Masters 2026: Watch out for Xander Schauffele
Xander Schauffele is a classy operator – two-time major winner and five-time top-ten finisher at Augusta. He’ll fancy his chances this week and he’s moving very nicely. Rolls in a birdie from 10 feet on the 10th – a third birdie of the day, to go with one bogey and he’s at -2.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy has found his groove and sticks a wedge at 9 all over the flag. Great look at birdie.
And we have a new joint leader! Sam Burns lays up with his second shot at the par-five 13tha nd it pays dividends as he gets up and down for birdie. Patrick Reed has company.
Leaderboard: -4 Reed (10), Burns (13); -3 Reitan (14), Fleetwood (10); -2 Taylor (12), Bhatia (10), Schauffele (10), Harman (3), Couples (2), Rai (2)
(Getty Images)
Luke Baker9 April 2026 18:15
WATCH: Patrick Reed’s second eagle of the day
Here’s that monster eagle from our leader, Patrick Reed, a little earlier
Luke Baker9 April 2026 18:00
Masters 2026: Reed and Fleetwood falter
How will the two men at the top fare around Amen Corner? The back nine is off to an inauspicious start for both Patrick Reed and Tommy Fleetwood as they bogey the 10th. Reed to -4, though still the sole leader, with Fleetwood dropping to a group at -3.
A group that now includes a Norwegian – but not Viktor Hovland. DP World Tour regular Kristoffer Reitan has come out of nowhere with a birdie at 12 and then an eagle at 13! Finds the cup from the fringe after reaching the green in two. Sam Burns also at -3 after birdieing the 12th.
Leaderboard: -4 Reed (10); -3 Reitan (13), Burns (12) Fleetwood (10); -2 Taylor (12), Bhatia (10), Harman (2), Couples (2)
(REUTERS)
Luke Baker9 April 2026 17:58
Masters 2026: McIlroy making a move
Rory McIlroy has been quietly chugging along – four straight pars after his bogey at 3 (which followed a birdie at 2). But this is a glorious opportunity at the par-five 8th.
He finds the green in two, his second shot bounding on nicely to 25 feet, although the eagle putt is far too tentative… Has left himself X feet for the bird…
It’s there! Good recovery, finds the heart of the cup and the defending champion, who hasn’t looked at his sharpest so far, moves to -1. Solid.
Leaderboard: -5 Reed (9); -4 Fleetwood (9); -3 Burns (12); -2 Taylor (11), Bhatia (10), Harman (2), Couples (2)
Luke Baker9 April 2026 17:53
Masters 2026: Haotong Li the clubhouse leader
He is the first man into the clubhouse, so of course he’s the clubhouse leader, but it’s actually a decent mark from Haotong Li. The Chinese star posts a one-under round of 71, with an eagle at 15 the highlight – there won’t be loads of players under par today.
Leaderboard: -5 Reed (9); -4 Fleetwood (9); -2 Burns (11), Taylor (10), Bhatia (9), Stevens (6), Campbell (5)
(AP)
Luke Baker9 April 2026 17:44
Masters 2026: Tommy Fleetwood moves within one!
Hello Tommy Fleetwood! He and Patrick Reed seem to be spurring each other on today. Fleetwood responds to Reed’s eagle at the 8th with a birdie at 9, hitting his approach to 13 feet and draining the right-to-left putt. He’s at -4, one stroke behind Reed at -5. Those two playing partners head everyone else at this Masters.
Ooof, Cameron Young is having an absolute disaster. The Players’ Championship watches another putt rattle by the hole at the 7th, a third straight bogey and he’s now at +4 for the championship. He was quite fancied to go well this week but his green jacket chances are already gone – nine shots back from the lead.
Bryson DeChambeau (E) hasn’t managed to find a putt today and his latest frustration is an eight-footer for birdie staying high. Jose Maria Olazabal’s fairytale is also turning sour as two bogeys and a double in three holes have taken him from -2 to +2.
Leaderboard: -5 Reed (9); -4 Fleetwood (9); -2 Burns (11), Taylor (10), Bhatia (9), Stevens (6), Campbell (5)
(Getty Images)
Luke Baker9 April 2026 17:36
It might feel like we’ve only just started today but there are only around eight groups left to begin their first rounds now.
Here are the highlights for the next 90 minutes or so as all players will be on the course by 7pm BST. Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka… It’s going to be box office!
Upcoming Masters tee times (all times BST)
17:56 JJ Spaun (US), Maverick McNealy (US), Tyrrell Hatton (Eng)
18:08 Jon Rahm (Spa), Chris Gotterup (US), Ludvig Aberg (Swe)
18:20 Jordan Spieth (US), Justin Rose (Eng), Brooks Koepka (US)
18:32 Sepp Straka (Aut), Ben Griffin (US), Justin Thomas (US)
18:44 Scottie Scheffler (US), Robert MacIntyre (Sco), Gary Woodland (US)
Luke Baker9 April 2026 17:27
Masters 2026: Patrick Reed makes eagle to surge clear!
WOW, WOW, WOW! Patrick Reed is absolutely flying and that’s his biggest moment yet. An eagle at the par-five 8th to climb to -5 for the tournament! That’s two shots clear of the field…
The 2018 green jacket winner bounces his second shot on to the green but he’s got the best part of 60 feet remaining. No matter! His lengthy eagle putt races towards the hole and rattles into the heart of the cup to huge roars from the crowd. Incredible!
Playing partner Tommy Fleetwood can only make par to stay at -3 and now trails Reed by two!
Leaderboard: -5 Reed (8); -3 Kitamaya (11), Fleetwood (8)
(Getty Images)
Luke Baker9 April 2026 17:20
Masters 2026: McIlroy battling at Augusta
It’s not been all plain sailing for Rory McIlroy so far and he’s battling again at the 6th. He’s off the back of the green with his tee shot but gets up and down well to scramble par.
Meanwhile, Kurt Kitayama’s spell at the top doesn’t last long as he drops a shot at the 11th to move back to -3. Brian Campbell is also at three-under with birdies on each of the first three holes – what a start!
Leaderboard: -3 Kitamaya (11), Reed (7), Fleetwood (7), Campbell (3); -2 Burns (10), Bhatia (8)
Luke Baker9 April 2026 17:14
Masters 2026: Kurt Kitayama the new solo leader
Kurt Kitayama is showing no signs of slowing down and he birdies the 10th to move into the solo lead at -4! He leathers his drive down the fairway, floats an iron to six feet and rolls in the birdie.
Viktor Hovland is down his latest swing rabbit hole at the moment and won’t feel any better after double bogeying the 3rd hole to fall to +2.
Leaderboard: -4 Kitamaya (10); -3 Reed (7), Fleetwood (7); -2 Olazabal (13), Burns (9), Campbell (2)
(REUTERS)
Luke Baker9 April 2026 16:54