The Masters: How To Watch, TV Schedule and Top Storylines
Nothing signifies Spring more than the return of The Masters. Golf’s first major championship of the season not only marks the arrival of warmer weather, but also the first time the world’s best players all finally compete in the same tournament. With the golf landscape still fragmented, the four majors (The Masters, PGA Championship, and the U.S. and British Opens) will be the only time talent from the PGA Tour and LIV will come together and play for the biggest honors in golf.
Let’s take a look at the TV schedule and our favorite storylines to follow at Augusta National. DISH subscribers can enjoy the event starting on Wednesday, April 9 at 12pm ET with the Par 3 contest on ESPN (Channel 140, available with America's Top 120 and up). Then the tournament begins Thursday morning - the first two rounds are on ESPN, and the final two rounds air on CBS (check your guide for channel details). The Masters TV schedule is as follows:
2025 Masters TV Schedule:
Par 3 Contest Wednesday: 12-4pm ET on ESPN
Round 1 Thursday: 3-7:30pm ET on ESPN
Round 2 Friday: 3-7:30pm ET on ESPN
Round 3 Saturday: 2-7 pm ET on CBS
Round 4 Sunday: 2-7pm on ET CBS
*Additional coverage of The Masters on Masters.com, The Masters App and Paramount+. Includes featured groups, and featured holes.
Scottie Scheffler Looks to Go Back-to-Back
Only three players have been able to win back-to-back Masters: Tiger Woods in 2001-02, Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Jack Nicklaus (1965-66). Scottie Scheffler is not only looking to join that list, but add a third green jacket to his closet in the past four years. Scheffler has yet to win on tour this year as his season started off on the wrong foot…or should we say hand. The world’s number one golfer suffered a cooking accident during Christmas trying to make homemade ravioli, as he attempted to roll out pasta dough using a wine glass. The end result was a surgery that removed glass fragments from his hand and a delayed start to his 2025 season. The Texan has made the best of the injury, and even made a joke of it, adding “Papa Scheff’s Meatball and Ravioli Bites” to his Masters dinner this year. Post-surgery, Scottie has made six starts, where he has two top-fives, with his worst finish being a tie for 25th. He is still the overwhelming favorite heading to Augusta. To succeed at the Masters you have to be an elite ball striker from tee to green, and Scheffler is as good as it gets. Even if he just has an average week with the putter, you can expect him to be in the hunt come Sunday.
Rory McIlroy & Bryson DeChambeau
It’s another year and another attempt for Rory McIlroy to complete the career grand slam with his first Masters win. It’s been a long 10 years since Rory last won a major and this will be his 39th attempt to get his fifth since he edged out Phil Mickelson at the 2014 PGA Championship. There is arguably no player who is under as much pressure as Rory McIlroy at August National. But this year, the Northern Irishman enters with plenty of momentum. He’s already won two big time events in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Players Championship. Still, with each passing year the argument has been building that not only is Rory mentally not ready to win the Masters but that the course doesn’t fit his game. McIlroy is an elite driver of the golf ball, but hasn’t been as precise in his approach game. Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee recently said Rory “hits on average, about 42 greens. On average, the winner hits about 52. There are things about that golf course that have been very problematic for him.”
On the other hand, LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau is coming off a season where he capitalized off McIlroy’s mistakes, winning the US Open and banking two top-three finishes at the PGA Championship and Masters. His popularity has exploded in the last 12-15 months after he was actually sort of a villain to most on the PGA Tour. It could be because of his YouTube channel or his over the top showmanship during rounds. Regardless, Bryson is one of the game's biggest stars and he is coming off his best finish and only top 10 at the Masters following poor showings in his previous six visits.
Tree Loss at Augusta National
There’s been chatter around the grounds at Augusta National that the course may look a little different to viewers due to the damage from Hurricane Helene in late September. According to reports, the storm took down at least 1,000 trees on the property, destroyed 400 homes and caused major damage to another 3,000. Damage is still seen around town, but on the golf course, you wouldn’t notice a thing, aside from a little less shade. Augusta National is known for pristine conditions and with six months to prepare, they’ve replaced many of the fallen trees and redid the green on the 16th hole, which was damaged from the storm. In fact, McIlroy mentioned a total of four greens have been redone, although he didn’t mention which ones. There’s no yardage changes at the course this year.
