Golf's first major of the year gets going this week as 91 players descend on Augusta National vying to win the 2026 Masters.
One notable absentee is Tiger Woods. The five-time Augusta champion is reportedly in Switzerland at a private medical facility seeking treatment following a car accident that led to his DUI arrest in Florida on March 27.
Also missing will be Phil Mickelson. The three-time champion revealed last week he will not play at this year's Masters as he deals with a personal medical situation.
Despite those absences, there will still be plenty of star power teeing off this week at Augusta. World No 1 Scottie Scheffler arrives as the favourite, while Rory McIlroy will be looking to defend the title he won so spectacularly last year.
Here is all you need to know about this year's event:
When is it?
The 90th annual Masters begins Thursday, April 9, with the final round on Sunday, April 12.
Where is it?
The Masters is played annually at Augusta National Golf Course in Atlanta, Georgia. The famed course – at roughly 7,500 yards – is a par 72.
How to watch on TV and streaming
In the Mena region, DAZN holds the exclusive broadcast rights for the 2026 Masters, offering coverage through the PGA Tour Pass. The deal includes live streaming of the action on the DAZN app, which is available using various devices including smart TVs.
You can also stream the action on Masters.com and the Masters App.
Schedule
First round - Thursday, April 9 (all times UAE)
First group to tee off at around 3.30pm.
Second round - Friday, April 10
First group to tee off at around 3.30pm.
Third round - Saturday, April 11
First group to tee off at around 6pm.
Fourth round - Sunday, April 12
First group to tee off at around 6pm.
Who won the 2025 Masters?
Rory McIlroy won his first green jacket with victory in the 2025 Masters, defeating Justin Rose in a play-off to become the sixth player to win a career Grand Slam (Masters, PGA Championship, British Open and US Open). It was his fifth career major win, but his first since 2014.
How can players qualify for the Masters?
As per the Masters website, players who meet the following criteria can qualify for the annual event:
- Masters champions (lifetime)
- US Open champions (honorary, non-competing after five years)
- The Open champions (honorary, non-competing after five years)
- PGA champions (honorary, non-competing after five years)
- Winners of the Players' Championship (three years)
- Current Olympic gold medalist (one year)
- Current US Amateur champion (7-A) (honourary, non-competing after one year) and the runner-up (7-B) to the current US Amateur champion
- Current The Amateur champion (honorary, non-competing after one year)
- Current Asia-Pacific Amateur champion (one year)
- Current Latin America Amateur champion (one year)
- Current US Mid-Amateur champion (one year)
- Current NCAA Division I Men's Individual champion (one year)
- The first 12 players, including ties, in the previous year's Masters tournament
- The first four players, including ties, in the previous year's US Open
- The first four players, including ties, in the previous year's The Open Championship
- The first four players, including ties, in the previous year's PGA Championship
- Individual winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation applied to the season-ending Tour Championship
- Those qualifying and eligible for the previous year's season-ending Tour Championship
- Current Scottish Open champion (one year)
- Current Spanish Open champion (one year)
- Current Japan Open champion (one year)
- Current Hong Kong Open champion (one year)
- Current Australian Open champion (one year)
- Current South African Open champion (one year)
- The 50 leaders on the final Official World Golf Ranking for the previous calendar year
- The 50 leaders on the final Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the current Masters
