The Masters Tournament just announced some big changes ahead of the season.In 2026, the Masters Tournament will feature winners from multiple national opens, leaving Fall PGA Tour event winners without an invitation. That includes the seven FedexCup Fall events, like the Procore Championship, set to begin in two weeks in Napa, California on September 11th, 2025.
Alongside the new qualifying events, Masters chairman Fred Ridley released the following statement.
“The Masters Tournament has long recognized the significance of having international representation among its invitees. We, along with the R&A, have a shared commitment to the global game and are proud to work together. Today’s announcement strengthens our organizations’ collective vision of rewarding top talent around the world who rise to the top of historic national open championships. We hope this formal recognition shines a bright light on these players and the events they will represent at the Masters and The Open, beginning next year.”
List of 2026 Masters Tournament Qualifications
Below is a list of 24 qualifying events for the Masters. Numbers 19 to 24 are additions to the list, while number 17 was amended to individual winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation (500 minimum) applied to the season-ending Tour Championship.
1. Masters Tournament Champions (Lifetime)
2. U.S. Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after five years)
3. The Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after five years)
4. PGA Champions (Honorary, non-competing after five years)
5. Winners of the Players Championship (Three years)
6. Current Olympic Gold Medalist (One Year)
7. Current U.S. Amateur Champion (7-A) (Honorary, non-competing after one year) and the Runner-up (7B) to the current U.S. Amateur Champion
8. Current The Amateur Champion (Honorary, non-competing after one year)
9. Current Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion (One year)
10. Current Latin America Amateur Champion (One year)
11. Current U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion (One year)
12. Current NCAA Division I Men’s Individual Champion (One year)
13. The first 12 players, including ties, in the previous year’s Masters Tournament
14. The first 4 players, including ties, in the previous year’s U.S. Open
15. The first 4 players, including ties, in the previous year’s The Open Championship
16. The first 4 players, including ties, in the previous year’s PGA Championship
17. Individual winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation applied to the season-ending Tour Championship
18. Those qualifying and eligible for the previous year’s season-ending Tour Championship
19. Current Scottish Open Champion (One year)
20. Current Spanish Open Champion (One year)
21. Current Japan Open Champion (One year)
22. Current Hong Kong Open Champion (One year)
23. Current Australian Open Champion (One year)
24. Current South African Open Champion (One year)
25. The 50 leaders on the final Official World Golf Ranking for the previous calendar year
26. The 50 leaders on the final Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the current Masters Tournament
2026 Masters
The 89th Masters Tournament is scheduled April 7th through the 13th, 2026. Those lucky enough to score in the lottery style ticketing to Augusta National Golf Club will watch as professionals tee off for the first major of the year.
In a play-off victory last year, Rory McIlroy got the edge over Justin Rose and finally got to put on the green jacket, achieving his career grand slam in the process.
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