Rory McIlroy will certainly be facing tough competition at the 88th Masters at Augusta National, as he is grouped with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and reigning Olympic gold medallist Xander Schauffele for the first two rounds. It’s an exciting opportunity for McIlroy, especially after his recent third-place finish at the Valero Texas Open. With six top-10 finishes at Augusta National since his 2014 PGA Championship victory, he has definitely proven himself as a strong contender at this prestigious event.
The tee-time for McIlroy’s group on Thursday is set at 10.42am (3.42pm BST), and the trio is expected to attract a significant amount of attention from fans and experts alike. Scheffler, the pre-tournament favorite, has already showcased his skill this year by winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players. Now, he’s aiming to secure the Green Jacket for a second time in three years. This grouping promises some thrilling action on the course, and fans will be eagerly anticipating their performance.
As the reigning champion, Jon Rahm begins his bid to become the first back-to-back winner of The Masters since Tiger Woods. His group is scheduled to tee off at 10.30am (3.30pm BST) on the opening day, alongside Ryder Cup team-mate Matt Fitzpatrick and US Amateur champion Nick Dunlap. This group brings together a mix of experience and emerging talent, setting the stage for a captivating display of golf.
The return of Tiger Woods to action adds another layer of excitement to the tournament. This will be Woods’ first appearance since his mid-round withdrawal from February’s Genesis Invitational. The 15-time major champion is chasing a record-equalling sixth Masters victory. Paired with Max Homa and Australian Jason Day, Woods is set to tee off at 1.24pm (6.24pm BST) in the afternoon wave, adding to the anticipation surrounding the afternoon session of play.
With reigning major champions Brooks Koepka and Brian Harman in the following group alongside Korea’s Tom Kim, the competition across the entire field is sure to be intense. The stage is set for an eventful and gripping two days of golf, and fans around the world will be eagerly following the action at Augusta National.
Thursday’s key tee times (all BST)
1518 Justin Thomas, Will Zalatoris, Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn)
1530 Jon Rahm (Esp), Matt Fitzpatrick, Nick Dunlap
1542 Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy (NIrl), Xander Schauffele
1554 Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland (Nor), Cameron Smith (Aus)
1824 Tiger Woods, Jason Day (Aus), Max Homa
1836 Brian Harman, Brooks Koepka, Tom Kim (Kor)
1848 Jordan Spieth, Ludvig Åberg (Swe), Sahith Theegala
1900 Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood (Eng)
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