AUGUSTA, Ga. – The stage is set. The preparations have been finalized. The 89th playing of the Masters is officially underway Thursday at the picturesque Augusta National Golf Club. History and a green jacket are on the line, and an adequate start will be required for contenders to maintain their chance at a sliver of immortality. World No. 1 and reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler seeks to become just the fourth player to successfully defend his green jacket while emerging as the second to slip on three in a four-year span.
Scheffler will go off in the morning hours and look to set the pace while world No. 2 Rory McIlroy will wait for his afternoon tee time. Waiting has been commonplace of late or McIlroy, who begins his 11th trip around Augusta National since winning his last major championship. A career grand slam is on the line for McIlroy, who enters the Masters off his hottest start to a season with two PGA Tour wins before April.
There are plenty more contenders beyond those two with world No. 3 Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm all among favorites in the 95-man field. As far as the (older) standbys, three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson is attempting to better his runner-up finish from a couple years ago, while five-time green jacket holder Tiger Woods will miss his first Masters since 2021 and fourth since 2016 after rupturing his Achilles in preparation for this tradition unlike any other.
Watch Round 1 action at the 2025 Masters with expanded coverage from CBS Sports. Masters Live allows you to follow the best in the world across Featured Groups, Amen Corner and holes 15 & 16. Watch those streams live across Paramount+, CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports App with extended broadcast coverage Saturday and Sunday from 12-2 p.m. on Paramount+ and 2-7 p.m. on CBS.
CBS Sports will update this story with scores and highlights from the Masters below. Check out the live scores at the top of this story, Round 1 tee times and our complete Masters TV schedule and coverage guide.