How to watch The Masters 2026

Rory McIlroy defends his Masters title as golf’s first major of 2026 tees off at Augusta National – here’s everything you need to know about TV coverage this year

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The Masters 2026 tees off this week as golf’s biggest names battle it out in the first major championship of the year. Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are amongst the frontrunners to claim glory at Augusta National in Georgia.

Over four days, the two rivals will go up against a field of 92 players, including Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose, the latter of whom endured a heartbreaking play-off defeat to McIlroy in 2025. A number of LIV Golf League players are also expected to compete, amongst them Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.

The tournament will see McIlroy defend his crown for the first time following his triumph in last year’s edition. The Northern Irishman and world number two completed his first career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters and could become the first player since Tiger Woods to claim back-to-back titles should he triumph once more.

To achieve that feat, he must again get the better of world number one Scheffler. The American will be determined to claim the Green Jacket for a remarkable third time in five years, having finished fourth in 2025.

With the opening tee shots at The Masters 2026 now just hours away, here’s everything you need to know to follow all the action.

When does The Masters 2026 start

Fans can enjoy three days of pre-Masters coverage from Monday, April 6, featuring three practice days plus the Masters Par-3 contest on Wednesday, April 8. The Masters 2026 then officially begins on Thursday, with first round coverage starting at 2pm BST.

Coverage is scheduled for a later 4.30pm start for the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday.

Watch The Masters with Sky’s Ultimate TV bundle

Coverage of The Masters gets underway on April 6 and golf fans can watch it live with Sky’s Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle. This includes 135 channels, nine from Sky Sports, plus HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu.

The Masters is broadcasting exclusively on Sky Sports Golf in the UK and there are several ways fans can watch. For those without an existing Sky subscription, the provider is offering discounted sports channels through various packages such as the £44 Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundlewhich now includes HBO Max, Disney+ and Netflix.

For £44 per month, there are also 135 channels including Sky Atlantic, plus discovery+ and Hayu subscriptions. There’s also the more affordable £35 Essential TV and Sky Sports bundlewhich only includes Netflix and approximately 100 channels.

Existing Sky customers can add Sky Sports to their package for an introductory offer of £20. All the above options deliver full Sky Sports coverage across nine channels, including Premier League, Golf, F1 and Main Event.

Meanwhile, Virgin Media offers Sky Sports channels in its rival Sport bundle. At £52.99 per month this is pricier than Sky’s option, but it also includes considerably more with 200 channels, nine from Sky Sports, plus Netflix and 516Mbps fibre broadband.

The pricier Max Volt bundle comes in at £76.99 and offers over 230 channels including both Sky Sports and Sky Cinema, as well as Netflix and ultra-fast 1,130Mbps fibre broadband. It also includes an O2 SIM with unlimited data, minutes and texts.

One thing to bear in mind with both deals is that Sky and Virgin will introduce price rises during the 24-month contracts. Sky merely states that prices ‘may change’ throughout the minimum term, whereas Virgin has confirmed a £4 hike from April 2027.