The Masters at Augusta National gets underway on Thursday night (Australian time) once again launching golf’s major season on its most iconic stage.
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Australia’s hopes for the 84th edition lie with four players with a combined 51 previous starts at the Masters, headed by the 2013 champion, Adam Scott, who is teeing it up for the 25th time.
That leaves the 45-year-old, who is making his 98th major championship appearance, just five short of the record for most Masters starts by an Australian, currently held by his fellow Queenslander Greg Norman.
“It kind of feels like it wouldn’t surprise me if it all lined up and I was in contention this week with a chance, which is kind of really what you’re aiming for anyway,” Scott said after nine holes of practice on Monday.
“So I’m optimistic and I think [a win is] really possible.”
Scott is joined by former Masters runners-up Cam Smith and Jason Day and the country’s No.1 player on the Official World Golf Ranking, Min Woo Lee, who is looking to take the next step in his career by claiming a major title.
“I’m very confident in my game right now,” Lee said in a pre-Masters media conference.
“I feel like my best golf can compete in most tournaments.”
COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE 2026 MASTERS
Defending champion: Rory McIlroy
Prizemoney: $US21 million (in 2025; the 2026 purse is yet to be announced)
Live scores: masters.com
TV coverage
All live programming on Kayo Sports, the Masters channel on Fox Sports 503 and extra Rounds 1-4 coverage on Fox Sports 505.
Thursday, April 9 – Round 1 – Featured Groups from 11pm AEST
Friday, April 10 – Round 1 – Amen Corner from 12:45am AEST
Friday, April 10 – Round 1 (World Feed) from 3am AEST
Friday, April 10 – Round 2 – Featured Groups from 11pm AEST
Saturday, April 11 – Round 2 – Amen Corner from 12:45am AEST
Saturday, April 11 – Round 2 (World Feed) from 3am AEST
Sunday, April 12 – Round 3 – Featured Groups from 12am AEST
Sunday, April 12 – Round 3 – Amen Corner from 1:45am AEST
Sunday, April 12 – Round 3 (World Feed) from 2am AEST
Monday, April 13 – Final Round – Featured Groups from 12am AEST
Monday, April 13 – Final Round – Amen Corner from 1:45am AEST
Monday, April 13 – Final Round (World Feed) from 2am AEST
Round 1 tee-times (AEST)
11.19pm (Thursday): Cameron Smith, Sam Burns (US), Jake Knapp (US)
11.43pm (Thursday): Jason Day, Shane Lowry (Ireland), Dustin Johnson (US)
2:03am (Friday): Adam Scott, Daniel Berger (US), Brian Harman (US)
2.25am (Friday): Min Woo Lee, Fred Couples (US), Fifa Laopakdee (Thailand, am)
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AUSTRALIAN PLAYER PROFILES
Min Woo Lee
World ranking: 25
Age: 27
Major wins: 0
PGA Tour wins: 1
Masters starts: 5
Best finish at the Masters: T-14 (2022)
The lowdown: “The Chef” is cooking on the PGA Tour so far in 2026 and shapes as Australia’s best chance for a second Masters title. He’s already banked three top-six finishes this year, highlighted by T-2 at Pebble Beach finishing T-3 at Houston a fortnight ago. Improved accuracy off the tee and iron play makes Lee a threat in any event he tees it up in at the moment.
Jason Day
World ranking: 41
Age: 38
Major wins: 1 (2015 PGA Championship)
PGA Tour wins: 13
Masters starts: 15
Best finish at the Masters: T-2 (2011)
The lowdown: At the start of his 21st year as a professional, Day is now 11 years removed from his only major championship, but like his Australian mates, comes into Augusta with good recent form on his side. He finished as joint runner-up in his 2026 debut at the American Express tournament to return to the top 50 in the world and snared a share of sixth at the Houston Open.
Adam Scott
World ranking: 53
Age: 45
Major wins: 1 (2013 Masters)
PGA Tour wins: 14
Masters starts: 25
Best finish at the Masters: Champion in 2013
The lowdown: There’s been some great signs from the Queenslander in the past 12 months that another major win is not beyond him. The US Open final round fadeout at Oakmont was a huge disappointment but his first 54 holes, where he grabbed the lead, showed he can still challenge at the highest level. Earlier this year, Scott carded two rounds of 63 at famed Riviera to tie for fourth at the Genesis Invitational.
Cameron Smith
World ranking: 211
Age: 32
Major wins: 1 (2022 Open Championship)
PGA Tour wins: 6
Masters starts: 10
Best finish at the Masters: T-2 (2020)
The lowdown: The owner of one of the best Masters records in recent years without a win, missing the top 10 just once between 2021 and 2024, Smith’s best had deserted him until he almost bagged one of the titles he craves when he finished second at the Crown Australian Open at Royal Melbourne. On LIV Golf this year, the Queenslander sits in 20th place in the individual points standings with two top-10s.
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THE COURSE
Originally designed by Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie, Augusta National features at, or very near, the top in just about every golf course world ranking there is. For the 2026 Masters, it will play to a total distance of 6,920 metres with a par of 36 on each nine.
HEADLINERS
Rory McIlroy – Defending champion and career Grand Slam winner
Scottie Scheffler – World No.1 and two-time Masters champion
Bryson DeChambeau – Two-time US Open champion
Jon Rahm – Current LIV Golf No.1 and 2023 Masters champion
Patrick Reed – Current DP World Tour No.1 and 2018 Masters winner
CLICK HERE FOR FULL GOLF DIGEST MASTERS COVERAGE
