When is it on?
The first men's Major of the year, the 2022 US Masters, will begin at Augusta National, Georgia on Thursday morning (Thursday afternoon Irish time). Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and, for the first time, Tom Watson will kick off the tournament as per tradition as honorary starters. The tournament will run until Sunday afternoon (Sunday night in Ireland).
How can I follow it all?
The Masters is being broadcast exclusively on Sky Sports and Now all week. Feature group coverage will begin at 2pm on Thursday, with full coverage from 7.30pm. Round-by-round highlights will be available on BBC Two from midnight. And you can follow every day's action via The Irish Times Sport live blog.
What are the Irish prospects?
Ireland has a considerable presence in the Masters this year, with four players - Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington and Séamus Power. McIlroy is looking to complete the career Grand Slam and end a Major drought that stretches back to 2014. Harrington is playing in his 16th Masters, while Lowry will be looking to improve his best Masters finish of tied 21st last year. It is Power's first Major and the Waterford man will be looking to continue his excellent form on the PGA Tour this season.
Guess who's back?
Ever since news broke last week that Tiger Woods was playing nine holes at Augusta the sporting world has been in a spin over whether the five-times Masters champion would tee it up on Thursday. And the great news for golf fans was confirmed on Tuesday, when Woods told his pre-tournament press conference that "as of right now I feel like I am going to play". Woods has not played in a top-level event since being involved in a serious car crash in February of last year.
Who are the favourites?
The current Masters favourite in the bookies is Spaniard Jon Rahm, who was world number one until last week and the winner of last year's US Open. Next in the betting is American Justin Thomas, followed by 2020 champion Dustin Johnson, Players' champion Cameron Smith and new number one Scottie Scheffler. With no player currently better than 11-1 in the betting, it is one of the most open Masters in years.
Who else should you watch out for?
Norwegian Viktor Hovland has won three times since November and may represent Europe's best chance aside from Rahm. The 2015 winner Jordan Spieth has finished in the top three of the Masters five times already at age 28, so is always a threat, while two-time major winner Collin Morikawa is one to watch with his peerless ball-striking. Last year's winner Hideki Matsuyama will look to become only the fourth player to defend the Masters title.
What are the tee-times?
Thursday's tee-times (all times Irish)
(USA unless stated, * denotes amateur)
12.40 Gary Player (honorary starter), Jack Nicklaus (honorary starter), Tom Watson (honorary starter)
1.0 Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain), JJ Spaun
1.11 Mike Weir (Canada), Pádraig Harrington (Ireland), *Austin Greaser
1.22 Larry Mize, Sepp Straka (Austria), Francesco Molinari (Italy)
1.33 Fred Couples, Garrick Higgo (S Africa), Guido Migliozzi (Italy)
1.44 Vijay Singh (Fiji), Ryan Palmer, Kyoung-Hoon Lee (Korea)
1.55 Min Woo Lee (Australia), Hudson Swafford, Cameron Young
2.06 Stewart Cink, Brian Harman, Harry Higgs
2.17 Zach Johnson, Si Woo Kim (Korea), *Aaron Jarvis (Cayman Islands)
2.39 Luke List, Matthew Wolff, Mackenzie Hughes (Canada)
2.50 Danny Willett (England), Jason Kokrak , Talor Gooch
3.01 Max Homa, Kevin Na, Shane Lowry (Ireland)
3.12 Kevin Kisner, Daniel Berger, Tommy Fleetwood (England)
3.23 Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith (Australia), Paul Casey (England)
3.34 Tiger Woods, Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa), Joaquin Niemann (Chile)
3.45 Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Justin Thomas, *James Piot
3.56 Adam Scott (Australia), Scottie Scheffler, Tony Finau
4.18 Sandy Lyle (Scotland), *Stewart Hagestad
4.29 Lucas Glover, Erik van Rooyen (S Africa), Cameron Champ
4.40 Bernhard Langer (Germany), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (S Africa), Cameron Davis (Australia)
4.51 Charl Schwartzel (S Africa), Robert MacIntyre (Scotland), *Laird Shepherd (England)
