*Note – There will not be a companion audio podcast with today’s show due to a temporary dental issue. Hope to return soon!
Professional golf’s first major championship of 2026 will tee off Thursday in Augusta, Georgia.
The Masters is an invitation-only men’s golf tournament played on one of the most lovely and challenging golf courses on the entire planet.
The immaculate Augusta National Golf Club features colorful azaleas and impressive dogwoods on nearly every hole. Most of the lucky ones who get a ticket to walk the grounds of this historic golf course will remember it for the rest of their lives.
The preliminaries are nearly over
The youth played the annual “Drive, Pitch, and Putt” competition two weekends ago. Regional winners were brought to Augusta National Golf Club to determine the top boys and girls in ages 7-9, 10-11, 12-13, and 14-15.
A special citation goes to one particular youngster with the most unusual name.
The boys’ 12-13 division winner was none other than Texas Terry from (yes) Austin, Texas. He should expect to receive golf scholarship offers from several colleges around the Lone Star state in the years ahead.
Last weekend, a top tier field of women’s amateur golfers played in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on this same golf course.
Spain’s Maria Jose Marin took this year’s title with an impressive four shot victory by posting a three-round score of 14-under par.
Tuesday night marks the annual “Champion’s Dinner” for the elite group of past winners at The Masters.
Last year’s defending champion Rory McIlroy will be wearing his new green jacket and serving-up an entree of Wagyu filet mignon and seared salmon plus sticky toffee pudding for desert. Yum!
Wednesday’s final day of practice for The Masters concludes with the annual 9-hole Par-3 contest from 1-3PM CDT on ESPN. It is intended to be a family-friendly fun event. Nobody actually “wants” to win the Par-3 contest, though. That’s because Wednesday’s Par-3 winner has never gone on to win the coveted Masters’ green jacket at the conclusion of the 72-hole tournament on Sunday evening.
The weather for this week’s tournament is looking terrific! Warm and dry conditions with temperatures rising into the 80’s by this weekend will make for greens as fast as your kitchen floor at Augusta National.
The 91-player field features 17 former Masters champions
An incredible 17 former Masters champions are in this year’s 2026 field.
Last year’s winner was Rory McIlroy. His victory in 2025 completed the final piece of McIlroy’s personal Grand Slam of winning all four of golf’s major championships. Rory McIlroy will be one of the favorites again this week with a chance to win back-to-back green jackets to add to his closet.
Scottie Scheffler apparently likes winning his Masters’ titles in even-numbered years.
Scheffler won this tournament in both 2022 and 2024. This is 2026, Scottie. Is it his turn to win The Masters for a third time?
Another former champion at Augusta National who has played well recently is 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed.
Reed jumped from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf four years ago. He and LIV Golf parted in 2026, and Reed is trying to become eligible to return to the PGA Tour again in August. The 35-year old Patrick Reed played his college golf at nearby Augusta State. He knows this golf course very well.
Speaking of LIV Golf, Spain’s Jon Rahm won a green jacket in 2023. Like Patrick Reed, Rahm bolted for LIV Golf after the new league waved a $300 million bonus check for him to leave the PGA Tour starting in 2024.
Rahm posted a blistering 23-under par total within the past month to win a LIV Golf event in Hong Kong by three shots. He loves competing at Augusta National and is a favorite yet this year.
Other top former Masters winners in this year’s field include:
Hideki Matsuyama (2021)
LIV Golf’s Dustin Johnson (2020)
LIV Golf’s Sergio Garcia (2017)
Danny Willett (2016)
Jordan Spieth (2015)
LIV Golf’s Bubba Watson (2014 and 2012)
Two very notable former champions are not in the field this week.
Five time champion Tiger Woods withdrew after his latest DUI driving episode in central Florida. He is said to be seeking treatment for pain medication addiction.
Phil Mickelson (who plays on the LIV Golf Tour) also withdrew this week to deal with a family member’s personal health matter.
This will be the first year since 1994 where neither Phil Mickelson nor Tiger Woods is in the field.
Here are some Masters contenders ready to don their first Green Jacket!
There are a number of very talented young golfers who desperately want to capture their first Masters’ win this year. Let’s examine who the oddsmakers believe may become the newest first-time Masters winner:
Bryson DeChambeau – The 31-year old two-time US Open champion was in the final pairing with winner Rory McIlroy last April.
DeChambeau’s disappointing final round of 3-over par 75 last year dropped him into a tie for fifth place. This year, he has captured two LIV Golf events in the past several weeks and comes into Augusta National playing extremely well.
Ludvig Aberg – The seventh place finisher last year at The Masters was Ludvig Aberg.
He was recently in fourth round contention at both the Players Championship and last weekend in San Antonio. Unfortunately, the 26-year old Swedish golf had a case of final round jitters in both events to fade from first place. To win at Augusta, Ludvig Aberg’s final round play must be significantly better to have any chance to win.
Xander Schauffele – Schauffele has finished in the top ten on the PGA Tour three times in 2026. When he’s hot, he’s really good. Schauffele captured the 2024 PGA Championship and the British Open a few months later. Will his putting hold up under the lightning fast greens at Augusta National Golf Club this week?
Tommy Fleetwood – Fleetwood caught fire in late 2025 to win his first tournament here in the US. He has been a contender at Augusta in past years but tends to fade by the final round. With his recent boost in confidence, Tommy Fleetwood may become a crowd favorite this week if he gets in contention at The Masters.
Cameron Young – This quiet and powerful ball striker has been close to victory at Augusta twice.
He stared down the field one month ago to win the Player’s Championship in Florida. Cameron Young has the golf skills and poise to win this week.
Matt Fitzpatrick – Another golfer on a hot streak has been Matt Fitzpatrick. He won two weeks ago at the very difficult Copperhead course at the Innisbrook Resort near Tampa. Fitzpatrick (like Cameron Young) is riding into Augusta, Georgia on a hot streak.
How about these sentimental favorites with a chance to win?
Justin Rose – This likable crowd favorite has finished second at The Masters three times.
Now age 45, time is running out for Justin Rose at Augusta National Golf Club.
Justin Thomas – Thomas has always been a gallery favorite. The University of Alabama favorite’s best finish at The Masters has been fourth place. He is streaky when his putter heats up.
Viktor Hovland – When he’s “on”, Hovland hits iron shots into the greens with incredible pinpoint accuracy. Like Justin Thomas, though, his game around the greens must improve this week in order to win a first green jacket.
Jordan Spieth – The 2015 Masters champion has been rounding into form in 2026.
Jordan Spieth has been mired in a four year winless slump. Should he move into contention this weekend, the patrons at Augusta National will go bonkers attempting to push the likable Spieth to win his second green jacket.
Shades of Ben Crenshaw!
Where can you watch The Masters?
Golf Channel is “live” at The Masters all week. They provide player interviews and commentary for hours – though they are unable to televise the actual tournament.
Online – I actually prefer watching the online site called Masters.com.
The tournament host provides free all-day coverage with an interesting assortment of viewing options. If you want to see every player come through Amen Corner (Holes 11, 12, and 13), this should be the place for you!
Television coverage this week includes:
Wednesday – Par 3 Contest – 1-3PM CDT on ESPN
Thursday and Friday:
Noon – 2PM – Amazon Prime Video
2PM – 6:30PM – ESPN
Saturday and Sunday:
11AM – 1PM – Paramount+
1PM – 6PM – CBS
Enjoy…The Masters!