After the 2020 tournament had been postponed to November because of the COVID-19 pandemic and held behind closed doors, the 2021 edition returned to its traditional April dates and admitted spectators, although in reduced numbers and with social distancing measures in place.

Invited international players[d] Thursday, April 8, 2021 Justin Rose, twice a runner-up at the Masters, played his final 11 holes in 9-under, including an eagle at the par-5 8th, to begin the tournament with a round of 65 (−7).

It was Rose's fourth time holding the first-round lead at the Masters, tying Jack Nicklaus for the tournament record.

[9][10] Will Zalatoris, making his Masters debut, eagled the par-5 15th and shot 70 (−2) to share fourth place.

[11] Jordan Spieth, the 2015 champion, chipped in for eagle on that hole and finished at one-under, in a tie for eighth place.

[13] Friday, April 9, 2021 Justin Rose was three-over on his front-nine to see his four-shot lead at the beginning of the round disappear.

[15] Masters rookie Will Zalatoris birdied his final three holes in a round of 68 (−4) to get into a tie for second place with Brian Harman, a shot behind Rose.

[16] Jordan Spieth made a 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th and was part of a tie for fourth place at 5-under.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson shot a three-over 75 and missed the cut by two strokes.

Others to miss the cut included Rory McIlroy, who failed to make the weekend at the Masters for the first time since 2010, as well as 2020 runner-up Im Sung-jae.

But he made only one more birdie the rest of the round to go with three bogeys and shot an even-par 72 to join a group of four tied for second place.

Justin Thomas got within one of the lead after birdies on holes 2 and 3, but fell from contention after hitting his third shot on 13 into the tributary of Rae's Creek and making a triple-bogey 8.

[23] Sunday, April 11, 2021 Hideki Matsuyama, who led by four shots entering the round, saw his lead cut to just one after he bogeyed the first hole while Will Zalatoris made birdie at the first and second.

At the 18th, he hit his second shot into the greenside bunker and missed a five-foot par putt but tapped in for bogey and a one-shot victory at 10-under.