What to know before the 89th Masters tournament

The Masters Tournament, the first of four majors in men’s golf, is typically held during the first full week of April.

• Unlike other majors, which are held at different courses each year, the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, is the permanent host of the Masters and has been since the tournament’s inception in 1934.

• Born out of a plant nursery, Augusta National is famous for its lush landscapes and rolling hills. Flowers like magnolias and azaleas are so associated with the course that 2017 Masters winner Sergio García named his daughter Azalea after the 13th hole.

There are 20 ways players can qualify for the Masters, including winning other majors, being a previous Masters champ, winning Olympic gold, and qualifying for the season-ending Tour Championship.

• Ninety-six amateurs and pros received invitations to play this year, including 21 golfers who will be making their first Masters appearance.

Some LIV golfers will also compete at the Masters this year. ICYMI, LIV Golf is a rival Saudi-backed tour that launched in 2022, challenging the PGA Tour’s monopoly on pro men’s golf and tempting PGA Tour stars away with massive prize money and a team-based format.

• LIV players were initially banned from PGA Tour events, sparking legal battles and tension between the tours. However, because majors like the Masters, U.S. Open, The Open, and PGA Championship operate independently from the PGA, LIV golfers can still qualify.

• This year, 12 LIV golfers, including fierce competitors Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau, will try their luck in Augusta. The drama.

The Masters maintains some of the most steadfast traditions of any global sporting event.

🍽️ The food: Food prices at Augusta are famously reasonable. Masters tickets are expensive and hard to come by, so the course strives to offer an affordable on-site experience.

• The famed Georgia peach ice cream sandwiches (pictured above) are a perennial crowd-pleaser and thankfully on the menu to stay. Plus, the iconic pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches will only set you back $1.50 each.

💚 The green jacket: Awarded to the tournament champ (along with an anticipated $3.6M check), the coveted outwear is more than a fashion statement. The winner also walks away with a lifetime invitation to play in the Masters and an honorary membership at the super-exclusive Augusta Club.

🤝 The amateur connection: In honor of Bobby Jones, the legendary amateur who created the Masters, the tournament continues to highlight amateur golf. This year’s five amateurs are invited to lodge at the course’s Crow’s Nest while competing, and the lowest-scoring amateur will be awarded the Silver Cup.

• The reigning U.S. Amateur champ also plays his first two rounds with the defending Masters champ, meaning 2024 U.S. Amateur winner José Luis Ballester will tee off with 2024 Masters winner Scottie Scheffler. So special (and sometimes meme-able).

🏆 The Champions Dinner: Held the Tuesday night of Masters week, all previous Masters champs — and only previous Masters champs — gather at the course for a dinner chosen by the most recent winner.

• Scottie Scheffler’s 2025 Masters menu is true to his Texas roots, just like his 2023 spread. The highlights? Firecracker shrimp, Texas-style chili, and “Papa Scheff’s Meatball and Ravioli Bites,” a nod to his dad and the dish that caused the now-infamous hand injury that delayed his season start.

🇺🇸 Scottie Scheffler, World No. 1: The defending and two-time champ, Scheffler is the one to beat heading into “golf’s Super Bowl.” From Vegas odds to expert picks, the fan-favorite new dad is the undeniable front-runner. If he can score another green jacket, he’ll be the first repeat Masters champ since the aforementioned Tiger Woods did it in 2001–02.

☘️ Rory McIlroy, No. 2: To say McIlroy is the people’s champ would be an understatement. The lovable Northern Irishman is a four-time major winner and has nabbed two Tour events this season. However, he hasn’t won a major in almost 11 years and is dealing with elbow discomfort heading into Augusta. Can he finally complete the golf career grand slam?

🇸🇪 Ludvig Åberg, No. 5: Bursting onto the pro scene in June 2023, the Swede had a year to remember in 2024, finishing second at the Masters while being featured in the third season of Netflix’s Full Swing. Known for his consistency, hitting distance, and poise under pressure, the 25-year-old shouldn’t be overlooked.

🇺🇸 Xander Schauffele, No. 3: Schauffele’s decades of hard work paid off when he clinched his first major title at the PGA Championship in May 2024. But he didn’t stop there — in July, he secured his second major, winning The British Championship (aka The Open). With four top-10 Masters finishes in the past six years, expect Schauffele to be fully in the mix come Sunday.

🇺🇸 Bryson DeChambeau, No. 19: If there’s one LIV golfer to reluctantly watch, it’s DeChambeau. The polarizing figure notched a 2024 U.S. Open major win and, off the course, his growing social media presence has led to a Gen Z fanbase that just can’t get enough of his antics. Aggravating or woefully misunderstood, you can’t deny his impact.

🇯🇵 Hideki Matsuyama, No. 6: The 2021 green jacket winner tends to fly under the radar, but he shouldn’t. Augusta National suits Matsuyama’s steady ball-striking and elite short game, plus his consistency and calm under pressure make him a serious threat heading into any weekend. Don’t sleep on him.

The Masters swings into action bright and early this morning with coverage on ESPN and CBS in the U.S. and TSN in Canada. Check out the tee times and groupings here, and follow the leaderboard here. Tee-riffic.