PHOTOS: Masters 2026 tournament starts

Sports

PHOTOS: Masters 2026 tournament starts

Honorary starters Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson launched play for the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Defending champion Rory McIlroy is tied for first with Sam Burns after the first round.

Sam Burns tees off on the 17th green Thursday. He ended the day tied for first with Rory McIlroy. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Defending champion Rory McIlroy tees off his first round of the Masters. He ended the day tied for first with Sam Burns. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Robert MacIntyre tees off on 18th hole during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Jason Getz/AJC)

The pairing of Scottie Scheffler, Gary Woodland and Robert MacIntyre walk to 16th green during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Jason Getz/AJC)

Justin Thomas with caddie Matt Minister line up putt on 17th green during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Sergio Garcia hits from 14th fairway during the first round of the Masters tournament at Augusta National. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Chris Gotterup reacts to shot on 14th fairway during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Justin Rose reacts to his shot from the rough on the 14th hole during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Jordan Spieth hits out of bunker on 15th hole during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Jason Getz/AJC)

Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot on 16th hole during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Jason Getz/AJC)

Patrick Reed and caddie Kessler Karain line up Reed's putt on 17th hole during first round of play at the Masters. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Scottie Scheffler hits his third shot on the 15th hole during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Jason Getz/AJC)

Aaron Rai works his ball out of the bunker on the 12th hole. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Jordan Spieth reacts after 14th fairway shot during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Ludvig Åberg and caddie Joe Skovron walk up 15th fairway during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Jason Getz/AJC)

Fred Couples hits off of 16th tee during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Jason Getz/AJC)

Harry Hall tees off on 16th hole during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Jason Getz/AJC)

Scottie Scheffler on 17th green during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Fred Couples, the oldest player in the tournament at 66, checks the wind on the 14th hole at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Amateur Mason Howell of Thomasville prepares to putt on the eighth hole. At just 18 years old, he's the youngest player in the tournament. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Patrick Reed prepares his third shot on the 18th hole during first round play at the Masters on Thursday. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Rory McIlroy and Mason Howell shake hands at the end of their first round of the Masters. It's tradition for the defending Masters champ (McIlroy) to play alongside the reigning U.S. Amateur winner (Howell). (Jason Getz/AJC)

Russell Henley hits from the bunker on 17th hole during the first round of play Thursday. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Harris English tees off to begin his first round at the Masters. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Patrick Reed and Akshay Bhatia cross Nelson Bridge between the 12th and 13th holes. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Bryson DeChambeau lines up putt on 17th hole during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Jon Rahm eyes the first hole during his first round of the Masters on Thursday. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Sepp Straka tees off on 11th hole during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Patrons watch Rory McIlroy shot on seventh hole during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Cameron Young hits onto the seventh green at Augusta National. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Amateur Mason Howell loses his hat teeing off on the first green to start his Masters experience. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Aaron Rai and caddie Jason Timmis line up shoot on 14th hole during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Hideki Matsuyama, the Masters 2021 champ, prepares to putt on the second hole Thursday. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Mason Howell chips to the second green during his first Masters tournament. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Fred Couples lines up a putt on 14th green during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Patron watches play during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Honorary starter Jack Nicklaus has six green jackets for his Masters wins. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Three-time Masters champ and honorary starter Gary Player "kick off" the 2026 Masters tournament Thursday. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Patrick Reed chips to the 17th green during first round of the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, GA (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

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Credit: Jason Getz/Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Sam Burns tees off on the 17th green Thursday. He ended the day tied for first with Rory McIlroy. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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