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The 2026 Masters Tournament Round 1 delivered a dramatic opening day at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, as defending champion Rory McIlroy fired a flawless 5-under 67 to share the first-round lead with American Sam Burns. In one of the most compelling Masters Round 1 leaderboards in recent memory, only 16 players finished under par on a firm, fast, and fiercely demanding layout — making every red number count. From McIlroy's birdie blitz down Amen Corner to Jon Rahm's shocking zero-birdie collapse, here is the complete 2026 Masters Round 1 results, full leaderboard, and player-by-player highlights.
📅 Updated: April 10, 2026 | Source: Masters.com · PGA Tour · Golf Channel · CBS Sports · LIV Golf
2026 Masters Tournament Round 1 Results: McIlroy & Burns Share Lead at -5 — Full Leaderboard & Player Highlights
🏆 Round 1 Summary: Augusta Bites Back
The 90th Masters Tournament opened under ideal weather conditions — sunny skies, minimal wind — yet Augusta National refused to yield easy scores. The course was set up firm and fast, and players described the greens as "crispy" during Wednesday's practice round. That setup ensured that only the sharpest minds and the most precise ball-strikers could navigate 18 holes in red figures. Just 16 players finished under par in Round 1, and five of the six names at the top of the leaderboard completed their rounds before 4:00 p.m. local time — an early-wave advantage that may prove significant.
Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns lead the field at 5-under par (67), two clear of a trio at 3-under. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, last year's runner-up Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele, and Shane Lowry sit at 2-under. Meanwhile, major contenders Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau face cut-line pressure after struggling through Augusta's unforgiving back nine.
📊 Full Round 1 Leaderboard — 2026 Masters
Round 1 Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026 | Par: 72
| Pos. | Player | Country | Score | R1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | 🥇 Rory McIlroy (Defending Champ) | NIR | -5 | 67 |
| T1 | 🥇 Sam Burns | USA | -5 | 67 |
| T3 | Jason Day | AUS | -3 | 69 |
| T3 | Kurt Kitayama | USA | -3 | 69 |
| T3 | Patrick Reed (LIV) | USA | -3 | 69 |
| T6 | Scottie Scheffler (World No.1) | USA | -2 | 70 |
| T6 | Xander Schauffele | USA | -2 | 70 |
| T6 | Shane Lowry | IRL | -2 | 70 |
| T6 | Justin Rose | ENG | -2 | 70 |
| T10 | Tommy Fleetwood | ENG | -1 | 71 |
| T10 | Gary Woodland | USA | -1 | 71 |
| T10 | Nick Taylor / Li Haotong / Aaron Rai / Brian Campbell / Jacob Bridgman | – | -1 | 71 |
| T17 | Hideki Matsuyama / Brooks Koepka / Jordan Spieth / Justin Thomas / Sergio Garcia / Adam Scott / Wyndham Clark + others | – | E | 72 |
| T33 | Dustin Johnson / Akshay Bhatia / Cameron Young / Harris English + others | – | +1 | 73 |
| T40 | Collin Morikawa / Cameron Smith / Tyrrell Hatton + others | – | +2 | 74 |
| T56 | Bryson DeChambeau (LIV) | USA | +4 | 76 |
| T73 | Jon Rahm (LIV) | ESP | +6 | 78 |
| T73 | Fred Couples | USA | +6 | 78 |
⭐ Player-by-Player Highlights — Who Shone, Who Stumbled
🏅 Rory McIlroy (-5 / 67) — Defending Champion Delivers
McIlroy picked up exactly where he left off in 2025. Despite hitting only five fairways all round — a stat he acknowledged made things difficult — the Northern Irishman ground out a masterclass in course management. He made birdie at the par-5 eighth, spun a wedge to tap-in range at nine, then ignited with three consecutive birdies on Nos. 13, 14, and 15, converting from 14 and 29 feet respectively. His 67 is only the second-lowest opening round of his Masters career, and he becomes just the sixth defending champion to open with 67 or better — the last being Jordan Spieth in 2016. "I couldn't have got a lot more out of my round," McIlroy said afterward. He leads overnight at Augusta for the first time since 2011.
🏅 Sam Burns (-5 / 67) — Bogey-Free Through Amen Corner
Burns was the first player to post a clubhouse score worth talking about, and he delivered a bogey-free 67 — his lowest career round at Augusta National in his fifth Masters appearance. The World No. 33 was especially brilliant through the legendary Amen Corner stretch: a 20-foot birdie at the par-3 12th, a delicate 50-yard pitch to 11 feet at the par-5 13th, and a birdie conversion at 15 to seize the outright lead. "People who have success here play the par-5s really well — we were able to do that today," Burns said.
