The Ultimate Guide To Masters Sunday Tee Times 2026: The Critical Schedule For The Green Jacket Showdown

The anticipation for Masters Sunday is unlike any other event in golf, culminating in the final, dramatic round at Augusta National Golf Club. As of today, December 15, 2025, the official, specific tee times for the 2026 Masters Tournament's final round on Sunday, April 12, are yet to be determined, as they depend entirely on the final leaderboard after Saturday's play. However, understanding the system, the schedule, and the historical trends is the key to planning your day to catch every pivotal moment of the chase for the coveted Green Jacket.

The final round schedule is meticulously crafted to build maximum tension, ensuring the leaders are the last to tee off, making the final holes of the tournament the most dramatic. This comprehensive guide breaks down the schedule, the unique scoring-based system for pairings, and the exact time window you can expect the tournament's final group to begin their walk down Magnolia Lane.

How Masters Sunday Tee Times Are Determined: A Scoring-Based System

Unlike the first two rounds, which are set well in advance, the tee times and pairings for the final two rounds (Saturday and Sunday) are decided by a strict, score-based system. This method is crucial to maintaining the competitive integrity and excitement of the tournament.

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The Critical Rule of the Final Round Pairings

The pairings for Masters Sunday are determined based on the cumulative scores of the players who successfully made the cut after the second round. The rule is simple and absolute:

• Last In, First Out: The player(s) with the highest score (the last player who made the cut) will tee off first.
• Leaders Last: The player(s) with the lowest score (the tournament leader or co-leaders) will tee off last, in the final grouping.
• Two-Ball Groupings: All players tee off in two-ball pairings, meaning only two players per group. This speeds up play and focuses attention on the key matchups.
• Sequential Order: All other players are grouped sequentially by score, from highest to lowest.

This system ensures that the most compelling golf—the battle between the leaders and their immediate challengers—is reserved for the final hours of the day, perfectly aligning with the peak television coverage on CBS.

The Expected Masters Sunday Tee Time Schedule (April 12, 2026)

While the exact times for the 2026 final round will only be released late Saturday evening, the schedule follows a highly predictable pattern year after year. This allows fans to anticipate the crucial moments of the day.

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Key Time Windows (All Times Eastern Time - ET)

The entire field will tee off from the 1st hole. There is no "shotgun start" at the Masters; all players begin on the first tee. The general time frame is as follows:

• First Tee Time (Highest Scores): Typically between 7:40 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. ET. These early groups consist of players who made the cut but are far down the leaderboard.
• Mid-Morning Pairings: Tee times continue every 10-11 minutes, running from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET.
• Marquee Pairings (Contenders): The groups featuring players within striking distance of the lead usually begin their rounds between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. ET.
• The Final Group (Leaders): The most critical pairing of the day, featuring the tournament leader(s), typically tees off between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. ET.

In the 2025 Masters, for example, the final group teed off at 2:30 p.m. ET, perfectly timed for the start of the final round broadcast coverage.

Why the Final Group Tee Time is the Most Important

The time the final group tees off is the single most important schedule detail for viewers and patrons alike. It dictates the entire flow of the afternoon and ensures the tournament concludes at a prime time for global viewing.

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The Final Hour Timeline

The Masters is strategically scheduled to conclude between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET, regardless of the year. This is done for several key reasons:

1. Television Coverage: The 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET start time for the leaders ensures they reach the iconic 18th green around 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET, allowing for a timely conclusion before sunset and during the most-watched hours of the day.
2. The Green Jacket Ceremony: The timing allows for the traditional Green Jacket presentation ceremony to take place immediately after the final putt, in the fading light of the Butler Cabin, a moment of tradition and reverence.
3. Patron Experience: It provides a full day of golf for the patrons and ensures the final, dramatic moments at Amen Corner (Holes 11, 12, and 13) and the 16th hole are witnessed by the largest possible crowd.

The pressure on the players in this final group is immense. They are not only competing against each other but also against the clock, knowing that every shot is under the most intense scrutiny.

Anticipating the 2026 Masters Sunday Leaderboard

While the names of the players who will be competing for the 2026 title are unknown, the entities involved in the final round are always the same: the top contenders on the leaderboard.

Key Masters Entities and Topical Authority

Understanding the final day requires knowledge of these key elements:

• The Cut Line: Only players who finish within the top 50 (including ties) or within 10 strokes of the leader after 36 holes make it to the weekend and are eligible for a Sunday tee time.
• The Final Round: The 72nd hole, the final putt, and the walk up the 18th fairway are the most celebrated moments in golf.
• Augusta National: The course itself is a central character, with its challenging layout and fast greens testing the nerves of the final groups.
• The Champions Dinner: The winner earns the right to host the Champions Dinner the following year, a tradition that adds to the prestige of the final round victory.

To get the official and most current 2026 Masters Sunday tee times, fans should monitor the official Masters website and major sports news outlets late on Saturday, April 11, 2026, after the conclusion of the third round. Until then, you can be sure the final group will be walking onto the 1st tee around 2:30 p.m. ET, ready to deliver one of the most exciting finishes in sports.