AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Jordan Spieth will begin defense of his Masters title on Thursday morning at 9:48 a.m. when he plays alongside U.S. Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau and Paul Casey at Augusta National.
The 80th Masters begins with the honorary starters Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player hitting ceremonial tee shots at 8:05 a.m.
No. 1-ranked Jason Day will play with Matt Kuchar and Ernie Els beginning at 1:06 p.m, with No. 3-ranked Rory McIlroy getting the last starting time at 2:01 p.m., along with Bill Haas and Martin Kaymer.
Jim Herman, the last player into the field Sunday when he won the Shell Houston Open, will be the first player off at 8:20 a.m., along withSteven Bowditch. The 89-player field is the smallest at the Masters since 2002.
Among some of the other notable tee times: Open champion and 2007 Masters winner Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Asia Pacific Amateur champion Jin Cheng of China at 9:26 a.m.; three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson,Marc Leishmanand Henrik Stenson at 10:43 a.m.; Adam Scott, Kevin Kisner and Brooks Koepka at 11:05 a.m.; Bubba Watson, Branden Grace and Ian Poulter at 12:44 p.m.
