2019 Masters: Thursday round one tee times, winner predictions, TV guide, betting odds

2019 Masters Tournament

• What: first men’s golf major of the season 
• When: 11-14 April 2019 
• Where: Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia, USA 
• Number of players: 87 
• Defending champion: Patrick Reed 
• TV channels: Sky Sports Golf and BBC

Golf’s first major of the season takes place this week and once again the main talking point at Augusta National is whether Rory McIlroy can finally achieve a career grand slam by winning the Masters.

The Northern Irisman heads to Augusta as the bookies’ and pundits’ favourite to secure the Green Jacket following his superb victory at last month’s Players Championship at Sawgrass.

A four-time major winner – the US Open in 2011, The Open in 2014 and the PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014 – McIlroy only needs the Masters to complete the career slam. 

At the age of 29 time is on his side, but considering the form he’s in could 2019 be the best chance yet?

Although currently No.3 on the official rankings behind Justin Rose and Dustin Johnson, McIlroy is “the best player in the world right now, full stop” says Sports Illustrated’s Daniel Rapaport.

If he wins the Masters McIlroy will join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen to complete the career grand slam.

Just play solid golf

Faced with another opportunity of completing the grand slam at Augusta McIlroy says he will treat the Masters just like any other tournament.

He told the BBC: “I’m not going to be that hyped up about it. I’m going to go out and try to play four solids rounds of golf.

“I’ve probably put myself under too much pressure the last couple of years to try and win the Masters.

“It’s hard enough to win any week out here on tour so I’m only making it harder and more difficult to win the one I really want to – so I’m trying not to think about it too much.”

In round one on Thursday McIlroy will tee off at 4.15pm (UK time) alongside American Rickie Fowler and Australia’s Cameron Smith. On Friday in round two McIlroy, Fowler and Smith tee off in the final group at 7pm.

Hard to pick a winner

While many golf fans hope to see McIlroy secure the slam, he will have his work cut out against a challenging course and the world’s best golfers.

The 2019 Masters field will include world No.1 Rose, defending champion Patrick Reed, previous winners Jordan Spieth (2015), Danny Willett (2016) and Sergio Garcia (2017), and of course Tiger Woods – a 14-time major winner, including four victories at Augusta.

Also among the bookies’ favourites are Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Paul Casey, Brooks Koepka, Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood.

The BBC’s Iain Carter says: “Logic suggests it should be the easiest to foretell, but of the four majors the Masters is often the most unpredictable. This is despite it having the smallest field and being played at the same course every year.

“But heading into the 83rd edition of golf’s most glamorous tournament, none of the world’s top 11 players have won at the Augusta National.”

Woods: I can win again

Former world No.1 Tiger Woods is confident that he can win his 15th career major and end a decade-long drought, the BBC reports.

Since returning to golf after back surgery the 43-year-old American secured a victory at the 2018 Tour Championship and also performed well at last season’s Open and US PGA Championship.

Woods, who has not won a major since the 2008 US Open, said: “I feel like I can win again. I’ve proven I can do it. I put myself in with a chance of winning the last two majors of last year.

“I was right there at The Open and had the lead. I was making a run at the PGA. I just needed to not throw away a couple of shots, which I managed at the Tour Championship at East Lake.

“From the struggles I’ve had the last few years, to take the lead on the first day and then end up winning the tournament wire-to-wire made it more special. It was a great way to cap off the season. But more than anything I’ve just proved to myself that I can play at this level again.”

Four-time Masters winner Woods tees off at 4.04pm in Thursday’s opening round and is grouped with China’s Haotong Li and Spain’s Jon Rahm.

Tee times and groups

The tee times and groups have been announced for the opening two rounds of the 2019 Masters. All times are BST and players are US unless stated.

