The Masters is underway, but UK viewers will once again run into a familiar frustration: you can't watch all of it live on television
Despite early tee times at Augusta National -- the Honorary Starters got things underway at around 12.30 p.m. BST -- and Sky Sports, the exclusive live broadcast partner, going on air from mid-afternoon, full, uninterrupted coverage isn't available until later in the evening.
Instead, fans are limited to selected feeds -- such as Featured Groups and Amen Corner -- before the main broadcast begins.
- Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, sleeper contenders, top storylines
- Masters 2026: Ranking favorites, contenders, hopefuls and everyone else
- Who could follow in Rory McIlroy's footsteps? Top British hopes
Why can't I watch every minute live?
The reason is a long-standing policy set by organisers, who control how and when the tournament is shown worldwide.
Unlike other majors, The Masters operates with a fixed global broadcast window, meaning the full TV feed is only released to broadcasters at set times each day.
That's why, in the UK, wall-to-wall coverage doesn't start until around 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 5 p.m. over the weekend -- by which point several hours of play have already taken place.
For reference, Sky Sports goes on air at 2 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 4.30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. In the intervening periods, Featured Groups and coverage of selected holes -- usually limited to Sky Sports+ -- will be on Sky Sports Golf.
These restrictions are part of Augusta National's broader approach to the tournament.
The club is known for maintaining tight control over its product, from on-course rules -- such as the ban on mobile phones for spectators -- to how the event is presented on television.
There is additional coverage available through The Masters' official website and app, where viewers can follow featured groups, key holes and individual shots.
However, the full live broadcast stream available in some regions -- such as the U.S. -- is geo-restricted and not accessible in the UK.
What are the Featured Groups for Round 1?
What fans will be able to watch on Sky Sports from 2 p.m. is Feature Group coverage, and those were confirmed with the R1 tee times earlier this week.
For Round 1, they are (times in BST):
3:07 p.m.: Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele
3:31 p.m.: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Mason Howell
6:08 p.m.: Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup, Ludvig Åberg
6:44 p.m.: Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, Gary Woodland
So, how can I watch The Masters?
Sky say that from 2 p.m., 'Featured Group action and updates from around the course' are available in the window between 2 and 6 p.m on Thursday and Friday.
The schedule in full is as follows:
Thursday, April 9
Round 1: 2 p.m. - Sky Sports Golf
The Masters: Featured Holes/Amen Corner: 3.45 p.m. - Sky Sports+
Friday, April 10
Round 2: 2 p.m. - Sky Sports Golf
The Masters: Featured Holes/Amen Corner: 3.45 p.m. - Sky Sports+
Saturday, April 11
Round 3: 4.30 p.m. - Sky Sports Golf
The Masters: Featured Holes/Amen Corner: 3.45 p.m. - Sky Sports+
Sunday, April 12
Round 4.30 p.m. - Sky Sports Golf
The Masters: Featured Holes/Amen Corner: 5 p.m. - Sky Sports+