US Masters 2026 FRL Tips: Brooks to come out hot at Augusta?

The opening round of the 90^th Masters Tournament is just one day away and, with a fast start crucial – nine of the last 10 winners have been no worse than 11^th after round one – everyone in the field will be eager to feature among the early leaders on Thursday.

Star tipster Jamie Worsley has taken a look at the tee times and has three names to consider in his US Masters 2026 FRL Tips article...

*You can bet on the tournament and check out the latest US Masters 2026 Odds over on betfred.com

Play begins from the first tee at 7.40am, after which tee times will follow in 12-minute intervals throughout the day, meaning there are no strict morning and afternoon waves.

It’s forecast to be bright and clear but rather chilly (9°C) early doors, though temperatures will quickly rise, reaching highs of 23°C in the afternoon. With sunshine sticking around and a mild 9mph breeze (gusting at 19mph) consistent for all, it’s only those cooler morning conditions that should separate the players.

That is typical of Augusta at this time of year and, as shown below, it has resulted in the earliest tee times enjoying very little success on day one.

First-Round Leaders since 2016 (Start Times):

• 2025 – Justin Rose (12pm)
• 2024 – Bryson DeChambeau (11.18am – storms delayed original start times)
• 2023 – Jon Rahm (10.42am), Brooks Koepka (11.54am), Viktor Hovland (10.18am)
• 2022 – Sungjae Im (1.27pm)
• 2021 – Justin Rose (12.48pm)
• 2020 – Paul Casey (7.54am), Dylan Frittelli (12.10pm), Dustin Johnson (12.10pm)
• 2019 – Bryson DeChambeau (1.38pm), Brooks Koepka (2pm)
• 2018 – Jordan Spieth (1.49pm)
• 2017 – Charley Hoffman (1.08pm)
• 2016 – Jordan Spieth (9.48am)

Across the last 10 editions of The Masters, Paul Casey in 2020 is the lone player of 15 to tee off before 9am and still at least share the first-round lead. Jordan Spieth in 2016 was the only other Thursday leader to begin before 10am, providing a clear indication that players from that part of the draw are worth opposing.

Further to that, quality experience of Augusta National has proven just as important, with Dylan Frittelli the only player from the above list who hadn’t recorded a previous top-25 at The Masters.

That should allow us to rule out a sizeable chunk of the field, and I’ve selected three players who match the required criteria to be the first-round leader on Thursday.

1.25 pts Brooks Koepka each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 35/1

Start time: 1.20pm

Brooks Koepka has twice held the first-round lead at The Masters and, having displayed plenty of promise since returning to the PGA Tour, I’m taking him to make it a hat-trick this week.

Before disappointingly missing the cut on his latest start in Houston, Koepka had notched up three straight top-20s, finishing 9^th at the Cognizant Classic, 13^th at THE PLAYERS Championship and 18^th at the Valspar Championship.

His iron play has really caught the eye during these results, ranking 2^nd in SG: Approach on the PGA Tour. Digging deeper into that, he’s particularly impressed with the mid-to-long irons, sitting 5^th from 150-175 yards and 9^th from 200 yards+, which sets him up well for Augusta.

This five-time major champion’s first-round form has yet to pick up in 2026, but he’s been a regular fast starter in majors over the years. Standout performances include taking the first-round lead at the 2019 PGA Championship and securing a share of top spot on day one of the 2017 Open Championship.

Nowhere has this ability to begin golf’s biggest events quickly been more evident than in Georgia. Koepka claimed a share of the lead here in 2019, opening with a six-under 66 and he again sat atop the leaderboard just three years ago after 65 on Thursday.

Each of those first-round efforts helped him to a runner-up finish, and with his tee-to-green game looking in great shape, he’s got every chance of giving himself the platform for another strong showing tomorrow.

You can check out Jamie's full US Masters Preview here...

0.75 pts Harris English each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 55/1

Start time: 1.56pm

Next up is Harris English, who has become one of the more reliable major performers in recent years. The Georgia native’s steady Masters record mirrors his form this year and, having claimed a slice of the first-round lead at the final major of 2025, he can kick off in similar style on Thursday.

English’s missed cut at THE PLAYERS Championship was his first of the season and the only time he’s finished outside the top 30 all year. He’s putting especially well, ranking 8^th in this field and is also among the top-25 drivers in attendance. Whilst his irons have been inconsistent, he has shown more quality from 150 yards and above – an obvious plus at Augusta.

Excluding a first-round top-10 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he’s another player who hasn’t played his best golf in the opening rounds of 2026. That said, he ended the 2025 major season with a shared first-round lead at The Open and it’s also worth noting that he made his strongest start yet at Augusta last year, beginning with a two-under 70 to sit 7^th through 18 holes.

After a closing 68 there, English set a new personal best of 12^th at The Masters. That took him to five made cuts in a row after failing to make the weekend on debut in 2014. Then going on to finish 2^nd at both the PGA Championship and Open Championship in 2025 – adding to an impressive major record that has seen him make every cut in the previous two years – he’s fast becoming a player to keep firmly on side in these events.

0.75 pts Sungjae Im each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 66/1

Start time: 11.03am

Sungjae Im has developed a strong Masters record since debuting in 2020, which includes hitting the front on day one in 2022. Opening with a superb seven-under 64 at the Valspar Championship just two starts ago, he arrives with a recent first-round lead to his name and is an appealing price to replicate that tomorrow.

Sungjae’s return from a wrist injury saw him miss cuts at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and THE PLAYERS Championship, but he burst into life at the Copperhead Course, where he led after rounds one, two and three before eventually finishing 4^th.

He again began well in Houston on his latest appearance – sitting 11^th through 18 holes – though he couldn’t keep up with the explosive scoring there and slipped to 60^th by the end of Sunday.

The Korean has driven it solidly and shown sparks of quality in approach, but it’s the regained sharpness within his short game on those last two outings that is particularly promising. An area of his game that has virtually always shone around Augusta.

Sungjae debuted at the November Masters in 2020, where he finished a remarkable 2^nd. He then missed the cut by some distance the following year, though he returned to take the solo first-round lead in 2022 – opening with a five-under 67 – before signing for an 8^th-place finish.

Further top-20s of 16^th in 2023 and 5^th in 2025 strengthen his credentials and, if he can channel some of the day-one energy from the Valspar, he’ll be a lively contender in this market.