Masters 2026 Kicks Off With Historic Field, Scheffler Favored to Win
Key Takeaways
- The 90th Masters begins April 9 at Augusta National.
- Scottie Scheffler is the Masters favorite per odds and expert models.
- Rory McIlroy remains a central figure among contenders.
Tournament Begins
The 2026 Masters officially began with the top 91 golfers competing.
“It's officially Masters week”
Defending champion Rory McIlroy was the third betting favorite behind Scottie Scheffler.
The field combined stars from multiple tours due to expanded qualification criteria.
Field and Format Changes
The Masters expanded the field from 87 to 91 players by adding six national opens.
This boost in international diversity was hailed by Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley.
Five two-time or more Masters winners were in the field.
Coverage was poised to reach more fans than ever.
Key Players and Odds
Scheffler opened as favorite despite not playing since March 12.
The top five included Rahm, DeChambeau, and defending champion McIlroy.
The field had five past two-time or more Masters winners.
Broadcast and Streaming
Masters coverage spanned 136 hours over five platforms.
CBS aired 15 network hours Friday through Sunday.
Prime Video and Paramount+ each contributed hours.
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