Round 1 of the historic 90th Masters Tournament is officially in the books, and the opening day at Augusta National Golf Club delivered all the drama, spectacular shot-making, and compelling storylines that golf fans have come to expect from the season’s first major.
With a deeply talented and highly exclusive field of just 91 players—including all of the top 53 players in the Official World Golf Ranking—it was always going to be a monumental task for outsiders to find their way to the top of the leaderboard. Add in a dried-out, fiery, and fiercely fast Augusta National course, and conventional wisdom suggested that course experience and veteran composure would be the keys to success.
By the time the final putt dropped on Thursday evening, both of those assumptions proved to be absolutely true. The Round 1 leaderboard is a star-studded affair, lined top-to-bottom with major champions, former green jacket winners, and seasoned veterans of previous Masters tournaments. In fact, only two players currently residing in the top nine—Sam Burns and Kurt Kitayama—do not yet have a major championship to their name. The leaderboard is also incredibly tightly bunched beyond that elite leading group, with 22 players sitting under par or at even par after 18 holes of grueling competition.
The 90th Masters Opens with Tradition and Nostalgia
Before the competitive shots were struck, the 2026 Masters officially commenced with its time-honored traditions. The ceremonial opening tee shots took place early Thursday morning, providing a nostalgic start to the milestone 90th edition of the tournament. The honorary starter ceremony featured legends of the game, but it also provided a deeply emotional family moment: Jackie Nicklaus returned to caddie for his legendary father, Jack Nicklaus, donning the pristine white Augusta National caddie uniform just as he did when the “Golden Bear” miraculously won the tournament in 1986.
Surrounded by patrons lined up deep around the first tee, the ceremonial starters officially opened the tournament, giving way to the modern titans of the sport who were eager to etch their own names into the history books.
Defending Champion Rory McIlroy’s Roar
When you enter Augusta National as the defending champion, the pressure is immense. Rory McIlroy, arriving to defend his hard-fought 2025 Masters victory, knew the eyes of the golfing world were squarely on his shoulders.
His defense of the green jacket started agonizingly slow. McIlroy found himself stuck in neutral, grinding out pars and sitting at an uninspiring even par through his first seven holes. The precision required to attack Augusta’s pins seemed just out of reach in the opening hour of his round. However, champions of McIlroy’s caliber rarely stay quiet for long. The Grand Slam winner found his rhythm as he approached the turn and proceeded to completely flip the script.
McIlroy turned on the jets, stringing together a masterclass of ball-striking and putting to card five birdies over his next eight holes. His towering irons began finding the correct quadrants of Augusta’s treacherous, undulating greens, allowing him to convert mid-range putts with supreme confidence. By the time he walked off the 18th green, McIlroy had signed for a brilliant 5-under-par 67.
“The desire to win the Masters is still very much there,” McIlroy noted in his post-round press conference, shutting down any speculation that finally completing the career Grand Slam last year would diminish his competitive fire. If his opening round is any indication, McIlroy is poised to put up a ferocious defense of his title.
Sam Burns Matches the Maestro
Matching McIlroy blow-for-blow at the top of the leaderboard is Sam Burns. Looking to finally break through and capture his first major championship, Burns delivered one of the most composed rounds of his career to join the defending champion at 5-under par.
Burns kickstarted his day with a spectacular eagle on the par-5 second hole (Pink Dogwood), utilizing his length off the tee to easily reach the green in two and sinking a brilliant putt. That early jolt of momentum carried him through the tricky front nine. As he made the turn and entered Amen Corner, Burns showcased his elite iron play.
He managed to card crucial birdies on the treacherous par-3 12th (Golden Bell), the risk-reward par-5 13th (Azalea), and the par-5 15th (Firethorn). By taking advantage of Augusta’s scoring holes and minimizing his mistakes on the tougher par 4s, Burns executed a textbook game plan. His 67 puts him squarely in the spotlight heading into Friday, answering the question of whether a non-major winner can hold their own at the summit of this historic venue.
The Chasing Pack: Kitayama, Day, and Reed in Hot Pursuit
Lurking just two shots back of the co-leaders is a dangerous trio of players tied for third place at 3-under-par (69): Kurt Kitayama, Jason Day, and Patrick Reed.
