Masters 2026 featured groups announced for Thursday's Round 1

Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm among top stars in marquee pairings

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:37pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented golf tournament scene, with overlapping planes of vibrant green, blue, and yellow hues conveying the energy and anticipation of the Masters' opening round.The Masters' featured groups offer a glimpse into the tournament's competitive landscape, with top contenders and rising stars set to battle it out on Augusta National's hallowed grounds.Augusta Today

The 90th Masters Tournament is set to begin on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club, with several high-profile featured groups highlighting the opening round's action. Defending champion Rory McIlroy will tee off alongside rising star Cameron Young and amateur sensation Mason Howell, while world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler looks to win his third green jacket in five years when he plays with Robert MacIntyre and Gary Woodland. Other featured groups include Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick and Xander Schauffele, as well as LIV Golf standout Jon Rahm paired with Chris Gotterup and Ludvig Åberg.

Why it matters

The featured groups at the Masters traditionally draw the most attention and set the tone for the tournament's opening round. These pairings of top contenders and rising stars will generate significant interest and viewership as golf fans tune in to see how the game's best perform on the sport's biggest stage.

The details

The first featured group of the day will tee off at 10:07 a.m. ET, with Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick and Xander Schauffele set to begin their rounds. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, along with Cameron Young and amateur Mason Howell, will start at 10:31 a.m. In the afternoon, Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup and Ludvig Åberg will begin at 1:08 p.m., followed by Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre and Gary Woodland at 1:44 p.m. The featured group coverage will be available to stream live on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports app, and Paramount+, in addition to the network's television broadcast.

  • The Masters Tournament begins on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
  • The first featured group tees off at 10:07 a.m. ET.
  • Defending champion Rory McIlroy starts his round at 10:31 a.m. ET.
  • The afternoon featured groups begin at 1:08 p.m. and 1:44 p.m. ET.

The players

Rory McIlroy

The defending Masters champion, seeking to become the first golfer since Tiger Woods to win consecutive green jackets.

Scottie Scheffler

The world No. 1 golfer, aiming for his third Masters title in five years, a feat not accomplished since Woods in 2001-02 and 2005.

Jon Rahm

The LIV Golf standout, looking to capture his first green jacket at Augusta National.

Bryson DeChambeau

A top contender who played in the final pairing a year ago at the Masters.

Cameron Young

A rising star playing alongside the defending champion, Rory McIlroy.

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What they’re saying

“The featured groups at the Masters always generate a lot of excitement and anticipation. Fans are eager to see how the game's top players perform on the opening day of this prestigious tournament.”

— Adam Silverstein, CBS Sports Golf Writer

What’s next

Fans can follow the action from the featured groups throughout the day on Thursday, with live streaming coverage available on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports app, and Paramount+. The television broadcast will air from 3-7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The takeaway

The 2026 Masters is shaping up to be a thrilling tournament, with several of the game's top stars and rising talents set to compete in the featured groups on Thursday. These marquee pairings will set the tone for the week and provide golf fans with must-see action as the race for the green jacket begins.