Masters Tee Times Shift As Weather Disrupts Final Round

Masters Tee Times Shift As Weather Disrupts Final Round...

Severe weather has forced Augusta National to adjust tee times for the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament, scrambling Sunday's championship showdown. Tournament officials announced early Sunday that players will now tee off in threesomes from both the first and tenth holes starting at 9:30 a.m. ET, nearly three hours earlier than originally scheduled.

The change comes as thunderstorms are forecast to hit Augusta, Georgia, by mid-afternoon. The compressed schedule means leaders will begin their rounds shortly after noon ET, with CBS's broadcast window unchanged (2-7 p.m. ET). Current co-leaders Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama are now set to tee off at 12:10 p.m. alongside rising star Tom Kim.

Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley stated, "The safety of everyone on our grounds remains paramount." The last time the Masters implemented similar early tee times was during the pandemic-delayed 2020 tournament. Fans with Sunday tickets are being advised to arrive early, with gates opening at 7 a.m.

Social media reaction has been mixed, with some spectators frustrated by travel disruptions while players generally praised the proactive decision. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler tweeted, "Smart move by the committee - let's get this in and crown a proper champion."

The weather scramble adds drama to an already unpredictable Masters, where just four strokes separate the top 15 players. With softer course conditions expected from overnight rain, low scores could surge early before winds pick up. ESPN's coverage begins at 9 a.m. ET, with featured group streaming available via Masters.com.

This marks the first significant weather disruption at the Masters since 2019, when Sunday play was moved up due to storms. Tournament officials say they're prepared to implement a Monday finish if necessary, though current projections show a 70% chance of completing play today.