Kurt Kitayama’s “Psycho Scorecard”
Kitayama’s path to a 69 was anything but conventional. Entering the week, he had averaged a 75.6 in his previous spins around Augusta National. On Thursday, he proved he has a “grind-it-out mentality.” Kitayama recorded a remarkably chaotic scorecard that featured only six pars all day. He even chipped a ball into the water at Rae’s Creek but somehow managed to salvage his round, showcasing incredible mental fortitude to bounce back and post a number in the 60s for his second consecutive competitive round at the course.
Jason Day’s Resurgence
Former PGA Champion Jason Day continued his late-career resurgence with a beautifully controlled 69. The Australian veteran relied on his world-class short game to navigate the firm and fast conditions, avoiding the big numbers that derailed several other prominent players in the field.
Patrick Reed’s Course Knowledge
Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, once again proved that his game is tailor-made for Augusta National. His creative shot-making and phenomenal touch around the greens allowed him to scramble effectively and keep his name firmly in the mix.
Scottie Scheffler Grinds in the Afternoon
The morning wave clearly got the better end of the scoring conditions, as the greens were slightly more receptive before the Georgia sun baked them out. The best score from the afternoon tee times belonged to none other than the pre-tournament betting favorite and two-time Masters champion, Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler carded a rock-solid 2-under-par 70, placing him in a tie for sixth alongside Xander Schauffele, Justin Rose, and Shane Lowry. Scheffler’s round was a clinic in discipline. He eagled the par-5 second hole and quickly added a birdie on the third to reach 3-under par. From there, the afternoon winds stiffened, and the greens hardened. Scheffler went into full protection mode, parring 14 holes and recording just a single bogey on the daunting 11th hole. In major championship golf, understanding when to attack and when to defend is vital, and Scheffler played the afternoon conditions perfectly.
Bizarre Moments and Ageless Wonders
No opening round at the Masters is complete without a few unbelievable stories unfolding across the property.
Xander Schauffele’s Errant Drive
Xander Schauffele, who also shot a 2-under 70, experienced one of the most bizarre moments of the day. On one of his tee shots, Schauffele’s drive sailed wide into the patron-lined gallery and miraculously landed perfectly inside a patron’s Masters merchandise bag. Fortunately, under the Rules of Golf, Schauffele was granted free relief, allowing him to play on without penalty and ultimately save his par.
Fred Couples Turns Back the Clock
At 66 years old, Fred Couples is proving that age is just a number. The 1992 Masters champion and the oldest player to ever make the cut at the tournament put on an absolute show for the patrons. Couples played his first 13 holes at 2-under par, sitting in a tie for 9th place when play was suspended for the day. Walking in birdies with his signature effortless swing, Couples reminded the golf world exactly why he is an Augusta National icon.
Adam Scott Conquers Amen Corner
Another former champion, Australian Adam Scott, thrilled the crowds by playing Amen Corner in a staggering 3-under par. His run was capped off by a mesmerizing approach shot on the 13th hole that set up a stress-free eagle putt, joining Shane Lowry, Nicolai Højgaard, and Kristoffer Reitan as players who managed to conquer the famous par-5 in just three strokes.
Course Adjustments and the Wave Effect
Augusta National is never static, and the course setup for the 90th Masters featured a notable change. The 17th hole (Nandina) was lengthened by 10 yards, bringing the hole’s total distance to 450 yards and the course’s overall length to a staggering 7,565 yards (Par 72). This subtle tweak forced players to hit longer irons into the heavily guarded 17th green, resulting in a noticeable uptick in bogeys late in the round.
The weather and course conditions also created a distinct disparity between the morning and afternoon waves. The morning groups capitalized on the slightly softer greens, with McIlroy and Burns leading the charge. By the afternoon, the layout had transformed into a defensive test, highlighted by Scheffler’s gritty 70.
For Friday’s second round, the waves will flip. McIlroy and Burns will face the fiery afternoon conditions, while Scheffler and the rest of the late-Thursday starters will have the opportunity to post low numbers in the softer morning dew. Will the morning group get the advantage once again? That question will dictate the cut line as the field fights to secure a weekend tee time.
Looking Back at the Par 3 Contest
While the intense competition of Round 1 dominated Thursday, Wednesday afternoon provided the traditional lightheartedness of the Par 3 Contest. Played on the separate 9-hole, par-27 course on the northeast corner of Augusta National, the event saw players joined by their families and children serving as caddies.
