Masters TV Schedule 2015: Start Time, Live Stream, Coverage Info and More
The unofficial start to the golf new year has finally arrived, as the 2015 Masters gears up for play this weekend.
While PGA Tour action started way back in January, the world's best golfers don't take center stage in the sports universe until Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player ceremonially drive things off on the first tee early Thursday. Not only does the Masters mark the first major tournament of the year, but the iconic nature of Augusta National and the vaunted green jacket make it the most coveted.
Whether it's the allure of watching longtime greats compete against up-and-coming stars or just the soothing sights of Augusta National, there's no better time to catch four days of golf than this upcoming weekend. Let's ensure that you're ready by laying out all of the crucial information below.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
| Thursday, April 8 | 3 - 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Friday, April 9 | 3 - 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Saturday, April 10 | 3 - 7 p.m. | CBS |
| Sunday, April 11 | 2 - 7 p.m. | CBS |
Live Stream: The Masters is offering a CBS Sports live stream of Amen Corner, holes No. 15 and No. 16, and two featured groups each day. Tentative stream schedule is available at Masters.com.
2015 Masters Preview
Even without a major championship since 2008, the world of golf still revolves around one Tiger Woods.
That's why, despite the all-time great's inability to seriously contend over the last several years, anticipation for this year's Masters seemed to be put on pause until Woods made it clear whether or not he would be making his return after announcing an indefinite break less than two months ago.
But with one tweet, Woods made his intentions known:
It remains to be seen whether the likes of Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson and other in-house favorites will have to worry about Woods as he tries to refine his game. But after he missed last year's tournament, simply having him in the mix will be a welcomed commodity for viewers and network executives alike.
Not surprisingly, last year's Masters saw a decline in interest with Woods out, as ESPN's John Buccigross observed, but that shouldn't be an issue this year:
It's not really arguable that Woods being back is great for the tournament and for golf itself, but will it really have that much of an impact on the top of the leaderboard come this weekend?
Not if a crop of peaking young players have anything to say about it.
One who is possibly in line for a big week is Jordan Spieth, the 21-year-old phenom who broke out throughout last season and nearly took the 2014 Masters. The American finished second in last weekend's Houston Open, and his increased confidence could be the difference at Augusta, per ESPN's Jason Sobel:
Patrick Reed is another youngster to keep an eye on, as the 24-year-old showed his poise in last year's Ryder Cup and hit a beautiful hole-in-one Saturday in Houston.
As far as recent major tournaments go, McIlroy cannot—and inevitably will not—be overlooked, either. Struggles at Augusta doomed the early parts of his career, but he won both of the last two majors played in 2014. What's more, he has distanced himself from the rest of the golf world in the rankings, per ESPN's Scott T. Miller:
"How dominant has McIlroy been? ... His 3.19-point lead in the World Golf Rankings is wider than the gap between the No. 2 player (Henrik Stenson) and the No. 13 player (Martin Kaymer). In fact, of the five No. 1s since 2001 not named Tiger Woods, McIlroy's current rankings gap represents the second-largest lead, just fractions behind Luke Donald's 3.27 mark from 2011.
"
But if McIlroy's shortcomings in the Masters worry you, there's one proven contender with no such troubles.
Watson broke through with his first career major at the 2012 Masters and emerged from a packed leaderboard Sunday in last year's Masters to win his second green jacket. But Watson doesn't expect his success there to help make things any easier this weekend, per SportsCenter:
Of course, it would be naive to suggest or believe that the tournament is going to be won by any one of these aforementioned players. Majors have a way of exposing future stars before they've even made themselves known as contenders, and the Masters is no different.
Nothing is guaranteed heading into this year's tournament other than top-caliber golf and the first major champion of 2015, but that's all that is needed to make the 2015 Masters a memorable affair.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
