The 90th edition of the Masters Tournament officially got underway on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club, with three of golf’s most legendary figures stepping into the spotlight for the traditional honorary opening tee ceremony ahead of defending champion Rory McIlroy’s bid for history.
Three icons of the sport — 86-year-old Jack Nicklaus, 90-year-old South African Gary Player, and 76-year-old Tom Watson — delivered the ceremonial opening drives to a cheering crowd gathered at the first tee under the early morning sun. Between them, the trio boasts 33 major championship titles, 11 of which were claimed at Augusta National: Nicklaus holds the all-time record of six Masters victories as part of his 18 total major titles, Player captured three green jackets among his nine major crowns, and Watson won two Masters titles as part of an eight-major career that also includes five Open Championship wins.
With the opening ceremony complete, attention turns to the 91-player field competing across four rounds for the sport’s most iconic green jacket. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish five-time major winner ranked second in the world, is among the first to tee off, starting his first round at 10:31 a.m. local time (1431 GMT). He will be grouped alongside world number three Cameron Young, the American who claimed victory at the Players Championship last month, and 2023 U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell. McIlroy’s goal this week is historic: a win would make him only the fourth golfer in Masters history to claim back-to-back green jackets, following Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, who is hunting a third Masters title in five seasons, tees off later in the day at 1:44 p.m. local time as part of the penultimate group. He is joined by American compatriot Gary Woodland and Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre.
Tournament organizers are predicting firm, fast playing conditions across the course this week, with lightning-fast greens that will challenge players to hold their approach shots on target. Hard fairways and quick putting surfaces are expected to test every competitor’s accuracy and course management from the opening round.
McIlroy and Scheffler are far from the only title contenders eyeing the 2025 crown. Former major champions in the chasing pack include LIV Golf stars Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, both two-time major winners, alongside American Xander Schauffele and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick. A number of top players are also chasing their first career major victory at Augusta this year, including Sweden’s rising star Ludvig Aberg and England’s consistent contender Tommy Fleetwood.