The Masters Tournament, known affectionately as "The Masters", is the pinnacle of professional golf. As one of golf‘s four major championships, along with the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship, it is widely considered the most prestigious event in the sport. The Masters brings together the world‘s best golfers each April for a grueling test of skill on the immaculate fairways and devilishly tricky greens of Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.
This year, due to COVID-19, the 84th edition of The Masters will take place November 12-15 rather than the usual early April date. While this means missing out on the azaleas in full spring bloom, viewers can still look forward to exhilarating golf drama amidst the fall foliage of Augusta National.
According to CBS, last year‘s final round of The Masters garnered 10.8 million viewers in the U.S. – the largest television audience for a golf broadcast since the epic 2018 Woods vs Mickelson pay-per-view match[1]. Given Tiger Woods‘ electrifying comeback win in 2019 after years of career turmoil, this year‘s Masters will surely see huge viewership again as fans are eager to see if Woods can capture win #6.
While in previous years you needed a cable or satellite subscription with ESPN and CBS to watch The Masters, online live streaming has opened up various cable-free options:
- Masters.com
- Official Masters apps
- ESPN+
- CBS All Access (limited coverage)
- Hulu Live, YouTube TV, other live TV streaming services
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to live stream the 2020 Masters golf tournament on any device using these cable-free options. We‘ll also look at tips to ensure you get the best viewing experience. Let‘s tee off!
Watching The Masters Live Stream Online
While services like ESPN+ and CBS All Access provide some Masters coverage, your best bet for comprehensive live streaming without cable is Masters.com and the official Masters apps.
Here are the details on how to use the official Masters streaming options:
Masters.com
Masters.com provides free live streams of the Masters Golf tournament in its entirety (CBS and ESPN broadcasts) to users in the U.S.
To watch, simply:
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Go to Masters.com on any internet-connected device
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Click the "Watch" link at the top
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Select the live video stream
In addition to the main ESPN and CBS feeds, Masters.com provides alternative "Featured Groups" streams following select pairings all day. There are also dedicated streams for Amen Corner, holes 15 & 16, and more.
With Masters.com you can enjoy live coverage of the entire Masters tournament free on your smartphone, tablet, computer or even connected TV devices. Keep reading for how to watch on specific devices.
Official Masters Apps
In addition to the website, The Masters offers free apps for iPhone/iPad and Android devices:
- iPhone & iPad – Download the Masters app from the App Store
- Android phones & tablets – Get the Masters app from the Google Play store
Like Masters.com, the apps provide live streams of the main ESPN/CBS broadcasts and additional feeds. The apps let you closely follow featured groups, track players using the MyGroup feature, and get live stats/scores.
While Masters.com is accessible on all devices with a browser, the official apps are designed specifically for mobile and tablet viewing.
Watching on Different Devices
Now let‘s get into how to live stream The Masters 2020 on every device, whether you want to watch on your phone, laptop, streaming device, smart TV, or anything in between.
Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV & Other Streaming Devices
On streaming media players like Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, etc. the easiest way to watch the Masters for free is by using the built-in web browser to access Masters.com.
Here are the steps to watch on popular streaming devices:
Fire TV Stick/Fire TV
The Fire TV Silk browser works well for streaming Masters.com:
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From your Fire TV home screen, select the "Silk" browser.
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Navigate to Masters.com.
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Select "Watch" then choose the live video stream you want to watch.
If you have issues with the Silk browser, install a third-party browser like Puffin:
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From the Fire TV home screen, select "Search" and type "Puffin".
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Select the Puffin TV web browser from the results.
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Launch Puffin and enter Masters.com in the URL bar.
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Click "Watch" then the desired video stream.
Roku
On your Roku, use the built-in web browser:
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From the home screen, select "Streaming Channels"
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Launch the "Roku Channel Browser"
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Browse to Masters.com
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Click "Watch" and pick your stream.
Or install the Puffin browser on Roku to visit Masters.com.
Apple TV
Use the Safari browser on your Apple TV:
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From the home screen, select the App Store icon.
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Open Safari from your installed apps.
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Enter Masters.com into the browser URL bar.
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Tap the "Watch" link to view live streams.
The streaming browser method allows you to watch every moment of the Masters free on your big screen streaming device!
iPhone, iPad and Android Phones/Tablets
On mobile devices, using the official Masters apps from the App Store and Google Play store provides the best viewing experience:
iPhone & iPad
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Install the Masters app from the App Store
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Open the app and tap "Watch" to access live streams
Android Phones & Tablets
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Download the Masters app from Google Play
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Launch the app and select "Watch" to start viewing
Within the apps you can easily switch between different live streams, track golfers, get notifications, and more.
Alternatively, you can visit Masters.com using the Safari or Chrome mobile browser on your device.
The Masters apps are optimized for mobile viewing of the tournament on your iOS or Android phone or tablet.
Laptops and Computers
You have two options for watching The Masters on your Windows PC, Mac, or other laptop/desktop computer:
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Open any web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, etc.) and go to Masters.com. Click "Watch" to access live streams.
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Install the Masters mobile app on your laptop using software like BlueStacks or Genymotion. Use the app to stream live coverage.
If viewing on a laptop, for the biggest screen you can connect your laptop to a TV using an HDMI cable.
With Masters.com running on your computer, you‘ll enjoy the Masters tournament live in up to HD quality – no cable required!
Smart TVs
Modern smart TVs make it easy to live stream the Masters through the built-in web browser or by screen mirroring from your mobile device.
To use the built-in browser method:
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Select the browser app from your smart TV‘s home screen. This may be called "Internet Browser", "Web Browser", etc.
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Navigate to Masters.com in the browser app.
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Click the "Watch" link to view live streams.
To screen mirror from a mobile device:
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Download the Masters app on your smartphone or tablet.
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Connect your phone and TV to the same WiFi network.
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Enable screen mirroring on your TV – this may be under Settings, Source, Screen Mirroring, Cast, Smart View, etc.
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Start a live stream on the Masters app on your phone. It will appear on your TV.
Using the built-in browser or screening mirroring allows you to get the exciting Masters action up on the big screen.
Getting the Optimal Streaming Experience
To ensure you can watch The Masters live stream reliably without frustrating buffering or lag, keep these tips in mind:
- Use a high-speed internet connection. Masters.com recommends minimum 10 – 15 Mbps speeds for smooth streaming.
- If needed, consider upgrading your home internet plan. The fastest type such as fiber or cable will provide the most reliable streaming.
- If watching on WiFi, position your device close to your wireless router for best results.
- Close any programs using bandwidth in the background like downloads or system updates.
- Adjust the video quality to a lower setting if you experience buffering.
- A VPN (Virtual Private Network) service like ExpressVPN or NordVPN can provide faster streaming speeds.
Following these tips will help ensure you can enjoy non-stop live coverage of the Masters tournament without interruptions.
Let‘s recap the key streaming options:
| Where to Watch | Devices | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Masters.com | Any device w/ browser | Free |
| Masters Apps | iPhone, iPad, Android | Free |
| Live TV Streaming Service (YouTube TV, Hulu Live) | Connected TVs, phones, computers | $55+/month |
| ESPN+ | Connected TVs, phones, computers | $5.99/month |
| CBS All Access | Connected TVs, phones, computers | $5.99/month |
As you can see, the official Masters platforms give you free live streams on all devices without needing a cable subscription.
I hope this guide has helped explain exactly how to live stream the Masters 2020 golf tournament online. Let me know if you have any other questions and enjoy the tournament!