Aaron Rai captured the Par 3 Contest victory with a brilliant score of 21 (6-under par), finishing one stroke ahead of Jacob Bridgeman and John Keefer. However, Rai will have to battle the legendary “Par 3 Curse”—an interesting piece of golf trivia noting that no player has ever won the Wednesday Par 3 Contest and subsequently won the Masters tournament itself in the same year.
2026 Masters Thursday Live Leaderboard (Top 20 Snapshot)
Note: For the continually updating full leaderboard, please refer to the resource links at the bottom of the article.
| Position | Player | Score | Total Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Rory McIlroy | -5 | 67 |
| T1 | Sam Burns | -5 | 67 |
| T3 | Kurt Kitayama | -3 | 69 |
| T3 | Jason Day | -3 | 69 |
| T3 | Patrick Reed | -3 | 69 |
| T6 | Scottie Scheffler | -2 | 70 |
| T6 | Xander Schauffele | -2 | 70 |
| T6 | Justin Rose | -2 | 70 |
| T6 | Shane Lowry | -2 | 70 |
| T10 | Li Haotong | -1 | 71 |
| T10 | Nick Taylor | -1 | 71 |
| T10 | Tommy Fleetwood | -1 | 71 |
| T10 | Brian Campbell | -1 | 71 |
| T10 | Aaron Rai | -1 | 71 |
| T10 | Jacob Bridgeman | -1 | 71 |
| T10 | Gary Woodland | -1 | 71 |
| T17 | Max Homa | E | 72 |
| T17 | Hideki Matsuyama | E | 72 |
| T17 | Jordan Spieth | E | 72 |
| T17 | Brooks Koepka | E | 72 |
(Several other players sit tied at Even Par)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Who is currently leading the 2026 Masters Tournament?
A: After the first round, defending champion Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns share the lead at 5-under-par, with both players shooting a round of 67.
Q: Did the morning or afternoon tee times score better in Round 1?
A: The morning wave definitively had the better scoring conditions. The greens were more receptive before drying out in the afternoon sun. Scottie Scheffler’s 2-under 70 was the lowest score posted by an afternoon starter.
Q: Who is the defending champion at the 2026 Masters?
A: Rory McIlroy is the defending champion, having won the green jacket in 2025 with a score of 11-under-par (277).
Q: What happened to Xander Schauffele’s drive on Thursday?
A: During Round 1, Xander Schauffele hit an errant drive that astonishingly landed directly inside a spectator’s Masters merchandise bag. He was granted a free drop under the Rules of Golf and successfully scrambled for par.
Q: Has anyone ever won the Par 3 Contest and the Masters in the same year?
A: No. This phenomenon is known as the “Par 3 Curse.” Aaron Rai, who won the 2026 Par 3 Contest with a score of 6-under (21), will try to be the first in history to break the curse.
Q: Were there any changes made to the Augusta National golf course for 2026?
A: Yes. The 17th hole, known as Nandina, was lengthened by 10 yards. The hole now measures 450 yards, pushing the total yardage of Augusta National to 7,565 yards.
Q: How many players are in the field for the 2026 Masters?
A: The 2026 field features a highly exclusive group of 91 players. This includes all players currently ranked in the top 53 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Q: Who served as the Honorary Starters for the 90th Masters?
A: The traditional opening tee shots were hit by golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. In a special moment for the 90th edition, Jackie Nicklaus returned to carry the bag for his father, Jack.
Official Free Resources and Links
To follow along with all the live action, shot trackers, and weekend coverage of the 90th Masters Tournament, be sure to utilize the official, free resources below:
- Official Masters Live Leaderboard: Keep up with hole-by-hole scoring, player statistics, and cut-line projections. View the Live Masters Leaderboard here
- Masters Official Broadcast Schedule: Find out when and where to watch the live television broadcast and free featured group streaming. Masters Coverage Guide
- PGA Tour Event Hub: For comprehensive statistical breakdowns, FedExCup point projections, and player bios. PGA Tour Masters Overview
- The Masters App: Available for free on both iOS and Android devices, offering real-time video highlights, player tracking (Every Shot, Every Hole), and interactive course maps.
