How to watch the Masters
The Masters officially kicks off this week and there are now clear viewing plans so you can actually watch the action rather than hunt for streams. Golf.com published full tee times and a viewer’s guide for Rounds 1–2, and it maps streaming windows across Prime Video, Paramount+ and Masters.com so you know which service to open when the leaders tee off. That practical schedule matters if you’re planning lineups, bets, or just want to catch Rory and the big groups early. (golf.com) (usatoday.com)
You no longer need to bounce between random apps to find the Masters. The 2026 tournament starts Thursday, April 9, at Augusta National, and the viewing map is finally simple enough to follow from the first tee shot through Sunday’s finish. (golf.com) The television split is the old-school part. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network handles Wednesday’s Par 3 Contest plus the first two tournament rounds, while Columbia Broadcasting System takes over for the weekend rounds on Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12. (golf.com) Wednesday, April 8, is the warm-up day on television. The Par 3 Contest airs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Entertainment and Sports Programming Network before the real tournament begins the next morning. (golf.com) Thursday and Friday now have a cleaner handoff than most majors. Amazon Prime Video carries coverage from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time, and then Entertainment and Sports Programming Network carries the main broadcast from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on both April 9 and April 10. (golf.com) Saturday and Sunday start on streaming before the main network window arrives. Paramount+ runs from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern Time, and then Columbia Broadcasting System takes over from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time on both weekend days. (golf.com; cbssports.com) If you want more than the main broadcast, the Masters is still the most generous major in golf online. Golf.com says live coverage is also available through Masters.com, the Masters App, DirecTV, and the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network app, with featured groups, featured holes, and full-day digital options layered around the television windows. (golf.com) The official Masters site is still the anchor for fans who want to watch without guessing which broadcaster owns which moment. The tournament’s own video hub says it offers live viewing, scores, player information, and tournament coverage in one place. (masters.com) This year’s field is large enough that the schedule matters more than usual. Golf.com’s viewer guide lists Rory McIlroy as the defending champion and says 90 other players are trying to stop him, while CBS Sports describes the field as a 92-man group packed with Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, and Ludvig Åberg. (golf.com; cbssports.com) That is why the tee-time sheet matters almost as much as the channel guide. USA Today published the first-round pairings for Thursday, April 9, so fans can line up the exact groups they want instead of waiting for a leaderboard alert after the round is already moving. (usatoday.com) The Masters also keeps its weekend television window unusually compact compared with other majors. CBS Sports says its traditional 18-hole broadcast begins with the third round on Saturday, and Paramount+ adds two extra hours before the main network show on both weekend days. (cbssports.com) For anyone building fantasy lineups, placing bets, or just trying to catch the biggest names early, the practical move is straightforward. Open Amazon Prime Video at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday or Friday, switch to Entertainment and Sports Programming Network at 3 p.m. Eastern Time, and use Masters.com or the Masters App when you want a specific group or hole instead of the main feed. (golf.com; golf.com) The result is a tournament that is easier to follow than it first looks. The Masters still spreads coverage across several platforms, but for April 9 through April 12, the pattern is stable: Prime first on the opening two days, Entertainment and Sports Programming Network for the main early-round window, Paramount+ first on the weekend, and Columbia Broadcasting System for the final push to the green jacket. (golf.com; cbssports.com)
