How to watch the Masters 2019: The biggest weekend in golf is just around the corner
Master the Masters with our in-depth guide on how to watch every minute of the action
Spring has sprung and the clocks have gone forward, which means only one thing for golf fanatics nationwide: the annual Masters Tournament is just around the corner.
The most prestigious event in golf returns next weekend and the usual suspects are all in the running to take home the green jacket on Sunday evening: Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose are all among the bookies’ favourites to win the big prize this year.
There are other plotlines to get excited about, too. Will Sergio Garcia be able to replicate the form that brought him a fairytale victory two years ago? Will an underdog be able to spring a surprise in the same way that Danny Willett did in 2016? And will Tiger Woods complete his renaissance by claiming a stunning win at Augusta this time around?
The best way to find out the answer to all these questions and more will be to watch every minute of the action this year. Luckily, you’re in the right place. Here’s our guide on how to watch the 2019 Masters.
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When is the 2019 Masters?
The 83rd edition of the Masters will take place on 11-14 April at the same location as ever: the Augusta National Golf Club just outside Augusta, Georgia.
Augusta is five hours behind BST so, although official tee times aren’t yet available, you can expect most of the action to take place at around 2pm-11pm UK time on the first two days and 5pm-midnight on the weekend.
How to watch the Masters 2019 in the UK
Sky Sports
There had been rumours that the tournament would leave Sky Sports after company execs and Masters officials reportedly came to a negotiation impasse over broadcasting rights.
However, it was recently confirmed that all four days of the tournament will indeed return to Sky Sports’ Golf and Main Event channels.
You can currently upgrade to Sky Sports for £23 per month on an 18-month contract, on top of the £22-per-month Sky Entertainment fee. If you’re new to Sky, then bear in mind that setup costs, such as Sky Q box rental, will also apply.
Now TV
If you’re put off by these lengthy contracts and signup fees, you could always try a Now TV pass.
Now TV exists to give customers access to all the best programming that Sky Sports has to offer, without committing to an expensive long-term contract.
A Sky Sports Day Pass and Month Pass cost a one-off £9 and £33 respectively, but the £15 Week Pass is perfect for viewing all four days of Masters for the cheapest possible price.
Browse Now TV’s Sky Sports passes here
Unfortunately, neither of Sky Sports’ Main Event or Golf channels are supported by Now TV’s £6 a month Mobile Month Pass just yet, so you won’t be able to watch the Masters on the go via this method.
BBC
As has been the case in recent years, you’ll be able to watch free coverage of the final two rounds from Augusta on BBC Two, provided you have a valid UK TV licence. A live stream will also be available on the iPlayer app, so you can watch from your tablet, laptop or other device.
There will also be an hour-long highlights show for days one and two on BBC One, and live commentary will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra every day.
How to watch the Masters 2019 wherever you are
VPN
If you’re a UK resident and you try to watch the BBC coverage from abroad, chances are your stream will be scuppered by a geoblock.
This is where a virtual private network (VPN) could come in really handy. Simply download and install a VPN, click to access a UK server, head to the iPlayer website and away you go. Of course, this is all assuming you have a valid, paid-for UK TV licence.
The fastest VPN we’ve tested, and therefore the likeliest to give you a lag-free stream, is PureVPN. It’s not the cheapest, though. It will set you back £8.28 a month, or £2.18 a month if you’re willing to commit to a year-long contract.
Getflix is a simple VPN that’s cheaper than most. It’s either £3.75 a month, £30.16 a year, or £43.48 for two years. For general VPN duties, such as streaming iPlayer, it packs a pretty decent performance punch, too.
Windscribe is also a great option. At £6.80 a month, you can use it on unlimited devices, meaning you can stream iPlayer on any of your devices, and it works with Netflix and BitTorrent, too.
To find out more, check out our rundown of the best VPNs you can buy right now.