Day to play first two Masters rounds with Tiger Woods

Jason Day hopes playing in the marquee grouping with Tiger Woods for the first two rounds of the Masters proves the spur he craves as Australia's former world No.1 strives to set the record straight at the year's opening major.

Now among an elite group of golfers to have finished runner-up at all four major championships following his joint second at last year's British Open, Day has been afforded the ultimate billing at Augusta National.

At 48 and barely a part-timer these days, Woods has arrived for his 26th Masters campaign adamant he can break then-46-year-old Jack Nicklaus's 1986 record as the oldest player ever to win a green jacket.

"If it all comes together,  I think I can get one more," Woods said after a practice round on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) with Justin Thomas and Fred Couples.

Woods, though, isn't the only one chasing a slice of history this week, with Day - who was second on debut in 2011, third behind countryman Adam Scott in 2013 and joint fifth five years ago - eyeing an elusive first green jacket.

But despite surging back from 175th in the rankings in late 2022 to the world's top 20, the former PGA Championship winner hasn't been happy with his game over the past month.

He was especially annoyed at missing the cut last start at the Houston Open, conceding his short-game stats were not up to scratch.

Jason Day and Bubba Watson.
Jason Day and Bubba Watson shake hands after a practice round at Augusta.

But teeing off with five-time champion Woods and fellow American Max Homa has given the 35-year-old a boost.

"That's exciting. I'm happy about that. That's a good pairing," Day said before vowing to block out Tigermania in the galleries and stick to his own game plan.

"As long as you're concentrating on what you need to do, then it shouldn't matter, people moving.

"I've played out here a long time, and I think there's guys that don't like people moving around the greens, but for the most part I've never really been too distracted with people moving.

"If I am distracted, just come off and readjust and go in again."

Day is sweating on forecast thunderstorms to have past by the time he and Woods tee off at 1.24pm local time on Thursday.

Adam Scott, Australia's only ever Masters winner, hits off in the preceding three-ball with US pair Cameron Young and Sam Burns.

Cameron Smith also features in a star-studded grouping with reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark and Norwegian world No.6 Viktor Hovland.

Cameron Smith.
Cameron Smith and his caddie discuss his swing on the Augusta National driving range.

Australia's 2022 British Open champ tees off at 10.42am local time.

Min Woo Lee, nursing a broken finger in his right hand, also has a morning start with American big guns Patrick Cantlay and Rickie Fowler.

Australian amateur Jasper Stubbs will make his major debut alongside 2007 champion Zach Johnson and Canadian Corey Conners.

AUSTRALIAN TEE TIMES AND FEATURE GROUPS FOR THE MASTERS FIRST ROUND (all times AEST):

11pm Thursday: Jasper Stubbs (AUS), Zach Johnson (USA), Corey Conners (CAN)

12.06am Friday: Min Woo Lee (AUS), Patrick Cantlay (USA), Rickie Fowler (USA)

12:18am: Hideki Matsuyama (JPN), Will Zalatoris (USA), Justin Thomas (USA)

12:30am: Jon Rahm (ESP), Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG), Nick Dunlap (USA)

12.42am: Scottie Scheffler (USA), Rory McIlroy (NIR), Xander Schauffele (USA)

12:54am: Cameron Smith (AUS), Wyndham Clark (USA), Viktor Hovland (NOR) 

1:18am: Cam Davis (AUS), Camilo Villegas (COL), Denny McCarthy (USA)

3:12am: Adam Scott (AUS), Sam Burns (USA), Cameron Young (USA)

3:24am: Jason Day (AUS), Tiger Woods (USA), Max Homa (USA)

3:36am: Brian Harman (USA), Brooks Koepka (USA), Tom Kim (KOR)

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store