Everyone wants to know what day does the masters start because, let's be honest, the spring calendar feels totally off if you don't have that Thursday morning tee off time circled in red. You know the feeling. The birds are chirping, the azaleas are supposedly blooming in Georgia—though sometimes they bloom too early and look like crispy brown paper by the time the cameras roll—and you're stuck at your desk trying to figure out if you need to take PTO on a Wednesday or a Thursday.
It starts on Thursday. It always starts on Thursday. Specifically, for 2026, the first competitive round of the Masters Tournament begins on Thursday, April 9.
But that's the short answer. The "kinda" complicated answer is that if you show up on Thursday, you’ve already missed half the fun. Augusta National isn't just a golf course; it’s a time capsule that operates on its own weird, stubborn set of rules. For the folks lucky enough to have patron badges, the "start" is actually Monday, April 6, when the gates swing open for practice rounds.
The Real Calendar: When Things Actually Get Going
If you're asking about the first time a ball is hit with actual stakes, mark your calendar for April 9. However, the week is a slow burn. Monday and Tuesday are for practice. You'll see players skipping balls across the water on the 16th hole—a tradition that's basically mandatory at this point. Wednesday, April 8, is the Par 3 Contest. Honestly, some people like the Par 3 Contest more than the actual tournament. It’s adorable. You’ve got toddlers in miniature white caddie jumpsuits tripping over putters and world-class athletes actually looking like they’re having fun for once.
Then the mood shifts.
Thursday morning is different. There is a specific tension in the air at 8:00 AM when the Honorary Starters—usually legends like Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player—hit the opening tee shots. That is the moment the Masters truly "starts." The silence is heavy. It’s thick.
What Day Does the Masters Start and Why Wednesday Matters
You can't talk about the start of the Masters without mentioning the "Wednesday Curse." It sounds like some superstitious nonsense, but in the history of the tournament, no player has ever won the Par 3 Contest on Wednesday and gone on to win the Green Jacket on Sunday. Not one.
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Some players are so spooked by this that they’ll let their kids or girlfriends putt the final hole so they don't officially post a score. It’s a weird psychological game. If you're betting on the winner this year, keep a very close eye on who wins that little exhibition match on Wednesday, April 8. If your favorite golfer lifts that trophy, you might want to hedge your bets.
The TV Schedule vs. Reality
One thing that drives people crazy is the broadcast. You think the Masters starts on Thursday, so you turn on your TV at 9:00 AM, and what do you see? Usually nothing. Or maybe some "Live from the Range" chatter. Augusta National is notoriously stingy with their broadcast rights. They don't want you seeing every single hole all day long because they want to maintain that "mystique."
- Practice Rounds (Mon-Tue): Not televised in full, but you can find clips online.
- Par 3 Contest (Wed): Usually starts airing mid-afternoon on ESPN.
- Tournament Rounds (Thu-Fri): Coverage typically starts on ESPN around 3:00 PM ET.
- The Weekend (Sat-Sun): Moves to CBS for the big finish.
If you want to watch the early morning groups on Thursday, you have to use the Masters app or their website. It’s actually better than the TV broadcast anyway. You can track specific groups or just watch "Amen Corner" (holes 11, 12, and 13) on a loop.
Why the Date Changes Every Year
You might notice the date jumps around. Unlike the Fourth of July, the Masters isn't a fixed calendar date. It is always the first full week of April. This is a bit of a logistical nightmare for the club's groundskeepers if Easter happens to fall early or if Georgia has a weirdly warm winter.
For 2026, the timing is pretty standard. We’re looking at April 9–12.
Navigating the "Patron" Experience
If you are one of the "chosen ones" who actually has a ticket—sorry, a "badge"—knowing what day the Masters starts is only the beginning. You have to know the gate times. Gates usually open at 8:00 AM. If you aren't there by then, you’re already behind.
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People literally sprint (well, "power walk" because running is banned) to the 18th green or the 16th hole to drop their collapsible chairs. Once a chair is down, it’s yours. Nobody moves it. It’s a code of honor that doesn't exist anywhere else in sports. If you try that at a Raiders game, your chair is gone in thirty seconds. At Augusta? It'll be there when you get back from your $1.50 pimento cheese sandwich.
Speaking of sandwiches, let’s talk about the food. It is the only place in the world where inflation hasn't hit since 1974.
- Pimento Cheese: $1.50
- Egg Salad: $1.50
- Masters Club: $3.00
- Domestic Beer: $5.00
It’s almost cheaper to eat at the Masters than it is to stay home. The real cost is getting in. If you didn't win the ticket lottery (which has odds roughly equivalent to being struck by lightning while winning the Powerball), you're looking at thousands of dollars on the secondary market.
The 2026 Field: Who to Watch on Thursday
When Thursday, April 9 finally rolls around, the field will be a mix of the usual suspects and a few aging legends. We’re looking at a fascinating era of golf right now. You’ve got the LIV Golf vs. PGA Tour tension which, while cooling off a bit, still adds a layer of "us vs. them" to the leaderboard.
Watch out for Ludvig Åberg. The kid plays like a machine. And obviously, Scottie Scheffler. If Scottie’s putter is even remotely warm, the tournament is basically over before it starts. He makes the hardest course in the world look like a local muni.
Then there’s Tiger.
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Every year we ask if he can walk 72 holes. Every year he shows up and makes us believe for at least nine holes on Thursday. Whether he can actually contend on Sunday is a different story, but the "Tiger Roar" is still the loudest sound in sports. If he's in an early group on Thursday, expect the crowds to be ten deep at the first tee.
Preparation for Masters Week
Don't wait until Thursday morning to get your life in order. The Masters is an immersive experience.
First, download the app. I’m not kidding—it’s the best sports app ever designed. You can see every shot from every player. If you want to watch some guy in 50th place grind out a bogey on the 4th hole, you can do it.
Second, clear your Friday afternoon. "A tradition unlike any other" is actually just a polite way of saying "calling in sick to work to watch golf." The cut happens on Friday night. That’s when the drama peaks because big names—past champions, fan favorites—get sent home.
Third, check the weather. Augusta in April is fickle. One minute it’s 80 degrees and sunny; the next, a thunderstorm is blowing over the leaderboard and everyone is scrambling for cover.
Practical Steps for Fans
- Confirm your streaming logins: Make sure your ESPN+ and Paramount+ accounts are active by Wednesday. There is nothing worse than missing the first tee shot because of a forgotten password.
- The Merchandise Hustle: If you are going in person, go to the merch tent on Monday or Tuesday. By Thursday, the "What Day Does the Masters Start" shirt you wanted will be sold out in every size except XXXL.
- Set Your Lineups: If you play fantasy golf or a casual office pool, rosters usually lock the moment the first group tees off on Thursday morning—typically around 7:30 or 8:00 AM ET.
The Masters doesn't just start; it arrives. It’s a total vibe shift for the entire sports world. By the time Sunday evening rolls around and the sun is casting long shadows over the 18th green, you’ll forget all about the stress of the work week. Just make sure you're ready when that first ball flies on April 9.
Check the official Masters website 24 hours before the tournament for the specific "Tee Times" announcement, as these are usually released on Tuesday or Wednesday of tournament week. Groupings are everything. Seeing a rookie paired with a grizzled vet like Phil Mickelson can tell you a lot about how the first day will go. Keep your eyes on the weather radar for Augusta, Georgia, starting on the Tuesday prior, as spring storms frequently delay the Thursday morning start.