5.02 Gary Woodland, Justin Rose (England), Takumi Kanaya (Japan)
5.13 Lee Westwood (England), Russell Henley, Corey Conners (Canada)
5.24 Patrick Reed, Séamus Power (Ireland), Lucas Herbert (Australia)
5.35 Bubba Watson, Tom Hoge, *Keita Nakajima (Japan)
5.57 Marc Leishman (Australia), Webb Simpson, Sungjae Im (Korea)
6.08 Sergio Garcia (Spain), Thomas Pieters (Belgium), Harold Varner III
6.19 Abraham Ancer (Mexico), Tyrrell Hatton (England), Sam Burns
6.30 Dustin Johnson, Billy Horschel, Collin Morikawa
6.41 Will Zalatoris, Patrick Cantlay, Jon Rahm (Spain)
6.52 Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland (Norway), Xander Schauffele
7.03 Matthew Fitzpatrick (England), Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
Friday tee-times
1.0 Sandy Lyle (Scotland), *Stewart Hagestad
1.11 Lucas Glover, Erik van Rooyen (S Africa), Cameron Champ
1.22 Bernhard Langer (Germany), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (S Africa), Cameron Davis (Australia)
1.33 Charl Schwartzel (S Africa), Robert MacIntyre (Scotland), *Laird Shepherd (England)
1.44 Gary Woodland, Justin Rose (England), Takumi Kanaya (Japan)
1.55 Lee Westwood (England), Russell Henley, Corey Conners (Canada)
2.06 Patrick Reed, Séamus Power (Ireland), Lucas Herbert (Australia)
2.17 Bubba Watson, Tom Hoge, *Keita Nakajima (Japan)
2.39 Marc Leishman (Australia), Webb Simpson, Sungjae Im (Korea)
2.50 Sergio Garcia (Spain), Thomas Pieters (Belgium), Harold Varner III
3.01 Abraham Ancer (Mexico), Tyrrell Hatton (England), Sam Burns
3.12 Dustin Johnson, Billy Horschel, Collin Morikawa
3.23 Will Zalatoris, Patrick Cantlay, Jon Rahm (Spain)
3.34 Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland (Norway), Xander Schauffele
3.45 Matthew Fitzpatrick (England), Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
3.56 Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain), JJ Spaun
4.18 Mike Weir (Canada), Pádraig Harrington (Ireland), *Austin Greaser
4.29 Larry Mize, Sepp Straka (Austria), Francesco Molinari (Italy)
4.40 Fred Couples, Garrick Higgo (S Africa), Guido Migliozzi (Italy)
4.51 Vijay Singh (Fiji), Ryan Palmer, Kyoung-Hoon Lee (Korea)
5.02 Min Woo Lee (Australia), Hudson Swafford, Cameron Young
5.13 Stewart Cink, Brian Harman, Harry Higgs
5.24 Zach Johnson, Si Woo Kim (Korea), *Aaron Jarvis (Cayman Islands)
5.35 Luke List, Matthew Wolff, Mackenzie Hughes (Canada)
5.57 Danny Willett (England), Jason Kokrak , Talor Gooch
6.08 Max Homa, Kevin Na, Shane Lowry (Ireland)
6.19 Kevin Kisner, Daniel Berger, Tommy Fleetwood (England)
6.30 Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith (Australia), Paul Casey (England)
6.41 Tiger Woods, Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa), Joaquin Niemann (Chile)
6.52Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Justin Thomas, *James Piot
7.03 Adam Scott (Australia), Scottie Scheffler, Tony Finau
Have there been any course changes to Augusta this year?
The length of the par-four 11th hole has been increased by 15 yards, meaning it now plays 10 yards longer than the par-five 13th, while 20 yards have been added to the par-five 15th. A number of green complexes have been altered, most notably the 13th green.
Any notable figures missing?
Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson continues his absence from professional golf following the fallout from his Saudi Golf League manoeuvre. Regular contenders Rickie Fowler and Jason Day failed to qualify for the event, as did veterans Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter and Matt Kuchar.
What is the Masters winner's prize?
The 2022 Masters champion will receive $2.07 million (€1.89 million), but perhaps more significantly, the winner receives the priceless green jacket, along with a lifetime invitation to play in the Masters, a replica of the Masters champion's trophy that permanently resides at Augusta National, and a gold medal.
What is the weather forecast?
Significant rain is expected at Augusta National on Tuesday and Wednesday which should soften the course, as thunderstorms could linger into Thursday. The rest of the weekend is looking dry, as wind is expected pick up on Friday, with gusts of up to 40km/h.
