Masters 2013 schedule: Golf’s biggest names head to Augusta

The first major championship of the year has arrived as the best of the PGA Tour head to Augusta National to begin preparing for the start of the 2013 Masters Tournament.

Tiger Woods’ game appears to be as good as it’s been in a while, leading many to believe he’s the favorite to capture his fifth green jacket. Woods will face off against a loaded field which includes 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson. Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and others will also be in the field as the 77th Masters gets underway.

The competitive rounds won’t begin until Thursday, but players will begin practice rounds on Monday. There will be a number of other events leading up to Thursday’s first round, including the famed Par 3 contest. Here’s a complete look at this week’s Masters schedule.

Players will take to the course for the first time on Monday as practice rounds begin. Gates at Augusta National will open at 8 a.m. ET with spectators allowed until approximately 6:30 p.m. ET. For those not in attendance, there will be television and web streaming coverage. The CBS Sports Network will air “Live Masters - On The Range” from noon to 2 p.m. ET with an online stream available during the same time at Masters.com.

Off the course, player interviews will begin with Matt Kuchar and Steve Stricker among the notable players meeting the media on Monday.

Practice rounds will continue on Tuesday with spectators once again allowed to watch from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. The CBS Sports Network and Masters.com will again air two hours of “Live Masters - On The Range” with the broadcast running from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET.

A number of notable players will meet the media on Tuesday including Rory McIlroy (9:30 a.m. ET), Adam Scott (10 a.m. ET), Luke Donald (10:30 a.m. ET), Bubba Watson (11 a.m. ET), Justin Rose (11 a.m. ET), Tiger Woods (1 p.m. ET) and Phil Mickelson (2:30 p.m. ET).

Tee times for the first and second rounds will also be announced on Tuesday.

Players will get in their final practice rounds before the attention turns to the Par 3 Contest. The CBS Sports Network and Masters.com will begin practice round coverage at 9 a.m. ET with “Live Masters - On The Range” running until 11 a.m. ET.

The Par 3 Contest will begin at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET with television coverage on ESPN from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

Competitive play begins on Thursday with first-round action. Television coverage begins on the CBS Sports Network at 11 a.m. ET with “Live Masters - On The Range.” ESPN’s live television coverage begins at 3 p.m. and will continue until 7:30 p.m. ET.

Live streaming will also be available on Masters.com. Individual streams for Amen Corner, hole No. 15 and hole No. 16 will be available in addition to two featured group streams. Streaming begins at 10:45 a.m. ET.

Friday’s schedule will mirror Thursday’s with ESPN coverage from 3 to 7:30 p.m. ET. The streaming options from Thursday will also be available on Friday.

As the 2013 Masters heads to the weekend, there will be a slight change in the schedule. Saturday will begin with “Live Masters - On The Range” on CBS Sports Network from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. CBS will televise the third round with live coverage beginning at 3 p.m. and continuing until 7 p.m. ET. Masters.com will have a live stream of Amen Corner available at 11:45 a.m. ET while streams for the two featured groups as well as holes No. 15 and 16 will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Final round coverage will begin on CBS Sports Network with “Live Masters - On The Range” at 11 a.m. ET. Live coverage will begin at 2 p.m. on CBS and continue until 7 p.m. ET. Online streaming options on Sunday will be the same as Saturday with streams beginning at 11:45 a.m. ET on Masters.com.

Following the action on the course, the Green Jacket Ceremony will be held with coverage on CBS and Masters.com.

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