When the first star started at Augusta National

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When the first star started at Augusta National

The 2026 Masters is almost here. The top players in the Official World Golf Ranking are in the final stages before the first major of the year at Augusta National. But when does the competition start? Here are the full dates for the 2026 Masters and everything else you need to know ahead of the tournament.

What are the dates for the 2026 Masters?

The 2026 Masters tournament runs from April 9-12. However, there is a lot of action happening at Augusta National in early Masters week.

While Masters week officially begins on Monday, April 6, with many players arriving on the course and starting their final round of the tournament, Sunday is the unofficial start. The day after the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, some of the top pros arrived at Augusta early to try to get any extra advantage they could.

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On Tuesday, April 7, competitors will play practice rounds and a number of player conferences will be held at the Masters Media Center. Later on Tuesday night, all of the reigning Masters champions will gather for one of the most interesting (and exclusive) events of Masters week: the Masters dinner.

On April 8, which is the Wednesday of this year’s Masters, the famous Masters Par-3 Contest descends on the area, where children and families of players don white caddy uniforms and join them on the Par-3 course.

Finally, on Thursday, April 9, the Masters tournament begins with the first round.

Who are the betting favorites for the 2026 Masters?

The two top betting favorites for the 2026 Masters event will be obvious to many golf fans.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler lead the way with +300 odds to win. Scheffler is a two-time Masters champion and has coached pro golf for years. He picked up his 20th PGA Tour victory in his first start of the 2026 season, and although he’s struggled at his best lately, he’s still a serious threat to win the green jacket.

Second on the Masters odds list is the defending champion, World No Rory McIlroy. McIlroy captured his first Masters title last year to complete a career Grand Slam. Now that the monkey is off, he is expected to compete at Augusta any year when he is healthy and on the field. As of this writing, McIlroy’s pre-tournament Masters odds sit at +900.

Third favorite for betting on the man who almost won the 2026 Players Championship: Ludwig Aberg. Aberg held a three-shot lead Sunday at TPC Sawgrass, but had a tough final round and finished T5. He’s got a shot at being a Masters champion, and he’s playing well, too. His odds of winning the Masters are +1200.

Completing the top 5 odds at the 2026 Masters with two LIV Golf professionals. A former Masters winner Jon Rahm tied with Aberg at +1200 odds-to-win, trailing the two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau at +1400.

We don’t know if Tiger Woods he will return from injury and play the 2026 Masters. If he does, the guards will put him in for now. If you want to risk betting on Tiger to take his sixth Masters title this year, you can find him at +20000.