Live coverage has begun from Augusta National as the 90th staging of the Masters Tournament gets underway. With four long, promising days ahead, attention turns to the opening round and the familiar rhythms of one of golf’s biggest weeks.
The scene in Augusta is set for the first day, and the early mood is one of anticipation rather than urgency. Our report from the course notes a relaxed start, with breakfast on the porch and a familiar Augusta menu: iced tea and one of the famous egg salad sandwiches, priced at $3.50.
This year’s Masters arrives with a notable backdrop. Rory McIlroy has finally claimed the Masters title that had long eluded him, completing the one achievement that had stood apart from his career achievements for so long. His victory naturally changes the conversation around the tournament, prompting the obvious question of what remains to be said now that he has his “holy grail.”
Even so, the Masters always finds a way to create new stories. The opening round is the first chance for the field to settle in, for the leaderboard to take shape, and for the tournament’s most famous moments to begin unfolding. Augusta National remains the stage, and over the next four days the competition will build in the usual Masters fashion.
Coverage for the day includes the official leaderboard, along with social updates for readers following along elsewhere. As ever, the first round is only the beginning, but at Augusta that first step carries its own weight. The course is ready, the patrons are in place, and the 2026 Masters is now firmly under way.
For readers following the live blog, the day’s updates will track all the action from the opening round, with the first shots at Augusta National setting the tone for the rest of the tournament.