📌 Scottie Scheffler (-2 / 70) — Eagle-Birdie Start, Then Stalled
World No. 1 Scheffler looked set to run away from the field early. He eagled the par-5 second, then drove the green on the short par-4 third for a tap-in birdie — reaching 3-under through just three holes. But Augusta had other plans. He made no more birdies over his final 15 holes, struggling to score on the difficult afternoon greens. On the positive side, Scheffler hit 12 of 14 fairways (85.7%), the first time he'd exceeded 80% accuracy all season in 25 tour rounds. Expect a bounce-back effort in Round 2.
📌 Justin Rose (-2 / 70) — Last Year's Runner-Up Still Dangerous
Rose looked primed for a co-lead on multiple occasions, reaching 4-under twice during the round, only to finish bogey-bogey on the closing holes. Despite the frustrating finish, he joins the elite T6 group. Remarkably, this is the ninth time in his career that Rose has finished the first round in the Masters top 10 — matched only by Byron Nelson and Phil Mickelson, behind only Jack Nicklaus' 15. His Augusta resilience remains a serious threat heading into Friday.
📌 Xander Schauffele (-2 / 70) — Merchandise Bag Drama, Solid Round
Schauffele's tee shot on the par-5 eighth famously came to rest inside a spectator's merchandise bag — he got a free drop and played on. Despite that bizarre interruption, he carded a steady 2-under 70, continuing his reputation as a consistent Augusta performer who is always capable of a big weekend.
📌 Shane Lowry (-2 / 70) — "This Could Be the Toughest Masters in a While"
The Irishman posted 2-under with a composed round and summarized the day for the whole field: "I think this could be the toughest Masters we've played in a while." Lowry credited distance control and smart misses for his solid result on the firm, fast greens.
📌 Tommy Fleetwood (-1 / 71) — FedExCup Champion Survives Day 1
The reigning FedExCup champion — making his 10th Masters appearance — just squeezed into red figures with a 1-under 71. A resilient showing from Fleetwood, who will look to push forward in Round 2.
💪 Gary Woodland (-1 / 71) — Comeback Story of the Tournament
If there is one story beyond the leaderboard that resonated Thursday, it was Gary Woodland. The 2019 US Open champion earned his way into this field by winning the Texas Children's Houston Open — a remarkable achievement given his ongoing battle with PTSD following brain surgery in September 2023 to remove a tumor. His best opening round in Masters history (+33 on the front nine) brought the Augusta galleries to their feet, and his emotional resilience is the feel-good story of the week.
📉 Major Favorites Who Struggled in Round 1
❌ Jon Rahm (+6 / 78) — Zero Birdies, Complete Collapse
In the most shocking result of the day, 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm carded a 6-over 78 with absolutely zero birdies — one of the most alarming scorecards at Augusta in years. Four bogeys on the front nine (turning in 4-over 40), then a double bogey on the par-5 13th sealed a disastrous round. Rahm acknowledged he faces a monumental challenge to survive the cut, let alone contend for the green jacket.
❌ Bryson DeChambeau (+4 / 76) — Triple Bogey at 11 Derails Bid
DeChambeau arrived with high hopes but was undone by Augusta's brutal 11th hole, where he left two consecutive shots in the greenside bunker en route to a triple bogey. He managed only two birdies all day and signed for a 4-over 76. A visibly frustrated DeChambeau said "everything is hooking" with his irons, citing just eight greens in regulation. He sits nine strokes off the lead and outside the top 60.
❌ Collin Morikawa (+2 / 74) — Back Injury Clouds Return
Morikawa's first round since withdrawing from THE PLAYERS Championship with a back injury was, by his own admission, "the toughest round I've ever played." He finished 2-over, fighting both physical discomfort and mental doubt throughout. "I've never felt this nervous in my life," he admitted, citing trust issues with his swing following the injury.
❌ Cameron Smith (+2 / 74) — Roller-Coaster Struggles
The LIV Golf player and 2022 Open champion went 2-over on both nines for a 74. "It was bad, to be honest," Smith conceded, though he added he felt he did well to limit the damage: "I'm definitely not out of the tournament."