Thursday 11 April: round one tee times

• 1.15pm: Honorary starters – Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus 
• 1.30pm: Andrew Landry, Adam Long, Corey Conners (Can)
• 1.41pm: Ian Woosnam (Wal), Keith Mitchell, Kevin Tway 
• 1.52pm: Mike Weir (Can), Shane Lowry (Ire), Kevin O’Connell 
• 2.03pm: Angel Cabrera (Arg) Aaron Wise, Justin Harding (SA) 
• 2.14pm: Danny Willett (Eng), Brandt Snedeker, Takumi Kanaya (Jpn) 
• 2.25pm: Fred Couples, Si Woo Kim (Kor), JB Holmes 
• 2.36pm: Branden Grace (SA), Emiliano Grillo (Arg), Lucas Bjerregaard (Den) 
• 2.47pm: Charl Schwartzel (SA), Charles Howell III, Eddie Pepperell (Eng) 
• 2.58pm: Sergio Garcia (Spn), Tony Finau, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 
• 3.09pm: Adam Scott (Aus), Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Kyle Stanley 
• 3.31pm: Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Viktor Hovland (Nor) 
• 3.42pm: Charley Hoffman, Louis Oosthuizen (SA), Marc Leishman (Aus) 
• 3.53pm: Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Xander Schauffele, Gary Woodland 
• 4.04pm: Tiger Woods, Haotong Li (Chn), Jon Rahm (Spn) 
• 4.15pm: Rory McIlroy (NI), Rickie Fowler, Cameron Smith (Aus) 
• 4.26pm: Sandy Lyle (Sco), Michael Kim, Patton Kizzire 
• 4.37pm: Trevor Immelman (SA), Martin Kaymer (Ger), Devon Bling 
• 4.48pm: Larry Mize, Jimmy Walker, Stewart Cink 
• 4.59pm: Jose Maria Olazabal (Spn), Kevin Na, Thorbjorn Olesen (Den) 
• 5.10pm: Bernhard Langer (Ger), Matt Wallace (Eng), Alvaro Ortiz (Mex) 
• 5.32pm: Alex Noren (Swe), Keegan Bradley, Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng) 
• 5.43pm: Vijay Singh (Fij), Billy Horschel, Jovan Rebula (SA) 
• 5.54pm: Kevin Kisner, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha), Shugo Imahira (Jpn) 
• 6.05pm: Zach Johnson, Ian Poulter (Eng), Matt Kuchar 
• 6.16pm: Francesco Molinari (Ita), Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spn), Tyrrell Hatton (Eng) 
• 6.27pm: Bubba Watson, Patrick Cantlay, Satoshi Kodaira (Jpn) 
• 6.38pm: Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Jason Day (Aus) 
• 6.49pm: Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose (Eng), Justin Thomas 
• 7pm: Jordan Spieth, Paul Casey (Eng), Brooks Koepka

Friday 12 April: round two tee times

• 1.30pm: Sandy Lyle (Sco), Michael Kim, Patton Kizzire 
• 1.41pm: Trevor Immelman (SA), Martin Kaymer (Ger), Devon Bling 
• 1.52pm: Larry Mize, Jimmy Walker, Stewart Cink 
• 2.03pm: Jose Maria Olazabal (Spn), Kevin Na, Thorbjorn Olesen (Den) 
• 2.14pm: Bernhard Langer (Ger), Matt Wallace (Eng), Alvaro Ortiz (Mex) 
• 2.25pm: Alex Noren (Swe), Keegan Bradley, Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng) 
• 2.36pm: Vijay Singh (Fij), Billy Horschel, Jovan Rebula (SA) 
• 2.47pm: Kevin Kisner, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha), Shugo Imahira (Jpn) 
• 2.58pm: Zach Johnson, Ian Poulter (Eng), Matt Kuchar 
• 3.09pm: Francesco Molinari (Ita), Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spn), Tyrrell Hatton (Eng) 
• 3.31pm: Bubba Watson, Patrick Cantlay, Satoshi Kodaira (Jpn) 
• 3.42pm: Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Jason Day (Aus) 
• 3.53pm: Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose (Eng), Justin Thomas 
• 4.04pm: Jordan Spieth, Paul Casey (Eng), Brooks Koepka 
• 4.15pm: Andrew Landry, Adam Long, Corey Conners (Can) 
• 4.26pm: Ian Woosnam (Wal), Keith Mitchell, Kevin Tway 
• 4.37pm: Mike Weir (Can), Shane Lowry (Ire), Kevin O’Connell 
• 4.48pm: Angel Cabrera (Arg) Aaron Wise, Justin Harding (SA) 
• 4.59pm: Danny Willett (Eng), Brandt Snedeker, Takumi Kanaya (Jpn) 
• 5.10pm: Fred Couples, Si Woo Kim (Kor), JB Holmes 
• 5.32pm: Branden Grace (SA), Emiliano Grillo (Arg), Lucas Bjerregaard (Den) 
• 5.43pm: Charl Schwartzel (SA), Charles Howell III, Eddie Pepperell (Eng) 
• 5.54pm: Sergio Garcia (Spn), Tony Finau, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 
• 6.05pm: Adam Scott (Aus), Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Kyle Stanley 
• 6.16pm: Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Viktor Hovland (Nor) 
• 6.27pm: Charley Hoffman, Louis Oosthuizen (SA), Marc Leishman (Aus) 
• 6.38pm: Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Xander Schauffele, Gary Woodland 
• 6.49pm: Tiger Woods, Haotong Li (Chn), Jon Rahm (Spn) 
• 7pm: Rory McIlroy (NI), Rickie Fowler, Cameron Smith (Aus)

Predictions: who will win the Masters?

