Masters Tee Times Released For Saturday's Critical Third Round
Masters Tee Times Released For Saturdays Critical Third Round...
The 2026 Masters Tournament enters its pivotal third round on Saturday, with tee times now confirmed amid intense competition at Augusta National. Golf fans across the U.S. are searching for pairings as the leaderboard tightens, with just three strokes separating the top eight players.
Tiger Woods and rising star Jake Knapp will tee off at 10:45 a.m. ET, while overnight leader Scottie Scheffler starts at 2:35 p.m. with Rory McIlroy. The groupings reflect a dramatic shift after Friday's windy conditions scrambled the standings.
ESPN will broadcast early coverage starting at 10 a.m. ET, with CBS taking over at 3 p.m. Digital viewers can stream featured groups on Masters.com and the ESPN+ app. Saturday's weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and mild temperatures, ideal for low scoring.
The tee time announcement comes as ticket resale prices for Saturday's round hit $1,200 on secondary markets. Augusta National officials confirmed record merchandise sales during the first two days, fueled by strong attendance from East Coast spectators.
Analysts note this could be Woods' last realistic chance at a sixth green jacket. His 10:45 a.m. pairing with Knapp, this year's Phoenix Open winner, creates an intriguing generational matchup. Defending champion Jon Rahm starts at 1:55 p.m. alongside LIV Golf's Dustin Johnson.
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley told reporters Friday that course conditions will remain challenging but fair. “The greens are running at 13 on the Stimpmeter,” he said, referencing the fast putting surfaces that typically decide Masters weekends.
Social media reactions highlight particular interest in the 2:25 p.m. group featuring Scheffler, McIlroy and Hideki Matsuyama. The trio represents the last three Masters champions still in contention this year.
Saturday's round often determines the eventual winner at Augusta, with 14 of the last 15 champions entering Sunday in the final pairing. The tee times release comes as Google searches for "Masters weekend tickets" spike 380% compared to last year.
Local businesses in Augusta, Georgia report packed hotels and restaurants through Sunday. The tournament's economic impact is estimated at $120 million for the region this year, according to the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau.
