Patrons walk the grounds near the main leaderboard during a practice round prior to the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Photo / Getty Images
Arguably the most anticipated event on the golfing calendar is upon us once again, with 91 of the world’s best poised to battle it out for the coveted green jacket in Augusta, Georgia.
The 90th Masters begins on Friday morning NZT with the final round on Monday.
Kiwi Ryan Fox returns for his third Masters, having made the cut in 2023 and 2024.
Who is the playing field made up of?
The top 50-ranked players in the world at the end of the previous calendar year earn an invite to Augusta National Golf Club, as do those inside the top 50 the week before the tournament.
Any major winners from the last five years are included in the field, while previous Masters winners are rewarded with a lifetime entry.
Top 12 finishers from the 2025 edition – as well as the top four from the other three majors – are invited, as too every winner of a full-field PGA Tour event in the last 12 months. Fox secured his place with victory at the Canadian Open.
The last three winners of The Players Championship and all qualifiers for last season’s Tour Championship also earn a ticket. The champions of five of the world’s biggest amateur titles round out the field – but the Masters committee can also invite a player who hasn’t qualified.
This year’s field includes 18 past champions, 22 first-timers and six amateurs.
Five-times Masters champion Tiger Woods will not be playing this year, following his recent arrest, having last entered in 2024. Three-times winner Phil Mickelson will also miss the event because of family health reasons.
The course
Augusta National was originally designed by Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie (also the designer of Titirangi Golf Course).
For the 2026 Masters, it will play to a total distance of 6920m. The second nine features the famous Amen Corner stretch holes 11 (par four), 12 (par three) and 13 (par five). The 11th is considered the toughest hole on the course while the 12th is one of the most famous holes in golf as players hit over Rae’s Creek onto the green. Rae’s Creek also features on the 13th if players want to reach the green in two, although Rory McIlroy still found the water with his third in the final round last year.
Rory aims to go back-to-back
McIlroy returns as defending champion after securing his grand slam with a playoff win over Justin Rose last year. The last player to defend their title at Augusta was Woods in 2002. Nick Faldo (1989, 1990) and Jack Nicklaus (1965, 1966) are the only other two players to go back-to-back at the Masters.
Scottie Scheffler won in 2022 and 2024 and will be looking to continue his run of winning every second year.
Time for a LIV Tour winner?
The list of LIV Tour contenders is thinning with the likes of Brooks Koepka and 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed both leaving the Saudi-owned golf league. Just 11 LIV golfers are in the Masters field this year: Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton, Dustin Johnson, Tom McKibbin, Carlos Ortiz, Jon Rahm, Charl Schwartzel, Cameron Smith and Bubba Watson. DeChambeau played in the final group last year alongside McIlroy and remains a strong chance to add to his two US Open wins. The favourite among the group is Rahm who won the Masters in 2023.
Best finish by a Kiwi at the Masters
Frank Nobilo finished fourth at the 1996 Masters, seven shots back from winner Faldo.
The 2005 US Open winner Michael Campbell failed to make the cut in 10 attempts while fellow major winner Sir Bob Charles had five top 25 finishes at Augusta, his best effort tied for 15th in 1963.
Another Kiwi, Danny Lee, sat in second place after the opening round in 2016 after shooting a four-under 64. He was still in third at the halfway point despite a second round 74. He eventually finished tied for 17th.
Fox’s best finish is tied for 26th. His lowest round is 69 and highest round 77 with a scoring average of 72.88 over his eight total rounds.
Key groups – round 1
12.26am- Ryan Fox, Max Greyserman, Charl Schwartzel
1.43am - Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Jason Day
2.07am - Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele
2.31am - Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Mason Howell (a)
5.08am - Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup, Ludvig Aberg
5.20am - Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka
5.44am - Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, Gary Woodland
How to watch
Sky TV will have four channels dedicated to streaming the Masters this year – covering featured groups (Sky Sport 4, from 12.45am), Amen Corner (Sky Sport 6, from 2.45am), Holes 15 and 16 (Sky Sport 5, from 1.45am), along with main coverage from 5am on Sky Sport 1.
TAB odds – Outright winner
Scottie Scheffler - $6.50
Jon Rahm- $10.50
Bryson Dechambeau - $12
Rory McIlroy - $13
Xander Schauffele - $14
Ludvig Aberg - $15
Matt Fitzpatrick - $17
Cameron Young - $21
Tommy Fleetwood - $21
Ryan Fox - $151
Masters records
Most wins: Arnold Palmer – six
Youngest winner: Tiger Woods in 1997 (21 years, 104 days)
Oldest winner: Jack Nicklaus in 1986 (46 years, 82 days)
Biggest comeback: Jack Burke jnr in 1956 – started final round eight strokes behind.
Winning at first attempt: Horton Smith 1934, Gene Sarazen 1935, Fuzzy Zoeller 1979.
Biggest margin of victory: Tiger Woods in 1997 – 12 strokes.
Course record: 63 (9-under-par) – Nick Price 1986, Greg Norman 1996