Alan Shipnuck, GOLF – Justin Rose: “So many close calls on that golf course – it’s time to finally cash one in.”

Sean Zak, GOLF – Rory McIlroy: “Let me be the first to choose Rory McIlroy. He’s the hottest golfer on the planet, and for someone of his stature, that’s all that matters.”

Alan Bastable, GOLF – Rory McIlroy: “Second that. Plus, he’s tired of getting left behind. It’s so obviously Rory’s time. I have never felt so certain about a prognostication. At least since not since picking Iona to win it all.”

Daniel Rapaport, Sports Illustrated – Rory McIlroy: “McIlroy is the best player in the world right now, full stop. McIlroy always deals with pressure here, as a green jacket is the only thing standing between him and the career Grand Slam, and that will be heightened this year. Still just 29, he’ll have plenty of more chances even if it doesn’t happen this week. But he may never enter a Masters playing better than he is right now.”

Dan Murphy, National Club Golfer – Tiger Woods: “Tiger please. It would be one of the best sports, let alone golf, stories of all time.”

Ben Coley, Sky Sports – Rickie Fowler: “He can end his major hoodoo at the golf course which suits him more than any other. Fowler, at his best, is an aggressive iron player who respects but isn’t afraid of Augusta’s greens, where his putting has been better than anyone over the last half-decade. This year he arrives with a win in the locker having bravely hung tough in Phoenix, and if he’s in the same form as 12 months ago there may be nobody who can stop him this time.”

Masters betting odds

Prices according to Oddschecker, as of 11 April.

• Rory McIlroy: 8/1 
• Dustin Johnson: 12/1 
• Justin Rose: 14/1 
• Jon Rahm: 18/1 
• Rickie Fowler: 18/1
• Justin Thomas: 20/1 
• Tiger Woods: 20/1
• Jordan Spieth: 25/1 
• Tommy Fleetwood: 25/1
• Francesco Molinari: 25/1
• Hideki Matsuyama: 28/1
• Paul Casey: 28/1 
• Brooks Koepka: 28/1 
• For the latest price list see Oddschecker

How to watch the Masters on TV

Sky Sports and the BBC will broadcast from Augusta National Golf Club this week. All times UK.

Sky Sports Masters schedule 

Nick Dougherty will lead Sky’s presenting team and is joined by Butch Harmon, Paul McGinley, Rich Beem and Ewen Murray.

Thursday 11 April

• 1.30pm: The Masters – On The Range (live on the Sky Sports Golf red button) 
• 2pm and 4:30pm: Live from the Masters (simulcast on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event)
• 2.15pm: The Masters featured groups (live on the Sky Sports Golf red button) 
• 3.45pm: Amen Corner live stream (live on the Sky Sports Golf red button, Sky Sports YouTube channel and the Sky Sports Golf Facebook page) 
• 4.45pm: Featured holes live stream (live on the Sky Sports Golf red button) 
• 7pm: Live from the Masters (simulcast on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event) 
• 8pm: The Masters Live (simulcast on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event)

Friday 12 April

• 1.30pm: The Masters – On The Range (live on the Sky Sports Golf red button) 
• 2pm and 4:30pm: Live from the Masters (simulcast on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event) 
• 2.15pm: The Masters featured groups (live on the Sky Sports Golf red button) 
• 3.45pm: Amen Corner live stream (live on the Sky Sports Golf red button, Sky Sports YouTube channel and the Sky Sports Golf Facebook page) 
• 4.45pm: Featured holes live stream (live on the Sky Sports Golf red button) 
• 7pm: Live from the Masters (simulcast on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event) 
• 8pm: The Masters Live (simulcast on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event)

Saturday 13 April

• 4pm: The Masters – On The Range (live on the Sky Sports Golf red button) 
• 4.30pm: Featured holes live stream (live on the Sky Sports Golf red button) 
• 7pm: Live from the Masters (simulcast on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event) 
• 8pm: The Masters Live (simulcast on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event)

Sunday 14 April

• 4pm: The Masters – On The Range (live on the Sky Sports Golf red button) 
• 4.30pm: Featured holes live stream (live on the Sky Sports Golf red button) 
• 7pm: Live from the Masters (simulcast on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event) 
• 8pm: The Masters Live (simulcast on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event)

BBC TV schedule 

BBC Sport will cover the 2019 Masters across TV, radio and online. Here is the BBC TV schedule.

Friday 12 April

• 7pm-8pm: day one highlights (BBC Two)

Saturday 13 April

• 1.15pm-2.15pm: day two highlights (BBC One) 
• 7.30pm-12am: third round live (BBC Two)

Sunday 14 April

• 6.30pm-midnight: final round live (BBC Two)