The first major golf championship of 2025 finishes today, and we've compiled everything you need to know about how to watch the Masters, from the early rounds to the Green Jacket Ceremony.
Tens of thousands of people have descended on Augusta, Georgia, for golf's most iconic tournament. The Masters Tournament, which is held annually at the August National Golf Club, has brought together the world's best male golfers since 1934. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has returned to defend his 2024 title, joined by No. 2 Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Max Homa, Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, Ludvig Åberg, and other top-rated players. The tournament is the year's first major championship and could help set the tone for the rest of the 2025 field.
The fourth and final round is proving to be an epic, potentially history-making battle. As of Sunday morning, McIlroy (of Northern Ireland) leads the pack. England's Justin Rose temporarily had a lead in the first two rounds, but he has lost some ground over the weekend. The United States' DeChambeau trails McIlroy ever so slightly. McIlroy has been chasing the final leg of a career Grand Slam for the past 11 years. A Masters win would join his U.S. Open, PGA Championship, and The Open Championship victories to cement his status as only the sixth-ever golfer to achieve a career Grand Slam.
Whether you watch the tournament every year or want to tune in for the first time, we've got you covered. The First Round officially kicked off on Thursday and the tournament lasts until Sunday evening, when the winner receives the iconic green jacket.
How to watch The Masters in the US
There are a few different options to explore when it comes to watching the 2025 Masters Tournament. The cheapest way to watch is through the Masters website, which offers a live stream of select coverage throughout the tournament. The Masters website offers general coverage, featured groups, the Amen Corner, and Holes 4, 5, 6, 15, and 16.
The Masters will also be nationally broadcast on ESPN and CBS. ESPN holds the broadcast rights on Thursday and Friday for the First and Second Rounds, and CBS will take over on Saturday and Sunday for the Third and Fourth/Final Rounds. SportsCenter and pre-coverage begins on Thursday at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN before First Round coverage officially kicks off at 3 p.m. The broadcast will last until 7:30 p.m., and then tape-delayed First Round coverage will repeat at 8 p.m. Friday will follow a similar schedule for the Second Round on ESPN, with pre-coverage beginning in the morning and official coverage picking up at 3 p.m.
On Saturday, the CBS pre-coverage will begin at 12 p.m. ET. Official Third Round coverage kicks off at 2 p.m. and lasts until 7 p.m. Sunday's Final Round coverage will follow an identical schedule on CBS, with early coverage starting at 12 p.m. before official Final Round broadcasts kick off at 2 p.m. and last until 7 p.m.
If you want to live stream ESPN and CBS coverage, you can do so through ESPN Plus and Paramount Plus. ESPN Plus will offer comprehensive ESPN Masters coverage. Subscriptions start at $12/month and include access to select sporting events, including tennis, football, UFC, and college sports. The app will also live stream from the tournament in the morning when coverage isn't being broadcast on the ESPN network.
ESPN Plus is designed for sports, giving subscribers access to live MLB, NHL, NFL, soccer, golf, and UFC fights. You can pay $12 monthly or go for an annual deal, which saves you about $20 a year. There's also a bundle with Hulu and Disney Plus, which offers an even better discount.
Paramount Plus is the cheapest place to live stream CBS. To unlock CBS live streaming, viewers must subscribe to the Paramount Plus with Showtime tier. This tier, which costs $13/month, also offers ad-free on-demand access to CBS, Paramount, and Showtime programs. New users get a one-week free trial.
Paramount Plus offers a huge library of on-demand content from Paramount, CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, and MTV. The Premium Plan also includes Showtime and live CBS streaming. It costs $12.99 a month or $120 a year. More importantly, it removes ads from the on-demand streaming library.
If you don't want to download two apps and would rather watch ESPN and CBS coverage in one place, then a live TV streaming package can help you out. DirecTV Stream and Fubo are two of our favorites. These month-to-month packages offer anywhere from 90 to 200+ live channels. DirecTV Stream Entertainment subscriptions start at $87/month and come with a five-day free trial, and Fubo Pro subscriptions start at $85/month and include a seven-day free trial. New Fubo users can also get $30 off their first month of service.
Previously known as AT&T TV, DirecTV Stream offers streaming access to a large selection of live channels, including most key networks typically found in traditional cable packages.
Fubo is the streaming service for sports fans. Its huge library of channels includes regional and international sports leagues, setting it apart from the competition. You can also tack on additional programming to your plan, but it'll cost you extra.
How to watch The Masters from anywhere
If you're not in the US right now, you can still keep up with the free streaming option with the help of a VPN (virtual private network). VPNs are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that enable people to change their device's virtual location. They're extra popular options among those looking to access their usual websites while traveling or upgrade their cybersecurity. Our go-to VPN rec is ExpressVPN, a tried and true option with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can explore more in our ExpressVPN review, and keep reading to learn how to use a VPN.
With its consistent performance, reliable security, and expansive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, excelling in every spec and offering many advanced features that make it exceptional. Better yet, you can save more than 60% right now and get up to four months free.
How to watch The Masters with a VPN
- Sign up for a VPN if you don't have one.
- Install it on the device you're using to watch the event.
- Turn it on and set it to a US location.
- Navigate to the live section of the Masters website and enjoy!
Past Masters winners
The Masters Tournament has been around for more than 90 years, so it's safe to say that there have been a lot of victors. For a full list of winners, you can check out the Masters website. Champions from the past 10 years include Scottie Scheffler (2024 and 2022), Jon Rahm (2023), Hideki Matsuyama (2021), Dustin Johnson (2020), Tiger Woods (2019), Patrick Reed (2018), Sergio Garcia (2017), Danny Willet (2016), and Jordan Spieth (2014).
Is Tiger Woods playing this year?
Tiger Woods, the five-time Masters champion, won't participate in this year's tournament. Woods ruptured his Achilles and underwent surgery in March, according to the PGA Tour website, so fans most likely won't see the pro golfer on a course for several more months. Believe it or not, Woods doesn't hold the record for the most Masters victories (although he does still hold the title of the youngest person to win the Masters, at 21 years old in 1997). The top Masters honor goes to the retired Jack Nicklaus, who won the tournament a whopping six times.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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