Sports
Sports

2021 Masters gets underway with ceremonial tee shots

Justin Rose and his caddie David Clark react to his second shot on the eighteenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Shane Lowry, left, gives Justin Rose a fist bump as they finish their first round on the eighteenth hole during the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Justin Rose hits his tee shot on the fifteenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Adam Scott reacts to missing his birdie putt on the tenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Kevin Na hits out of the bunker on the tenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Charles Osborne reacts to his tee shot on the eleventh hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Fred Couples stretches before he hits his tee shot on the eleventh hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Marc Leishman hits his second shot on the tenth fairway during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Bubba Watson tees off on the eighteenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
Masters Thursday 2021
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Hideki Matsuyama hits his tee shot on the eleventh hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
Masters Thursday 2021
MASTERS PHOTO
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
Masters Thursday 2021
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Hideki Matsuyama chips from off of the twelfth green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Hideki Matsuyama hits his tee shot on the eleventh hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Cameron Champ hits on the tenth fairway during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Hideki Matsuyama reacts to his tee shot on the eleventh hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Webb Simpson reacts to his birdie putt on the thirteenth green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Webb Simpson, left, and Christiaan Bezuidenhout walk up to the thirteenth green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Bubba Watson tees off on the fourteenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Bubba Watson prepares to putt on the thirteenth green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Brooks Koepka takes a drop after hitting into the tributary to Rae’s Creek on the thirteenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Only a few patrons watch as Hideki Matsuyama tees on the eighteenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Hideki Matsuyama tees off on the sixteenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Christiaan Bezuidenhout tees off on the fourteenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Marc Leishman tees off on the eleventh hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Patrick Reed reacts to missing his par putt on the eighteenth green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Patrick Reed reacts to missing his par putt on the eighteenth green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Matt Kuchar hits out of the bunker on the tenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Justin Rose practices his swing as he walks to the eleventh tee during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Sungjae Im reacts to missing his par putt on the tenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Phil Mickelson reacts to missing a birdie putt his on the tenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Sungjae Im hits his fairway shot on the tenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Justin Rose hits out of the bunker on the fifteenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Justin Thomas reacts to making a putt on the tenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Justin Rose reacts to his tee shot on the fifteenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Louis Oosthuizen hits out of the bunker on the tenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Bryson DeChambeau reacts to the gallery as he makes a par putt on the tenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Justin Rose reacts to missing his birdie attempt on the eighteenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Justin Rose reacts to his birdie shot on the seventeenth hole to go seven under during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Justin Rose tees off on seventeenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
April 8, 2021, Augusta: Justin Rose reacts to making a birdie on the sixteenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
1 / 72
Justin Rose and his caddie David Clark react to his second shot on the eighteenth hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
Updated April 8, 2021

AUGUSTA - The 2021 Masters gets underway with Round 1 today. It began with the ceremonial tee shots by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Elder.

Today’s featured group schedule is:

10:06 a.m. Bubba Watson, Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland

10:30 a.m. Dustin Johnson, Lee Westwood, Tyler Strafaci

1:48 p.m. Tony Finau, Louis Oosthuizen, Justin Thomas

2 p.m. Jordan Spieth, Cameron Smith, Collin Morikawa

Return to ajc.com and the print edition for full coverage from our team of reporters and photographers.

More Stories

Keep Reading

Georgia Southern accepted a berth to the Birmingham Bowl, but it is still awaiting an opponent. According to reports, no one has accepted an invitation yet. (Sarah Peacock for the AJC)

Credit: Sarah Peacock

After delay, Georgia Southern reportedly knows its Birmingham Bowl opponent

Sun Belt rivals Georgia Southern and App State will play in the Birmingham Bowl, ccording to Brett McMurphy of On3.

Kennesaw State learns bowl fate, QB gets wish of ‘someplace warm’

Kennesaw State will take on Western Michigan in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. It is the program's first-ever bowl game in just its second season in FBS.

Kennesaw State rolls to third straight win over rival Georgia State

Kennesaw State won its third game in a row, this time against in-state rival Georgia State, 92-69. It was the Owls' third straight win.

The Latest

Georgia Southern accepted a berth to the Birmingham Bowl, but it is still awaiting an opponent. According to reports, no one has accepted an invitation yet. (Sarah Peacock for the AJC)

Credit: Sarah Peacock

After delay, Georgia Southern reportedly knows its Birmingham Bowl opponent

Kennesaw State learns bowl fate, QB gets wish of ‘someplace warm’

Kennesaw State rolls to third straight win over rival Georgia State

Featured

Fans celebrate in the stands after Cape Verde defeated Eswatini in a World Cup qualifying soccer match at Estádio Nacional in Praia, Cape Verde, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, to clinch their qualification for the 2026 World Cup. (Cristiano Barbosa/AP)

Credit: AP

A tiny nation qualified for its first World Cup. Cape Verde has fans here

Cape Verde, competing in its first World Cup, will take on the world's No. 1 team in Spain at 12 p.m. on June 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Georgia’s special ed program promised help. Families say it delivered them harm.

Georgia subdues a nemesis in rolling past Crimson Tide for SEC championship

Georgia notched its best win of the season at the perfect time, finally vanquishing Alabama in Atlanta and taking home the SEC Championship for the second straight year.