteristic of team sports:

  • Scoring: Players compete over 72 holes total (18 holes per round). Every stroke is counted, and the golfer with the lowest cumulative score at the end of four rounds is the winner.
  • Elimination (the cut): The tournament features a single elimination point known as the 36-hole cut after the second round.
    • Only the top 50 players (plus ties) on the leaderboard advance to play the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday.
    • Players ranking 51st or lower after round 2 are eliminated from the competition.
  • Tie-breaking (playoff): If two or more players are tied for the lead after 72 holes, a sudden-death playoff is held immediately.
    • The playoff begins on the 18th hole.
    • If still tied, players move to the 10th hole and continue alternating between the 18th and 10th until one player scores lower than the other(s) on a single hole to win the tournament.

Favorites in the 2026 Masters Tournament, Betting Options, and Where to Watch

Based on the recent 2026 form and opening odds from major sportsbooks with golf betting markets on offer, the top contenders are:

  • Scottie Scheffler (+300): The world no. 1 and consensus favorite; he has already won The American Express in 2026.
  • Rory McIlroy (+750): The defending champion, looking to repeat after his 2025 victory.
  • Bryson DeChambeau (+1200): A top LIV Golf contender with strong top-5 finishes in recent Masters.
  • Jon Rahm (+1600): The 2023 champion remains a major threat following his transition to LIV.
  • Xander Schauffele (+1600): Consistently high-ranking with strong early-season performance.

For those looking to bet in dollars, several top-tier sportsbooks offer extensive markets for the tournament:

  • Outright winner: Predicting the overall champion.
  • Top 5/10/20 finish: Wagering on a player to finish within a specific range.
  • Head-to-head matchups: Betting on which of two specific golfers will have a better score.
  • Make/miss the cut: Predicting if a player will survive the 36-hole elimination.
  • First round leader: Betting on who leads the leaderboard after Thursday’s play.

Top online bookmakers to bet on the 2026 Masters Tournament are:

  • FanDuel: Rated as a top overall site for golf betting with a highly user-friendly app.
  • DraftKings: Known for deep market variety and excellent live “hole-by-hole” betting options.
  • Bet365: Offers highly competitive odds and “Each Way Extra” which pays out for more finishing positions.
  • BetMGM: Excellent for prop bets and international market depth.

The 2026 tournament features expanded coverage, totaling 27 broadcast hours:

  • Amazon Prime Video: New for 2026, Prime will stream an additional two hours of early coverage (1–3 p.m. ET) on Thursday and Friday.
  • ESPN: Provides the main afternoon broadcast (3–7:30 p.m. ET) for the first and second rounds.
  • CBS: The primary broadcaster for the third and final rounds on Saturday and Sunday (2–7 p.m. ET).
  • Streaming:
    • Masters.com and the Masters App offer free live streams of “Featured Groups” and specific holes (Amen Corner).
    • Paramount+ provides early-weekend streaming (12–2 p.m. ET) before the CBS broadcast begins.

Pros and Cons of Favorites in the 2026 Masters Tournament

PlayerProsCons
Scottie SchefflerElite ball striking: Currently leads the tour in strokes gained from tee-to-green. Course history: Multiple top-10 finishes and a previous win show he has mastered the Augusta layout.Putting consistency: His flat stick can occasionally go “cold,” which is dangerous on Augusta’s lightning-fast greens.
Rory McIlroyThe defending champ: Coming off his 2025 win, he finally has the “Grand Slam” pressure off his back. Driving distance: His length allows him to overpower the Par 5s.Expectation management: No player has successfully defended a Masters title since Tiger Woods in 2002.
Jon RahmShort game magic: His ability to scramble for par is essential for Augusta’s undulating slopes. Proven winner: Knows how to handle Sunday pressure in the final group.Limited prep: Playing mainly on the LIV circuit means fewer starts against full PGA Tour fields before April.
Bryson DeChambeauAggressive strategy: His approach of “cutting corners” on doglegs can turn difficult holes into birdie chances. Major form: Showed strong composure at the 2024 U.S. Open.High variance: His aggressive style can lead to big mistakes if accuracy off the tee drops.
Xander SchauffeleTotal package: Very balanced statistical profile with almost no weaknesses. Cool temperament: Rarely shows nerves in big moments.“Closer” question: Despite high finishes, he sometimes struggles to pull away from the field on Sunday.
Which part of the game will decide the 2026 Masters Tournament champion?
MILOS VASILJEVIC
He’s the mastermind behind our captivating content, leveraging his extensive journalism experience to craft compelling sports news and insightful betting predictions. His passion for the game and knack for storytelling ensure our readers are always engaged and informed, bringing a unique and expert perspective to every piece he writes.
Publication date : 15.03.2026
Last modified date: 15.03.2026

Frequently Asked Questions

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