Rory McIlroy is looking to defend his title this year (Image: Getty)
The Masters 2026 tees off this week as golf’s biggest stars battle it out in the first major championship of the year. Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are amongst the frontrunners to claim glory at Augusta National in Georgia.
Over four days, the two adversaries will go up against a field of 92 players, including Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose, the latter of whom endured a heartbreaking play-off defeat to McIlroy in 2025. A number of LIV Golf League competitors are also set to take part, amongst them Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.
The tournament marks McIlroy’s first opportunity to defend his title after claiming the coveted Green Jacket last time round. The Northern Irishman and world number two sealed his maiden career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters and could become the first golfer since Tiger Woods to win back-to-back titles should he triumph once more.
To achieve that feat, he must again get the better of world number one Scheffler. The American will be determined to claim the Green Jacket for a remarkable third time in five years, having finished in fourth place in 2025.
With the first tee at The Masters 2026 now just hours away, we’ve got all the information you need to follow the action right here.
When does The Masters 2026 start
Fans can enjoy three days of pre-Masters coverage from Monday, 6 April, with three practice days plus the Masters Par-3 contest on Wednesday, 8 April. The Masters 2026 then officially kicks off on Thursday, with coverage of the opening round starting at 2pm BST.
Coverage is scheduled for a later 4.30pm start for the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday.
How to watch The Masters 2026
The Masters is broadcast exclusively on Sky Sports Golf in the UK and there are several ways fans can tune in. For those without an existing Sky subscription, the provider is offering discounted sports channels with various packages such as the £44 Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle, which now includes HBO Max, Disney+ and Netflix.
For £44 per month, subscribers also receive 135 channels including Sky Atlantic, as well as discovery+ and Hayu subscriptions. There is also the more budget-friendly £35 Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, which comes with Netflix and approximately 100 channels.
Existing Sky customers can add Sky Sports to their package for an introductory price of £20. All of the above options provide full Sky Sports coverage across nine channels, including Premier League, Golf, F1 and Main Event.
Elsewhere, Virgin Media carries Sky Sports channels within its rival Sport bundle. At £52.99 per month this is considerably more expensive than Sky’s offering, but it also includes far more, with 200 channels, nine from Sky Sports, plus Netflix and 516Mbps fibre broadband. The more premium Max Volt bundle is priced at £76.99 and includes over 230 channels, featuring both Sky Sports and Sky Cinema, along with Netflix and ultra-fast 1,130Mbps fibre broadband. An O2 SIM card offering unlimited data, minutes and texts is also included.
One important consideration with both deals is that Sky and Virgin will introduce price rises during the 24-month contracts. Sky merely states that prices ‘may change’ throughout the minimum term, while Virgin has confirmed a £4 increase from April 2027.