{"id":26571,"date":"2026-04-09T18:02:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/masters-2026-reed-lead\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T18:02:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:02:13","slug":"masters-2026-reed-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/masters-2026-reed-lead\/","title":{"rendered":"Masters 2026: Patrick Reed bolts to early lead \u2014 leaderboard, tee times, how to watch"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Lead:<\/strong> The 90th Masters began Thursday at Augusta National, where ceremonial tee shots by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson kicked off the week. Early fireworks saw Patrick Reed surge with a string of birdies and two eagles on the front nine, briefly seizing the lead before competition shuffled the leaderboard later in the day. Top contenders \u2014 including Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and LIV entrants such as Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm \u2014 contend amid heavy gallery presence and notable absences of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Broadcast windows and tee sheets shaped fan plans: Amazon Prime (1\u20133 p.m. ET) precedes ESPN (3\u20137:30 p.m. ET) coverage for Round 1.<\/p>\n

Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Patrick Reed opened aggressively, carding a birdie at No. 1 and eagling the par\u20115 second to reach 3\u2011under early before later rounds changed the leader (he was -4 at one point during Round 1).<\/li>\n
  • As of 1:51 p.m. ET the live leaderboard showed Sam Burns leading at 5\u2011under, with Reed and several players clustered a shot or two behind.<\/li>\n
  • Rory McIlroy, last season\u2019s champion who completed the career Grand Slam, arrived with limited tournament play this year (four PGA starts) and a recent back issue that forced withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer Invitational.<\/li>\n
  • Scottie Scheffler returned to competition after the birth of his second child roughly two weeks earlier and entered the week as the betting favorite.<\/li>\n
  • Ten players with LIV Golf ties are in the field, including Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm; six amateurs compete for the Silver Cup but must make the cut to remain eligible.<\/li>\n
  • Notable Round 1 tee times (ET): DeChambeau\/Fitzpatrick\/Schauffele at 10:07 a.m.; McIlroy\/Young\/Mason Howell (a) at 10:31 a.m.; Rahm\/Gotterup\/\u00c5berg at 1:08 p.m.; Scheffler\/MacIntyre\/Woodland at 1:44 p.m.<\/li>\n
  • Early-course incidents included Bryson DeChambeau\u2019s triple bogey after a bunker struggle at No. 11 and a peculiar drive for Xander Schauffele that ended up in a spectator\u2019s shopping bag but led to a par.<\/li>\n
  • Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are absent this year; Woods has stepped away for treatment after a late\u2011March rollover crash and arrest, and Mickelson is sidelined for an extended period due to a family health matter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Background<\/h2>\n

    The Masters, held annually at Augusta National in Georgia, is entering its 90th playing in 2026 and remains the first major on the golf calendar. Tradition and rituals \u2014 including the ceremonial opening tee shots by legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson \u2014 are part of the tournament\u2019s identity and set expectations for fans and players alike. The event also preserves unique artifacts of the sport: the green jacket, the Silver Cup for leading amateur, and famously low concession prices that nonetheless sit behind a high\u2011value ticket secondary market.<\/p>\n

    Last year Rory McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam and wore the green jacket for the first time after repeated near\u2011misses at Augusta. His return this week carries narrative weight, but his preparation has been limited to four PGA Tour starts in 2026 and a recent back problem that forced withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Those factors temper expectations even as he defends his title.<\/p>\n

    Off\u2011course dynamics remain influential: the reconfiguration of player affiliations since LIV Golf emerged, ongoing health and personal issues for marquee players, and equipment innovation continue to shape storylines. Bryson DeChambeau\u2019s use of a 3\u2011D printed 5\u2011iron this week and the presence of ten players who competed in LIV Golf underscore how technology and tour politics coexist with Augusta\u2019s ivy\u2011clad traditions.<\/p>\n

    Main Event<\/h2>\n

    Round 1 produced rapid momentum swings. Patrick Reed exploded out of the gate with a birdie at No. 1 followed by an eagle at the reachable par\u20115 second, making him one of the few Masters starters to combine birdie and eagle so early. Reed later picked up a second eagle on the front for an eye\u2011catching start before the back nine and mid\u2011day scoring shuffled the top spots.<\/p>\n

    Sam Burns capitalized on front\u2011nine scoring chances and by mid\u2011afternoon had climbed to the top of the leaderboard at 5\u2011under, the best aggregate shown on the live tracker at 1:51 p.m. ET. Other players \u2014 Shane Lowry, Aaron Rai and Kurt Kitayama among them \u2014 moved into contention through precise iron play and taking advantage of the two par\u20115s on the front nine.<\/p>\n

