Rory, Bryson, Scheffler top Masters storylines heading to Augusta
Rory McIlroy chases the Grand Slam, Scottie Scheffler eyes a third green jacket, and Bryson DeChambeau seeks his first at the 2025 Masters.
The 89th Masters Tournament is finally here, with the world’s best golfers taking on the picturesque Augusta National Golf Club in pursuit of the coveted green jacket.
Defending champion and World No. 1-ranked player Scottie Scheffler leads the field into the first major championship of the 2025 golf season. Scheffler outlasted Ludvig Aberg by four strokes to claim the title a year ago.
Who will win it this year? That’s what the next four days of competition will determine.
Among the top challengers in this year’s field: World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who only needs a Masters victory to complete the career grand slam. In addition, there’s 2023 winner Jon Rahm, 2021 champ Hideki Mastuyama and 2020 victor Dustin Johnson.
USA TODAY Sports will provide complete coverage of Thursday’s opening round. Follow along for live updates here:
Master 2025 leaderboard
This section will be updated as play begins.
You can get the latest leaderboard updates and tee times here.
Where to watch the Masters: TV channel, streaming Thursday
TV coverage of the Masters begins at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN with coverage live via streaming on Masters.com, the Masters app and Fubo, which is offering a free trial. Select holes and groups will also be available via ESPN+.
- TV channel: ESPN (starting at 2 p.m. ET)
- Live stream: Masters.com, ESPN+ and Fubo (Fubo offers a free trial subscription)
Watch the 2025 Masters from Augusta with Fubo
Davis Riley and Patton Kizzire were first off the tee at Augusta National as the opening twosome in the 95th Masters.
Riley made par of the 445-yard par 4 hole. Kizzire had a bogey.
The patrons will get their first look at a former champion when Mike Weir (2003) tees off in the third group at 8:02 a.m.
The Masters has a long history of reverence for the game of golf. That’s why three of the greatest players to ever tee it up at Augusta officially got this year’s tournament underway by hitting the ceremonial first tee shots.
For the fourth consecutive year, honorary starters Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson took their turns on the tee, much to the delight of the adoring patrons. The threesome combined for a total of 11 green jackets during their playing careers.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the 2025 Masters Tournament is officially underway,” Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said after Watson hit the last tee shot. “Enjoy the tournament.”
Masters tee times today
Notable tee times. For a full list of tee times, you can find Thursday’s here.
All times Eastern
- Zach Johnson: 8:13 a.m.
- Collin Morikawa: 9:47 a.m.
- Phil Mickelson: 9:58 a.m.
- Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas: 10:15 a.m.
- Jordan Spieth: 10:26 a.m.
- Bubba Watson: 11:21 a.m.
- Max Homa: 12 p.m.
- Dustin Johnson: 12:11 p.m.
- Patrick Cantlay: 12:33 p.m.
- Brooks Koepka: 12:50 p.m.
- Adam Scott: 1:01 p.m.
- Xander Schauffele: 1:01 p.m.
- Rory McIlroy: 1:12 p.m.
- Hideki Matsuyama: 1:23 p.m.
- Bryson DeChambeau: 1:23 p.m.
- Jon Rahm: 1:34 p.m.
The first day of the Masters is set for lovely spring weather, with a high around 79 degrees and calm winds between five and eight miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.
Things are expected to be much different come Thursday night, however, as there’s a chance of showers. The National Weather Service projects a 50% chance of rain.
The NWS also says that Thursday night rain is only expected to be between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. — Austin Curtright
All odds via BetMGM on Wednesday, April 9.
- Scottie Scheffler: +450
- Rory McIlroy: +650
- Collin Morikawa: +1400
- Jon Rahm: +1400
- Bryson DeChambeau: +1600
- Ludvig Aberg: +2000
- Justin Thomas: +2200
- Xander Schauffele: +2200
- Joaquin Niemann: +3000
