Hattiesburg native Davis Riley will take another swing at trying to win the Masters after notching the best finish for a Mississippi-born player at Augusta National in more than three decades in 2025.
Riley finished T-21 last April, marking the best Masters finish by a Mississippian since Jim Gallagher Jr.’s T-17 in 1991. The Presbyterian Christian School product will look to build on a strong stretch and climb the leaderboard this year. His best major result came last May, when he finished tied for second at the PGA Championship behind only Scottie Scheffler, the favorite heading into his year’s Masters.
FLASHBACK: Davis Riley wins first individual PGA Tour event
While Riley may be the only homegrown headline connected to the 2026 Masters, there are a couple of golfers in the field with wins in the Magnolia State. Both Sergio Garcia (2020) and Sam Burns (2021) have won the now-dropped Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson.
When is the 2026 Masters?
The Masters begins Thursday, April 9, and runs through the Green Jacket Ceremony on the evening of Sunday, April 12. Practice rounds take place Monday, April 6, through Wednesday, April 8.
Tee times and pairings can be found here.
Who else is playing?
The field currently has 91 players as Augusta National prefers to keep it under 100 players. It’s been that way since 1967.
Scheffler is the betting favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, which lists the world’s No. 1 player at +500. He is followed by defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau (+1000), 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm (+1200), and then Ludvig Aberg and Xander Schauffle (+1400).
Notably, Tiger Woods will not be competing after his recent DUI arrest in Florida and Phil Mickelson is out due to a family health matter. It’s the first time since 1994 neither have played.
How can I watch the Masters?
There are more ways than ever to watch the Masters. Thursday and Friday rounds start at 12 p.m. CT and can be watched on Prime Video, the tournament’s newest streaming partner. ESPN will take over at 2 p.m. on the weekday rounds and carry them through 7:30 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, Paramount+ will begin carrying the rounds at noon, and CBS will carry live tournament coverage from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Masters itself is also offering live video channels that can be found here. The tournament also has its own app.
What happened last year?
Widely considered the greatest Masters ever, McIlroy blew a four-shot lead on the back nine, regained the lead, lost it again, and wound up in a playoff with Justin Rose.
McIlroy won the first extra hole with a gap wedge to 3 feet for a birdie, making him the sixth player to capture a career grand slam – wins at the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Open Championship, and Masters. Others who have achieved the feat are Gene Sarazen (completed in 1935), Ben Hogan (1953), Gary Player (1965), Jack Nicklaus (1966), and Woods (2000).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.