The first major tournament of the PGA Tour season is here this weekend, with the field of 89 players making the yearly pilgrimage to Augusta National Golf Club, one of the most iconic and exclusive clubs in the world.

With play set to tee off on Thursday, we’re here to give you the details on how to watch the 2024 Masters, plus some other information you may want to know about the competition.

How to watch the Masters 2024

The 2024 Masters edition of the Masters will begin officially this Thursday, although due to the nature of how things are run at Augusta, full global coverage will begin at 8pm. 

Sky Sports has the exclusive rights to the PGA Tour broadcast in the UK, which includes all four majors.

The Masters on Sky Sports

Sky Sports Golf, the broadcaster's dedicated golf channel, will be the destination for wall-to-wall coverage this weekend, starting at 2pm on Thursday with the featured groups, while the full broadcast will start at 8pm.

Sky will supplement the broadcast with a host of extra action, with bonus feeds that include streams exclusive to certain parts of the course, including the notorious Amen Corner that covers the famous three-hole stretch from the 11th. These will be available via the red button.

On Thursday and Friday, Sky will show the Featured Groups live from 2pm up until the full coverage broadcast begins at 7:30pm.

For Saturday and Sunday, the real championship rounds, the build-up coverage will begin at 3pm on both days, while the full broadcast will take place at 7:30pm on Saturday and 6:30pm on Sunday.

Here is the full broadcast schedule for the weekend starting from today, Wednesday 10th April:

Wednesday

2pm - 7pm – Live from the Masters

7pm - 10:30pm – Masters Par-3 Tournament

Thursday

2pm - 7:30pm – Featured Groups live

7:30pm - 12:30am – The Masters: Day One

Friday 

2pm - 7:30pm – Featured Groups live

7:30pm - 12:30am – The Masters: Day Two

Saturday

3pm - 7:30pm – Live Masters build-up

7:30pm - 12:30am – The Masters: Day Three

Sunday

3pm - 6:30pm – Live Masters build-up

6:30pm - 12:30am – The Masters: Day Four

History of the Masters

The Masters was first played in 1934, making it the youngest of the four men’s major tournaments (along with the Open Championship, PGA Championship and US Open).

Unlike the other three championships though, the Masters does not move around year to year, staying at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, USA.

The original name given to the tournament was the “Augusta National Invitation Tournament”. The name “The Masters” was adopted in 1939, much to the chagrin of the club's co-founder and legendary amateur champion Bobby Jones.

Over the years, the Masters has set itself apart from the other majors on the calendar, becoming arguably the most important and coveted one to win (although many would and do make a solid argument for The Open to be just as, if not more coveted).

The 1960s and 70s saw the competition reach new levels with the help of the Big Three at the time, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, who all dominated the tournament between 1960 to 1978, winning the event 11 times in that span.

Since then, Augusta has grown in stature and the tournament has seen some of the best golfers of all time dominate and take multiple titles, including the Big Three mentioned as well as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Sir Nick Faldo, all of which added to the prestige of the competition.

While being a part of the PGA Tour calendar each year, the Masters is unique in that it is the only major tournament conducted by a private club rather than the PGA itself.

The Masters 2024 schedule

The Masters is a whole week-long affair, starting with coverage from the range on Monday, although the real competition kicks in on Wednesday.

Wednesday – Par-3 Contest

Wednesday features the Masters Par-3 contest, a family affair where the competitors play on the specially made short nine-hole layout.

What makes the tournament so endearing is the competitors, with the varied field consisting of tournament participants and non-competing past champions, all of whom typically have their families playing with them, serving as their caddies. 

Thursday – Masters Day One

Thursday begins the official competition, with the first group teeing off at 8am local time (1pm UK time).

Full TV coverage will begin at 7:30pm in the UK, which is half an hour after the final group have teed off, so there will still be plenty to watch until the end of the broadcast.

Friday – Masters Day Two

Friday will feature the same coverage as on Thursday, only with different tee times for each group - the groups that started in the morning on Thursday will typically start in the afternoon on Friday.

A cut will be set for the end of round two to whittle the field down to the top 50 players who will go on to compete in the final two rounds.

Saturday – Masters Day Three

Saturday is when the real play begins. With the field now shrunk, every player will be looking to be at their best to give themselves a fighting chance for Sunday.

The first tee time is not yet announced for Saturday. This will come following the end of round two on Friday when the top 50 is confirmed and groupings are finalised.

Sunday – Master Day Four

Day Four, also known as Championship Day, is when everything matters the most. The pressure is at its highest on Sunday, so it's all about seeing who will crumble and who will turn into a diamond.

Like on Saturday, tee times for Sunday are not yet known. These, along with the pairings, will be confirmed following the end of round three on Saturday.

The Masters 2024 groups & tee times

The groups and tee times for Thursday and Friday have been set and confirmed, with each group staying the same for both days. Here are the groups and tee times for both days:

The Masters course: Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta National Golf Club, nestled in the heart of Augusta, Georgia, stands as a paragon of golfing excellence and tradition. 

Founded in 1933 by Clifford Roberts and Bobby Jones, the club has evolved from its humble beginnings into a revered global icon in the sport. 

Its meticulously manicured course, known for its stunning beauty and challenging layout, has been the exclusive stage for the Masters Tournament since 1934. 

This annual event, one of golf's four major championships, attracts the world's top talent and a global audience, cementing Augusta National's status as a hallowed ground in the world of golf.

Beyond its sporting significance, the club is celebrated for its rich history, including its iconic Amen Corner and the tradition of awarding the Green Jacket to Masters champions, symbolising excellence and membership in golf's most elite circle.

The Masters winners

Credit: Jon Rahm, A Masters Champion | The Masters (The Masters, Youtube)

As mentioned above, for the victors, they are awarded the coveted Green Jacket, a tradition for the tournament as well as a symbol of status among their peers - the Green Jacket is as exclusive a club as Augusta itself. To win one is one of the highest honours in golf.

As well as the green jacket, the winner also receives the Masters Trophy which will then have their name etched into it (they don’t get to keep the real one but do get a sterling replica made), and a gold medallion.

There have been 87 winners of the Masters since its inception in 1934, with unsurprisingly America leading the way with the most wins with 63 and winners with 39.

The most recent winner is Spaniard Jon Rahm, who won his first Masters and second major title.

Past 5 winners

• 2023: Jon Rahm
• 2022: Scottie Scheffler
• 2021: Hideki Matsuyama
• 2020: Dustin Johnson
• 2019: Tiger Woods

All-time records

Most wins

Jack Nicklaus – 6

Youngest winner

Tiger Woods – 21 years & 104 days (1997)

Oldest winner

Jack Nicklaus – 46 years & 82 days (1986)

Most appearances

Gary Player – 52

Biggest winning margin

Tiger Woods – 12 strokes (1997)

Lowest winning score

Dustin Johnson – 268 (-20)

Course record

63 – Nick Price (1986) & Greg Norman (1996)