90th Masters Opens with McIlroy as Defending Champ

The 90th Masters Tournament began Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, with defending champion Rory McIlroy leading a trio of Irish golfers into the opening round of the year's first major championship. Shane Lowry teed off first among the Irish at 2:43 p.m. Irish time, joined by 2020 winner Dustin Johnson and Jason Day, while McIlroy followed at 3:31 p.m. alongside world No. 3 Cameron Young and 18-year-old amateur Mason Howell. Making his Masters debut, Tom McKibbin started at 4:15 p.m. with Andrew Novak and Brian Campbell.

The ceremonial opening featured honorary starters Gary Player, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus striking the first tee shots for the 91-player field. McIlroy, who captured his first green jacket last year in a playoff victory over Justin Rose on his 17th attempt, enters as a favorite alongside two-time winner Scottie Scheffler, 2023 champion Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. The Northern Irishman's triumph completed a career Grand Slam, a long-elusive goal, and positioned him as world No. 2. Yet defending the title presents a rare challenge; only Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods have achieved back-to-back victories at Augusta.