Masters 2026: Final Round Tees Off Amid Tight Leaderboard
Masters 2026: Final Round Tees Off Amid Tight Leaderboard...
The final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament begins Sunday at Augusta National, with a crowded leaderboard setting up a dramatic finish. Golf fans across the U.S. are tuning in as just three strokes separate the top eight players, including defending champion Scottie Scheffler and rising star Michael Thorbjornsen.
Play begins at 10:15 AM ET under clear Georgia skies, with featured groups including Scheffler (-8), Thorbjornsen (-7), and surprise contender Hideki Matsuyama (-6). The tight competition comes after Saturday's moving day saw seven lead changes, sparking intense social media discussion overnight.
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley confirmed ideal course conditions for Sunday, with firm greens and light winds expected to challenge players. CBS's broadcast begins at 2 PM ET, while ESPN+ offers early coverage starting at 10 AM.
This year's tournament has drawn particular attention due to Tiger Woods' emotional Friday cut streak ending at 24 consecutive Masters. The golf legend's absence from weekend play dominated sports conversations Saturday, fueling interest in Sunday's new-generation showdown.
Sportsbooks report record betting volume for a non-Tiger Masters Sunday, with Scheffler remaining the slight favorite at +180. The PGA Tour's new streaming deal with Amazon has also boosted viewership, with Prime Video reporting a 37% increase in early-round viewers compared to 2025.
Local businesses in Augusta report strong crowds despite the tournament's limited ticket availability. The Masters app has seen 2.1 million downloads this week as fans track real-time leaderboard updates and the tournament's famed amen corner camera feeds.
Sunday's winner will take home $3.6 million from the $20 million purse, the largest in Masters history. The champion will also receive the iconic green jacket in Butler Cabin shortly after the final putt drops, expected around 7 PM ET if no playoff occurs.
