The Masters 2012: Tee Times, Date and TV Schedule

Although golf season has been in full swing for a couple months, this week marks the official start of the golf calendar as a field of the world's best will be vying to win what many consider to be golf's Super Bowl.

The Masters is arguably the most prestigious event in golf, and there will be no shortage of top contenders looking to be fitted for the famous green jacket. Not only are there repeat winners like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson looking to experience the thrill of victory once again at Augusta, but young hotshots like Rory McIlroy want to make a name for themselves as well.

This tournament is hugely important in getting the golf season off on the right foot, and it rarely disappoints. The drama that The Masters provides is unlike any other tournament and unless we see a vintage Tiger performance, this one is likely to come down to the wire like it does almost every year.

Where: Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, Ga.

When: Thursday, April 5 - Sunday, April 8

Golfers to Watch

Tiger Woods

It has been quite some time since Woods has come out on top in a major, but it is fair to say that he is currently playing his best golf since being rocked by an infidelity scandal a couple years ago. Woods enters The Masters on the heels of a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a second-place finish at The Honda Classic, so a fifth green jacket could be in the cards.

Rory McIlroy

He may have lost his grip on the world's No. 1 ranking, but 22-year-old Rory McIlroy is undoubtedly the fastest rising star in golf. McIlroy won his first career major in decisive fashion last year at the U.S. Open, and will look to add to what is sure to one day be an ample trophy case. McIlroy is viewed as the golfer who can grab the torch from Woods, and he'll look to start that process at Augusta.

Phil Mickelson

Leading up to The Masters, three-time winner Phil Mickelson has been playing inconsistent golf, but a fourth-place finish at the Shell Houston Open gives him some momentum and positive vibes heading into Thursday. You never know what you're going to get from Lefty, but he has the ability to go on a hot streak unlike almost any other golfer, so he is most definitely someone to watch this weekend.

Tee Times

Notable Groupings for Opening Two Rounds (All Times ET)

Thursday	Friday	Golfer	Golfer	Golfer
8:45 a.m.	11:52 a.m.	Adam Scott	Bo Van Pelt	Martin Kaymer
10:35 a.m.	1:42 p.m.	Tiger Woods	Miguel Angel Jimenez	Sang Moon Bae
12:58 p.m.	9:40 a.m.	Vijay Signh	Lee Westwood	Jim Furyk
142 p.m.	10:35 a.m.	Angel Cabrera	Rory McIlroy	Bubba Watson
1:53 p.m.	10:46 a.m.	Phil Mickelson	Hunter Mahan	Peter Hanson

Full list of the first two rounds' tee times available at PGATour.com.

Television Schedule

	Date	Time (ET)	TV
Round 1	April 5	3 - 7:30 p.m.	ESPN
Round 2	April 6	3 - 7:30 p.m.	ESPN
Round 3	April 7	3:30 - 7 p.m.	CBS
Round 4	April 8	2 - 7 p.m.	CBS

The first two rounds of the tournament will be replayed on Thursday and Friday night on ESPN in case you aren't able to catch them live.

	Date	Time (ET)	TV
Round 1	April 5	8 - 11 p.m.	ESPN
Round 2	April 6	8 - 11 p.m.	ESPN

Prediction: Tiger Woods Wins

He hasn't won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open, but it looks like Woods is finally playing with a clear mind, meaning he is ready to conquer Augusta. His putting has admittedly been spotty, but if he can keep that in check while continuing to excel off the tee both in length and accuracy, there isn't a golfer on tour that will be able to deny him his return to the pinnacle of the sport.