🎖️ Notable Even-Par (E / 72) Performances
- Brooks Koepka (E / 72) — The five-time major champion birdied 15 and 17 late to claw back to even. Firmly in contention.
- Jordan Spieth (E / 72) — The 2015 champion made the turn in even par and kept the card clean. Steady if unspectacular.
- Justin Thomas (E / 72) — Played a patient round without threatening significantly. Still well within cut range.
- Hideki Matsuyama (E / 72) — The 2021 champion opened safely. His Augusta pedigree suggests a strong push on the weekend.
- Sergio Garcia (E / 72) — The best LIV Golf score of the day: 3 birdies, 3 bogeys. Still alive and in the mix.
- Adam Scott (E / 72) — Even par with a spectacular eagle at 13. One of the smoothest swings on tour, still very dangerous.
- Wyndham Clark (E / 72) — Solid if unflashy. The 2023 US Open champion keeps his title hopes alive heading into Round 2.
🎩 Fred Couples (+6 / 78) — Augusta's Eternal Fan Favorite
At 66 years old, Fred Couples continues to be the sentimental highlight of Masters week. He turned in 2-under (!) before the back nine proved too demanding. Couples switched to a yellow ball — as did Ángel Cabrera — for better visibility, and his silky-smooth swing still drew warm ovations around the course. His round is irrelevant to the leaderboard; his presence at Augusta is priceless.
🔍 2026 Masters Round 2 Preview & Cut Line Outlook
Round 2 tees off Friday, April 10, 2026 from 7:40 a.m. local time. With only 16 players having finished under par and Augusta playing its most demanding setup in years, the projected cut is expected around +3 to +5. Players at even par have a reasonable cushion; those at +3 or more will need a strong morning or afternoon depending on their draw. The upper portion of the leaderboard is unusually compressed — expect significant movement in both directions.
- Can Scheffler (World No. 1) make a charge back toward McIlroy?
- Will Rahm and DeChambeau survive the cut to fight another day?
- Can Burns maintain his bogey-free level through Amen Corner again?
- Does Rose's Augusta experience carry him to the weekend in contention?
💡 FAQ — 2026 Masters Round 1
Q1. Who leads the 2026 Masters after Round 1?
Defending champion Rory McIlroy (NIR) and Sam Burns (USA) share the lead at 5-under par (67) after 18 holes at Augusta National Golf Club.
Q2. How many players finished under par in Round 1?
Only 16 players finished under par in Round 1, reflecting the firm and fast course setup that Augusta National presented on Thursday.
Q3. What happened to Jon Rahm in Round 1?
Rahm had arguably the worst round of any major contender, posting a 6-over 78 with zero birdies. He made four bogeys on the front nine and a double bogey at the par-5 13th. He faces a very difficult battle to make the cut.
Q4. What is the projected cut line for the 2026 Masters?
Based on Round 1 scoring, the projected cut is expected at +3 to +5. The top 50 players (ties included) after 36 holes advance to the weekend.
Q5. Is Scottie Scheffler still in contention?
Yes. Scheffler sits at T6 at 2-under par, just three strokes off the lead. His ball-striking was excellent (12 of 14 fairways), and he remains a serious threat to win his third Masters title.
✅ Round 1 Quick-Reference Checklist
- ☑ Co-Leaders (-5, 67): Rory McIlroy & Sam Burns
- ☑ T3 (-3, 69): Jason Day, Kurt Kitayama, Patrick Reed
- ☑ T6 (-2, 70): Scheffler, Schauffele, Lowry, Rose
- ☑ Even Par (E, 72): Koepka, Spieth, Thomas, Matsuyama, Garcia, Adam Scott
- ☑ Struggling (+4): Bryson DeChambeau (triple bogey at 11)
- ☑ Shocking collapse (+6): Jon Rahm — zero birdies in 18 holes
- ☑ Emotional story: Gary Woodland (-1) returns post-brain surgery & PTSD
- ☑ Veteran moment: Fred Couples (+6) turned the front 9 in 2-under at age 66
- ☑ Course condition: Firm, fast, and demanding — only 16 players under par
- ☑ Round 2 tee-off: Friday, April 10, 2026, from 7:40 a.m. local time
※ All scores and rankings reflect the official Round 1 completion at Augusta National Golf Club.
Sources: Masters.com · PGA Tour · Golf Channel · CBS Sports · LIV Golf · Yahoo Sports (April 9–10, 2026)
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