You know the feeling. It’s early April. The azaleas are blooming, the grass at Augusta National looks like it was painted on with a brush, and you’re frantically scrolling through your cable guide or streaming app trying to figure out why the actual tournament isn't on yet.
It happens every single year.
Because Augusta National is, well, Augusta National, the Masters television schedule doesn't work like a standard PGA Tour event. You can't just flip on the TV at 10:00 AM and see the leaders. They keep things tight. They control the broadcast windows with an iron fist, partly to preserve the "mystique" and partly because they don't actually need the money. It's weirdly refreshing but also deeply annoying when you just want to watch Tiger or Scottie Scheffler hit a recovery shot from the pine needles.
Why the Masters television schedule is so different
Most golf tournaments are desperate for airtime. They'll take eight hours of coverage on a Thursday if a network offers it. The Masters? Not so much. Historically, the club has limited the number of minutes of commercials per hour to just four. That’s why you see the same IBM, Mercedes-Benz, and AT&T ads over and over again. They have a very specific "curated" vibe.
For 2026, the broadcast rights remain split between ESPN and CBS, a partnership that has existed since 2008. ESPN handles the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday. CBS takes the weekend.
But here is the kicker: the "main" broadcast usually doesn't start until 3:00 PM ET during the week.
If you're looking for morning coverage, you have to go digital. The Masters app and Masters.com are arguably the best digital sports products ever built. They offer "Featured Groups," "Amen Corner," and "Holes 15 and 16" feeds for free. If you are sitting at a desk at work, this is your lifeline. Honestly, the "My Group" feature—which lets you build a custom feed of every single shot played by your favorite golfers—is better than the actual TV broadcast anyway.
Breaking down the 2026 broadcast windows
The timing is predictable once you know the rhythm.
📖 Related: Why the March Madness 2022 Bracket Still Haunts Your Sports Betting Group Chat
Thursday and Friday are the ESPN days. Generally, you’re looking at a window from 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM ET. Before that, you’re stuck with the digital feeds or the "Welcome to the Masters" preview shows.
Then comes the weekend. CBS takes over.
On Saturday, the Masters television schedule usually shifts to a 3:00 PM start, running until 7:00 PM. Sunday is the big one. They move it up slightly, typically starting at 2:00 PM ET. This ensures they finish before sunset, unless we get a playoff, which—let's be real—is what we’re all actually hoping for.
Wait, there’s the Par 3 Contest too.
Don't skip that. It's on the Wednesday before the tournament starts. It’s pure "vibes." Players have their kids or wives caddying for them. It’s the only time you’ll see a professional golfer look relaxed at Augusta. ESPN usually carries this starting around 12:00 PM or 2:00 PM ET.
The "Early Bird" streaming catch
If you want to see the morning starters, you basically have to use the app or Paramount+.
CBS puts a lot of their secondary coverage on Paramount+, but the Masters website remains the gold standard because it doesn't require a login. That is a rarity in 2026. Usually, everything is behind a paywall. But Augusta National is wealthy enough that they’d rather you see the course in 4K than hunt for a password.
👉 See also: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
Navigating the 4K and "Amen Corner" feeds
Let's talk about Amen Corner. Holes 11, 12, and 13.
If you have a high-end TV, you should be looking for the dedicated 4K feed. It makes the green of the grass look almost radioactive. The Masters television schedule includes these specific "site" feeds that run nearly all day.
- Amen Corner: Usually starts around 10:45 AM ET.
- Holes 15 & 16: Usually starts around 11:45 AM ET.
- Featured Groups: These start as soon as the first designated group tees off, often around 9:00 AM ET.
There is something strangely hypnotic about watching the Amen Corner feed with the natural crowd noise and no announcers. It’s better than white noise for focusing. You hear the wind in the pines and the specific "thwack" of a ball hitting the bank on 12 and rolling back into Rae's Creek. Brutal.
The international struggle and replays
If you are in the UK, Sky Sports has the rights, and their coverage is actually much more extensive than the US broadcast. They often start earlier and stay later.
For the night owls or the people who actually have to work during the day, the Masters television schedule includes a late-night highlight show on CBS. It’s usually a 15-minute or 30-minute wrap-up after the late local news. It’s fast-paced. If you missed the live action, it's a decent way to catch up, but honestly, just go to the Masters YouTube channel. They upload "Every Shot" of the leaders almost instantly.
Common misconceptions about the broadcast
People always think they can watch the whole thing on cable. You can't.
Another big one: "The Masters is on Golf Channel." Nope.
✨ Don't miss: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
Golf Channel does "Live From the Masters," which is basically a bunch of guys in suits talking about the tournament for 12 hours a day. They have some of the best analysis in the business—Brandle Chamblee is always polarizing but usually right—but they don't show a single live competitive shot. If you see a leaderboard on Golf Channel, it’s just a graphic. Don't get confused.
Preparing your setup for 2026
If you want to do this right, you need a multi-screen setup.
The pros put the main CBS or ESPN broadcast on the big TV and have a tablet or laptop running the "Featured Groups" or the leaderboard. The Masters leaderboard is interactive. You can click on a player's score and a video window pops up showing the shot they just hit. It’s wizardry.
Also, check your local listings for "Masters Highlights." On the Sunday morning of the tournament, CBS often airs a film about the previous year's winner. In 2026, we’ll be seeing a lot of 2025's champion, and those produced films are honestly some of the best sports documentaries out there. They use all the sweeping orchestral music and slow-motion shots of shadows moving across the fairways.
Actionable steps for tournament week
To ensure you don't miss the crucial moments, start by downloading the Masters app at least three days before the tournament. Use the "Track" feature to select the players you want to follow; the app will then send you notifications when they are approaching Amen Corner or finishing their round.
Check your service provider for "Masters Mosaic" channels. DirecTV and some other cable providers often bundle all the feeds—Amen Corner, 15 & 16, Featured Groups—into a single screen where you can watch four feeds at once.
Finally, sync your schedule to the 3:00 PM ET start time for the primary broadcast. That is when the "prestige" coverage begins, featuring the iconic theme music and the legendary broadcasters like Jim Nantz. If you're planning a viewing party, aim for the Sunday window between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM ET, as that’s when the green jacket ceremony typically happens on the Butler Cabin set.
Keep your chargers handy. Your phone battery will not survive the "My Group" feature if you're tracking every shot of a 5-hour round.
The beauty of the tournament is its consistency. The dates change, the players age, but the Masters television schedule remains a weird, stubborn, and ultimately beautiful window into the most exclusive club in the world. Enjoy the silence between the shots. There isn't much else like it in modern sports.