The 2026 Masters is almost here. The top players in the Official World Golf Ranking are in the final stretch before the first major of the year at Augusta National. But when does the tournament start? Here are the complete Masters dates for 2026 and everything else you need to know before the tournament.
What are the 2026 Masters dates?
The 2026 Masters tournament runs from April 9-12. However, a lot of action happens at Augusta National earlier in Masters week.
While Masters week officially begins Monday, April 6, with many players arriving to the course and starting their final prep for the tournament, Sunday is the unofficial beginning. The day after the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, some top pros arrive at Augusta early to try and get any extra advantage they can.
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Then on Tuesday, April 7, competitors will play practice rounds and a large amount of player press conferences will be conducted in the Masters Media Center. Later Tuesday night, all former Masters champions on the grounds will gather for one of the most interesting (and exclusive) events of Masters week: the Masters Champions dinner.
On Wednesday of Masters week, which is April 8 this year, the popular Masters Par-3 Contest goes down on property, where players’ kids and families dress in white caddie uniforms and join them on the Par-3 course.
Finally, on Thursday, April 9, the Masters tournament gets underway with the first round.
Who are 2026 Masters betting favorites?
The top two early Masters betting favorites for the 2026 event will be obvious to most golf fans.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler leads the way with +300 odds-to-win. Scheffler is a two-time Masters champion and has dominated pro golf for years. He captured his 20th PGA Tour victory in his first start of the 2026 season, and though he’s struggled by his high standards recently, he’s still the biggest threat to win the green jacket.
In second on the Masters odds list is the defending champion, World No. 2 Rory McIlroy. McIlroy captured his first Masters title last year to complete the career Grand Slam. Now with the monkey off his back, he’s expected to contend at Augusta any year in which he’s healthy and in the field. As of this writing, McIlroy’s pre-tournament Masters odds sit at +900.
The third betting favorite is the man who nearly won the 2026 Players Championship: Ludvig Aberg. Aberg held a three-shot lead heading into Sunday at TPC Sawgrass, but he had a tough final round and finished T5. He’s got the game to be a Masters champion, and he’s playing well, too. His Masters odds-to-win are +1200.
Filling out the top 5 in 2026 Masters odds are two LIV Golf pros. Former Masters winner Jon Rahm is tied with Aberg at +1200 odds-to-win, followed by two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau at +1400.
We don’t know yet whether Tiger Woods will return from injury and play the 2026 Masters. In case he does, oddsmakers are including him for now. If you want to risk a bet on Tiger to take home his sixth Masters title this year, you can get him at +20000.
2026 Masters schedule of events, dates
Monday, April 6: Players arrive at Augusta National
Tuesday, April 7: Practice rounds and Masters Champions dinner
Wednesday, April 8: Practice rounds and Masters Par-3 Contest
Thursday, April 9: First round of the 2026 Masters
Friday, April 10: Second round of the 2026 Masters
Saturday, April 11: Third round of the 2026 Masters
Sunday, April 12: Final round of the 2026 Masters and green jacket ceremony
