Masters Golf Tee Times: McIlroy’s late start, Scheffler’s morning test and the human rhythm of Augusta
The masters golf tee times for Friday at Augusta National sketch two very different mornings for the players chasing the 90th Masters title. Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, is scheduled for one of the later starts, while Scottie Scheffler begins in the morning wave as the second round takes shape in Georgia.
Why do the Masters Golf Tee Times matter on Friday?
They matter because the schedule now divides the field into separate pressures. McIlroy returns after last year’s dramatic play-off victory over Justin Rose, and his opening-round 67 put him in position to remain part of the conversation. His Friday tee time, 6. 44pm UK time alongside Players champion Cameron Young and US Amateur champion Mason Howell, places him well away from the early routines of the first groups.
That contrast gives the day a different texture. One end of the draw starts with fresh grass and morning calm. The other waits through the day, watching numbers move and the leaderboard change before heading out. In a tournament with 91 players in the field, the timing can sharpen every decision, every swing and every reaction to the course.
How does the early and late wave shape the leaderboard?
The effect is immediate. Scheffler, the world No 1, is in the morning wave and is looking to build on a solid start. Sam Burns, also on five under, is set for the afternoon wave at 5. 32pm UK time, which keeps him close to McIlroy in the race for position but not on the same rhythm. The masters golf tee times are not just a schedule; they are part of how the story of the round unfolds.
For players near the top, each group brings a different kind of attention. For those trying to survive, the timetable can feel like a second opponent. Bryson DeChambeau enters Friday after an opening-round 76 and is among those battling to make the cut. Former Masters champion Jon Rahm is further down the leaderboard and trying to avoid a shock early exit. Their rounds will unfold under different light, but with the same urgency.
What are the key groupings to watch at Augusta National?
The headline groups give the day its shape. McIlroy’s late slot will draw attention because he is defending champion and because his opening 67 suggested control rather than survival. Scheffler’s morning tee time offers another focal point, as he begins on the opposite side of the draw and aims to convert a steady start into momentum.
There is also a strong middle band to watch. Jon Rahm goes out with Chris Gotterup and Ludvig Åberg at 9. 43am ET. Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka are together at 9. 55am ET. Later, Cameron Smith, Sam Burns and Jake Knapp tee off at 12. 32pm ET, while Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick and Xander Schauffele go at 1. 20pm ET. Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa and Russell Henley follow at 1. 32pm ET before McIlroy’s group closes the sequence at 1. 44pm ET.
What does Friday tell us about the bigger pressure at Augusta?
It shows that a major can turn on timing as much as talent. Augusta National is offering a second round where the field is split by pace, by temperature, by patience and by the scoreboard already hanging over every player. The 91-man field means no one can hide, and the names near the top are separated by only a narrow margin of error.
That is why the Friday schedule feels meaningful beyond logistics. McIlroy’s late start keeps him in the spotlight, Scheffler’s early tee time tests his ability to set the tone, and DeChambeau’s afternoon effort becomes a fight to stay in the tournament. The masters golf tee times frame all of it, turning a sheet of pairings into the day’s real drama.
For the players, the challenge is simple to state and hard to meet: stay in range, keep contact with the leaderboard and survive the rounds that can change a season in a matter of hours. At Augusta, even the time on the clock can feel like part of the score.
