Overview
- Honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson struck the opening tee shots Thursday to begin the 90th Masters.
- Key tee times include Rory McIlroy at 10:31 a.m. with Cameron Young and amateur Mason Howell, and Scottie Scheffler at 1:44 p.m. with Robert MacIntyre and Gary Woodland.
- Sunny, dry weather points to firm fairways and lightning-fast greens, raising the premium on precise iron play and short-game control.
- Bookmakers keep world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler as the favorite, yet several outlets price a first-time winner as more likely than a past champion to take the Green Jacket.
- The 91-player field features 18 former champions and is without Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, marking the first Masters since 1994 without either star.