Overview
- Augusta National opened the 90th Masters on Thursday with ceremonial tee shots from Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson, launching a 91‑player field that does not include Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson.
- Defending champion Rory McIlroy began his first round at 10:31 a.m. ET with Cameron Young and amateur Mason Howell, starting with a steady par after finding the left rough off the first tee.
- World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the betting favorite seeking a third green jacket in five seasons, is slated for a 1:44 p.m. ET start alongside Robert MacIntyre and Gary Woodland.
- Early action featured 2018 winner Patrick Reed racing to three under through two holes with a birdie‑eagle start, José María Olazábal rolling in back‑to‑back birdies, Tommy Fleetwood reaching two under early, and Bryson DeChambeau dropping a shot at the par‑5 second.
- A dry forecast through Sunday points to firm fairways and fast, slick greens that reward precise approach play and careful lag putting, a setup players say will raise the course’s degree of difficulty.