Three Alabama golf products will be in the field for the 2024 Masters Tournament beginning Thursday, including recently turned professional Nick Dunlap in a featured group.

The 20-year-old — who left the Alabama golf team in January to become a professional golfer following his win at the American Express, an early season PGA Tour event — Dunlap will tee off at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club and 1:36 p.m. Friday in a group with defending Masters champion Jon Rahm and former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick.

Dunlap’s pairing follows in Masters tradition despite his unique qualification circumstances.

The Masters historically pairs the reigning U.S. Amateur champion with the defending Masters champion. Usually, that Amateur champion is still an amateur upon entering the Masters field. But Dunlap qualified based on winning a PGA Tour event and thus gave up his exemption via his U.S. Amateur win.

That didn’t stop the Masters from keeping with its usual plans.

The Dunlap-Rahm-Fitzpatrick group will be one of Thursday’s three featured groups. This is Dunlap’s first-ever Masters.

Two-time major champion and Alabama product Justin Thomas will be playing in the group right ahead of Dunlap, teeing off at 10:18 a.m. Thursday and 1:24 p.m. Friday.

Thomas is paired with Will Zalatoris and former Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama.

Thomas will be using a new caddie, Matt Minister, this week after the surprising split with former caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay just a week before the Masters. Thomas won the 2022 PGA Championship with Mackay on his bag.

Lee Hodges will also be making his first Masters appearance this week.

He’ll begin play at 11:06 a.m. Thursday and 8:00 a.m. Friday in a group with Adrian Meronk and Grayson Murray.

Weather will yet again be expected to impact the Masters, with between 1-to-2 inches of rain predicted for Thursday. There is the chance of thunderstorms, too. All start times are, of course, subject to weather.

Featured groups and featured holes coverage is expected to begin as early as 8:45 a.m. Thursday on Masters.com and ESPN+. Per usual, there will be a featured group plus a featured hole feed for holes 4, 5, 6, the Amen Corner stretch of holes 11, 12, and 13, as well as holes 15 and 16.

ESPN’s coverage will pick up at 3 p.m.

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Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]