Players Prepare for 2026 Masters Tournament

Augusta National Golf Club hosts the 90th edition of the prestigious major championship.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:57am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the Augusta National Golf Club course and players in motion, rendered in a cubist style with sharp planes of green, white, and blue.The iconic Augusta National course and the world's best golfers will be deconstructed into a cubist masterpiece for the 2026 Masters Tournament.Augusta Today

The 91-player field for the 2026 Masters Tournament has begun practice rounds at Augusta National Golf Club ahead of the prestigious major championship that starts on Thursday. Qualification for the tournament is earned through world ranking, performance at other events, and exemptions for past winners. The current field is down from last year's 96 players, which was the seventh-largest in tournament history. Top players like Collin Morikawa, Harris English, and Xander Schauffele discussed their preparations, with a focus on short game and course management being key factors for success at Augusta National.

Why it matters

The Masters is one of golf's most iconic and prestigious events, drawing the top players in the world to compete at the historic Augusta National course. As the first major championship of the year, the 2026 edition will set the tone for the rest of the golf season and provide an early look at which players are in top form.

The details

The 91-player field for the 2026 Masters is down from last year's 96, which was the seventh-largest in tournament history. Qualification is earned through world ranking, performance at other events, and exemptions for past winners. Top players like Collin Morikawa, Harris English, and Xander Schauffele discussed their preparations, with a focus on short game and course management being key factors for success at Augusta National.

  • The 2026 Masters Tournament will begin on Thursday, April 10.
  • Monday, April 7 marked the first practice round for the current field of 91 golfers.

The players

Collin Morikawa

A top-10 ranked player in the world who has dealt with back issues ahead of this year's Masters.

Harris English

A former University of Georgia golfer who is ranked No. 12 in the world and emphasized the importance of short game at Augusta National.

Xander Schauffele

The world No. 10 player who also stressed the need for strong putting and course management at the Masters.

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What they’re saying

“The honest truth is I'm taking it day by day. It's not exactly where I want to be. It's unfortunate, but that's just the body, and I can't push it. It's been a little bit of a mental battle, I think, just trying to trust where it's at. The back actually feels fine. It's just other parts of the body not cooperating a little bit.”

— Collin Morikawa

“I think short game is a big key out here. Bunker play, striking your chips well because there's a big difference when chipping at seven or eight feet or chipping in to three feet. I think that's a big key. That's kind of what I'm focusing on a lot leading up to this tournament. This afternoon, I'm going to do some short game and putting.”

— Harris English

“Speed on the greens is going to be crucial, as always, with them being firm and fast. So, a big accomplishment to keep three putts off the card. I think that's always a big goal here at Augusta [National Golf Club]. And then positioning, if you can really be disciplined, make sure your good shots are great, but then make sure your bad shots are in the correct spots.”

— Xander Schauffele

What’s next

The 90th Masters Tournament will begin on Thursday, April 10 and conclude on Sunday, April 14. Rory McIlroy, the current world No. 2, is the defending champion.

The takeaway

As the first major championship of the year, the 2026 Masters will provide an early look at which players are in top form and best prepared to handle the unique challenges of Augusta National. With a focus on short game and course management, the top contenders will look to navigate the iconic course and position themselves for a chance at the coveted green jacket.