The first major championship of the 2024 golf calendar is upon us. The Masters Tournament will tee off next month and kick-start the mid-season stretch of the year.
Live from its permanent home of August National Golf Club in Georgia, United States, the storied event has long been one of the biggest prizes when it comes to prestige and will take place for the 88th time this April.
Even among fellow majors, The Masters is often considered close to the pinnacle of the individual game, with its coveted green jacket a symbol of success for those who strike the winning putt after four spectacular rounds. By invitation only, it remains one of the most exclusive events in the sporting world. Players from both the PGA and LIV Golf tours will square off against each other over a dozen-and-a-half holes across a long weekend.
Spain's Jon Rahm is the defending champion after he claimed a second career major in 2023, but with a field of contenders led by Rory McIlroy - chasing a career grand slam and the last major to elude him once again - it could be anybody who will prevail on the greens.
Below, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about the 2024 edition of The Masters Tournament, including where to watch and more.
When does The Masters start and finish?
Getty ImagesFollowing three days of practice around Augusta National, The Masters will officially start on Thursday, April 11, and the four-day event will run through Sunday, April 14.
All players invited to enter the major will compete across an opening two rounds of the course, one on Thursday and another on Friday, with the top half of the field subsequently making the cut to continue.
The remaining players will then complete the final two rounds, carrying their cards across, with the winner being the individual who posts the lowest total across all four days combined. Tee times for players will be confirmed closer to the date, and groups will be redrawn each day based on prior performance.
Where to watch The Masters on TV and live stream
Getty ImagesIn the United States, coverage of the 2024 edition of The Masters Tournament will be carried by ESPN during the first two rounds and by CBS during the last two rounds. The event will also be available to live stream through the ESPN+ app and Paramount+, which will offer respective online coverage in line with their linear broadcast schedules.
However, The Masters Tournament is also subject to strict global broadcasting windows across Augusta, meaning that live coverage may only begin each day at 15:00 EST.
Full coverage of all sessions is available to stream through the official website of The Master's Tournament; however, this option is only available to audiences in the United States.
What are the tee times for The Masters?
Tee times are yet to be confirmed for the 2024 edition of The Masters Tournament.
However, once they are confirmed, GOAL will list them here.
Who is the favorite to win The Masters?
Getty Images After winning the first major of his career in 2022 at The Masters Tournament, Scottie Scheffler will be among the frontrunners looking to win at Augusta after an excellent start to the season.
But with Rory McIlroy hot on his heels, the American will have his work cut out. The Northern Irishman has won every other major across his career so far but has not claimed one since 2014, with second place his best finish in Georgia.
2023 US Open winner Wyndham Clark and defending Masters champion Jon Rahm will also be firmly in the mix, but nobody will want to discount Xander Schauffele, who is still looking for a first career major.
Who won The Masters last year?
Getty ImagesJon Rahm is the defending champion at the 2024 edition of The Masters Tournament, with the Spaniard slipping on the green jacket last year after he took a four-stroke victory over Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson.
The Spaniard claimed the second major of his career after the 2021 US Open and is among the frontrunners to take victory again.
He will also be in charge of the annual Champions Dinner on the Tuesday before, where guests will be served a slew of fine cuisine from his European homeland.