    Tee\u2011time pairings gave fans early drama. Bryson DeChambeau, paired with Matt Fitzpatrick and Xander Schauffele at 10:07 a.m., ran into trouble later in his round, including a triple bogey at No. 11 after problems escaping a bunker. DeChambeau had earlier benefited from a fortuitous bounce off a spectator at the par\u20113 sixth but ultimately manufactured mixed results across his back nine.<\/p>\n

    Course management and gallery size are playing a role. Dry conditions increased firmness and penalized errant approaches, while noisy, close galleries alter sightlines and concentration \u2014 a factor Gary Woodland has explicitly managed given his diagnosis and ongoing care. Notable veterans generated attention too: Fred Couples, at 66, birdied Nos. 1 and 2 and drew commentary about his still\u2011smooth swing.<\/p>\n

    Analysis & Implications<\/h2>\n

    Short\u2011term: Reed\u2019s early flurry demonstrates how quickly momentum can swing at Augusta. The two par\u20115s on the front allow aggressive players to post low numbers before the course\u2019s back nine and Amen Corner test precision and nerves. Early eagles and birdies rarely guarantee weekend contention at Augusta \u2014 the back nine and conditions can erase leads fast \u2014 but they give players tactical breathing room and scoring leverage.<\/p>\n

    Field depth: The leaderboard mix highlights the tournament\u2019s parity. Established major winners, rising stars, LIV returnees and veteran journeymen are all scoring under par. That breadth complicates outright predictions for the weekend and means that weather, pin placements and tee\u2011time conditions will materially affect who rises or falls over the next three rounds.<\/p>\n

    Tour politics and player movement remain an undercurrent. With ten players in the field who have played LIV events, Augusta remains one of the few stages where golf\u2019s fractured landscape converges in a single, highly visible competition. How these players perform influences narratives beyond trophies \u2014 sponsor interests, fan sentiment and potential further reintegration talk within the sport\u2019s governance.<\/p>\n

    Market impact and betting markets: Scheffler\u2019s return after a personal milestone and McIlroy\u2019s limited match play history are priced into early odds. Sam Burns\u2019 position at 5\u2011under shifted live betting lines; markets will continue to react as leaders emerge and tee\u2011time groups finish their rounds. Consumers and broadcasters should expect volatility through Friday as the field sorts itself.<\/p>\n

    Comparison & Data<\/h2>\n
    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Pos<\/th>\nPlayer<\/th>\nScore<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    1<\/td>\nSam Burns<\/td>\n-5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    2<\/td>\nPatrick Reed<\/td>\n-4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    T3<\/td>\nShane Lowry<\/td>\n-3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    T3<\/td>\nAaron Rai<\/td>\n-3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    T3<\/td>\nKurt Kitayama<\/td>\n-3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>
    Snapshot leaderboard (as of 1:51 p.m. ET, Round 1).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    This table captures a mid\u2011afternoon snapshot in a day of shifting scores. Historically, first\u2011round leaders at Augusta are not automatic favorites for the green jacket; past winners often produce steady low rounds over multiple days rather than single\u2011round spikes. Course setup this year, combined with dry weather, meant the front nine provided more scoring opportunities than the tougher back nine.<\/p>\n

    Reactions & Quotes<\/h2>\n

    Tom Watson, part of the ceremonial opening group, was blunt on players who left for rival tours: <\/p>\n

    \n

    “I thought the LIV players, when they left, they were supposed to be banned for life. If I was commissioner, that’s what I would do.”<\/p>\n

    Tom Watson (former major champion)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Watson\u2019s comment reflects lingering tensions on tour governance and reintegration; implementing such a policy would raise legal and competitive questions, and tour leadership has not signaled moves in that direction.<\/p>\n

    Gary Woodland discussed personal preparations and safety measures as he returns to competition this week:<\/p>\n

    \n

    “I’ve worked with Tour security and the security at Augusta National to help me out ahead of the Masters so I can be as prepared as possible.”<\/p>\n

    Gary Woodland (competitor)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Woodland\u2019s remarks underline how health and recovery shape a player\u2019s approach to major championships and the accommodations organizers may provide.<\/p>\n

    On course spectacle, Jack Nicklaus reflected on his 1986 comeback victory during the morning ceremony \u2014 a reminder of Augusta\u2019s enduring historical gravity for players and fans alike.<\/p>\n