2026 Masters Preview: Everything You Need to Know

Photo by Maria Larsen on Unsplash

The most anticipated week in professional golf is almost here. The 2026 Masters Tournament tees off at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 9, and runs through Sunday, April 12. Defending champion Rory McIlroy returns to Augusta having finally conquered the course that tormented him for a decade — completing the career Grand Slam in one of the most dramatic final rounds in Masters history. Here's everything you need to know before the first shot is hit.

When and Where

The Masters is held annually at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Unlike other major championships that rotate venues, Augusta National is the permanent, exclusive home of The Masters — a tradition that dates back to the tournament's founding in 1934. The course sits on 365 acres of what was formerly a plant nursery, which explains the extraordinary variety of flowering trees and shrubs that give Augusta its iconic look each April.

The Defending Champion: Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy returns to Augusta National wearing the green jacket for the first time as defending champion. His 2025 victory — won after a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose — was one of the most emotionally charged moments in the sport's modern era. McIlroy led by two entering the final round, made a double bogey on the first hole, built a four-shot lead on the front nine, squandered it through Amen Corner, then recovered with an all-time iron shot at the 15th and a clutch birdie at the 17th — only to bogey the 18th and force a playoff. He won on the first extra hole with a four-foot birdie putt, fell to the ground in tears, and completed the career Grand Slam on his 11th attempt at Augusta. It was one of the most extraordinary days in the tournament's 89-year history.

The 2026 Field: Who's Playing

The field is built around the question of whether McIlroy can defend, and who has the game to stop him. Scottie Scheffler — the world's top-ranked player and a two-time Masters champion (2022, 2024) — arrives as the most credible threat. Jon Rahm returns as the 2023 champion. Bryson DeChambeau, who was one shot back of McIlroy entering Sunday in 2025 before fading, comes seeking redemption. And a deep field of international stars including Ludvig Åberg, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, and Viktor Hovland are all credible contenders.

What Makes Augusta National Unique

No other golf course in the world produces the same combination of beauty, difficulty, and drama. Augusta National's defining characteristics include its bermuda grass greens — some of the fastest and most contoured in professional golf — its strategic use of water hazards (particularly Rae's Creek guarding the 12th and 13th holes), and the dramatic back nine that has produced more last-round drama than any other stretch of holes in the sport.

The course plays differently than almost anywhere else on Tour. The premium is on precise iron play into greens, impeccable course management, and putting ability on surfaces that can make a two-foot putt feel like a genuinely uncertain proposition. Raw distance off the tee matters less here than at most venues — Augusta rewards intelligence as much as power.

The Green Jacket Tradition

The Masters winner receives a green jacket — a tradition that began in 1949. The jacket is kept at Augusta National and the champion may take it home for one year before returning it. As defending champion, McIlroy will place the jacket on the 2026 winner's shoulders in the Butler Cabin ceremony — one of the most iconic images in sport, now featuring a champion who knows exactly the emotion of that moment from both sides.

Amen Corner: Where the 2025 Masters Was Nearly Lost

Holes 11, 12, and 13 at Augusta National are collectively known as Amen Corner — the stretch that nearly derailed McIlroy's 2025 Grand Slam in real time. A double bogey at 13 and a bogey at 14 turned a four-shot lead into a tie in the space of four holes. The corner's capacity for destruction was on full display, and it will be just as dangerous in 2026. Every contender who passes through it on Sunday afternoon with their score intact has passed the tournament's defining test.

How to Watch the 2026 Masters

The Masters is broadcast on CBS in the United States, with early round coverage on ESPN. Streaming is available through the Masters app and Masters.com, which provides free Featured Groups and Featured Holes coverage throughout the tournament. The Masters YouTube channel provides daily highlights. Check the Masters website for the complete broadcast schedule for your region.

What to Watch For

Three storylines define the 2026 Masters: Can McIlroy defend his title and join a short list of back-to-back champions? Can Scheffler win a third jacket and cement his legacy as the dominant player of his era? And can any of the deep field of international contenders produce the kind of Augusta breakthrough that careers are built around? April at Augusta delivers answers — and usually a few questions nobody thought to ask beforehand.