Masters 2026: Bone-dry and fast conditions could make this Augusta National's toughest test in a long time

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Anybody who tuned into the first round of the 90th Masters on Thursday saw what looked to be a glorious day. Bright sunshine, wispy white clouds and a playing palette of impossibly green grass everywhere.

The men trying to control their golf balls would tell you it was all an illusion. To be sure, Augusta National Golf Club has played much harder at times than it did in this first round. Masters historians will recall that Bobby Jones called the 1956 edition as the hardest ever because of blustery, horrible weather that Jackie Burke overcame to win by three over amateur Ken Venturi, who shot 80 on that Sunday.

Seventy years later, this Masters is shaping up to be the firmest test in recent memory. Rain in this region has been sparse, the humidity is low, and the wind picked up considerably the last two days. That not only makes it tricky to match yardage to a club, but it quickly dries out the putting surfaces.

Already on Thursday afternoon, there were some greens that were taking on a tinge of brown—not a color you associate with Augusta other than the pine straw and squirrels. “I think this could be the toughest Masters we've played in a while,” Shane Lowry said after shooting two-under-par 70 to be tied for seventh place. “You look at the forecast; they can do whatever they want with the golf course this weekend.