How to qualify for the Masters
A spot in The Masters is one of the most sought after commodities in golf. But how do you qualify?
An invitation to play at Augusta National is a dream come true for any golfer. But how do you qualify for the Masters?
The Masters Committee don’t just hand these out for fun…
We take a look at all of the avenues through which an invite can be obtained and detail everything there is to know about qualifying for the Masters.
How do you qualify for the Masters?
There are 19 ways through which golfers can book their place at Augusta…
1. Win the Masters
Any player to have won a Green Jacket in previous editions of the Masters will receive lifetime exemption to the tournament.
2. Win the US Open
Each winner of the US Open will receive honorary invitations for the next five editions of the Masters.
3. Win the Open Championship
Each winner of the Open Championship will receive honorary invitations for the next five editions of the Masters.
4. Win the PGA Championship
Each winner of the PGA Championship will receive honorary invitations for the next five editions of the Masters.
5. Win the Players Championship
Each winner of the Players Championship will receive honorary invitations for the next three editions of the Masters.
6. Finish in the top two of the US Amateur
The US Amateur champion and runner-up will both receive invites to the Masters for the following year.
7. Win the British Amateur
The British Amateur champion will receive an invite to the Masters for the following year.
8. Win the Asia-Pacific Amateur
The Asia-Pacific Amateur champion will receive an invite to the Masters for the following year.
9. Win the Latin America Amateur
The Latin America Amateur champion will receive an invite to the Masters for the following year.
10. Win the US Mid-Amateur
The US Mid-Amateur champion will receive an invite to the Masters for the following year.
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11. Win Olympic gold
The player who wins the gold medal at the Olympic Games will be invited to play in the Masters the following year.
12. Finish in the top 12 at the Masters
The top 12, including ties, at each Masters will be invited back the following year.
13. Finish in the top 4 of the US Open
The top 4, including ties, at each US Open will be invited to the following year’s Masters.
14. Finish in the top 4 at the Open Championship
The top 4, including ties, at each Open Championship will be invited to the following year’s Masters.
15. Finish in the top 4 at the PGA Championship
The top 4, including ties, at each PGA Championship will be invited to the following year’s Masters.
16. Win a PGA Tour event
Winners of any PGA Tour event that carries a full FedEx Cup points allocation will be invited to the following year’s Masters.
17. Qualify for the Tour Championship
All 30 players that qualify for the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship will be invited to the following year’s Masters.
18. Finish the year in the top 50
All players in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings on January 1 will be invited to that year’s Masters.
19. Be in the top 50 of the world ranking ahead of the tournament
All players in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings the week before each Masters, who aren’t otherwise exempt, will be invited to the following week’s Masters.
Anyone else?
In addition to these 19 methods of qualifying, the Masters Committee will also invite any international players who have not already qualified that they believe should have a place in the exclusive field.
What do you think of this Masters qualification criteria? Should LIV Golf players now receive invitations? Should there be changes to the Masters qualification rules? Let us know your thoughts with a comment on X.
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
