How To Qualify For The Masters
The Masters has the smallest field of the four Majors, but there are still numerous ways to qualify for the tournament at Augusta National


Major season is fast approaching, with the first of the four big events coming in April with The Masters.
As ever, it will take place at the revered Augusta National, where once again the much-loved quirks and traditions associated with one of the most prestigious tournaments in the game will be in evidence, from referring to the lucky fans in attendance as patrons to the Green Jackets of the members and white boiler suits worn by the caddies.
Another element that makes The Masters unique among the other Majors is its small field. For example, the 2024 edition featured a field of just 89, far fewer than the 156 who teed it up in the PGA Championship the following month.
Despite the limited slots available, there are no fewer than 20 ways to qualify for the tournament without relying on a special invite.
Winning The Masters is by far the best way of booking a spot in the future. Any player who is handed the Green Jacket after winning the tournament is given a place in the field for life. That means that, as well as some of the best players in the current era, favorites from decades ago take part each year.
In 2025, for example, we'll see an emotional farewell to the tournament from two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer, who last won it in 1993, and is competing for the final time before voluntarily opting out of future editions.
Two-time winner Bernhard Langer will play in The Masters for the last time in 2025
Even for Major winners who have yet to do so at The Masters, there is a lifeline in the form of a five-year exemption. One player relying on that for his place in 2025 is LIV golfer Brooks Koepka. Were it not for his win in the 2023 PGA Championship, he'd be struggling to earn a place this year, but that Oak Hills triumph means he's safe in The Masters not jut for 2025, but the three editions that follow it.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Similarly, winners of the PGA Tour's flagship event, The Players Championship, are also guaranteed a spot, albeit for only the next three years rather than the next five.
There's also a place for the top 12 and ties in the previous year's Masters as well as the top four and ties of the previous year's other three Majors.
The current Olympic gold medallist also books a place. This year that's Scottie Scheffler, although he already had his place sewn up thanks to several other exemptions, but mainly as a two-time winner of the Major, including in 2024.
The Masters is also a brilliant showcase for some of the best emerging talent in the men's game. That's thanks to exemption categories for the most recent winners of some of the biggest amateur events in the game, namely the US Amateur (with a place also handed to the runner-up), The Amateur, Asia-Pacific Amateur, Latin America Amateur and US Mid-Amateur.
In 2024, Augusta National also introduced another way for a top amateur to qualify - the NCAA Division I Champion. That means we'll see Hiroshi Tai in the field this year after the Georgia Tech star won the 2024 edition of the biggest college golf tournament.
Horishi Tai booked his spot after winning the NCAA Division I Championship
Winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation from the previous Masters to the current edition also earn a place, along with any player who reached the previous year's Tour Championship.
The world ranking also plays a big part in who makes the field, with the top 50 in the final ranking of the previous calendar year and the top 50 the week before The Masters all guaranteeing their places too.
Even then, it's not necessarily all over for those who don't make it via any of the 20 guaranteed ways to book a place. Special invites can also be sent at the discretion of The Masters Committee. For the 2025 tournament, LIV Golf's Joaquin Niemann and Nicolai Hojgaard are the recipients.
Below is a list of the ways to qualify for The Masters, per the official website.
The Masters Qualifying Criteria 2025
1. Masters Tournament Champions (lifetime)
2. US 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 US Amateur Champion (7-A) (honorary, non-competing after one year) and the runner-up (7-B) to the current US 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 US 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 US 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 for the season-ending Tour Championship, from previous Masters to current Masters
18. Those qualifying for the previous year's season-ending Tour Championship
19. The 50 leaders on the Final Official World Golf Ranking for the previous calendar year
20. The 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the current Masters Tournament

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
How Many Majors Has Scottie Scheffler Won?
Scheffler has multiple wins to his name on the PGA Tour, but how many of these have come in the biggest four tournaments in the game?
-
Adidas Adizero ZG Women's Golf Shoe Review
Alison Root finds out if the new Adizero ZG shoe from Adidas delivers comfort and tour-level performance
-
Rory McIlroy’s Classy Gesture To Man Behind ‘The Marker That Won The Masters’
Rory McIlroy has shown his appreciation to the man who made his Masters marker with a hugely classy gesture
-
Rory McIlroy Goes Back To His Roots And Reveals Surprise Message From A Music Icon In Entertaining Jimmy Fallon Appearance
Along with revealing messages from music icons and Hollywood stars, Rory McIlroy went old school on Jimmy Fallon's show as he was back chipping into washing machines like he did in his TV debut aged eight
-
'I’ve Never Seen Someone Hit A Driver That Good. He Played So Freaking Good. And You Almost Feel Like, How Do I Compete With That?' - Akshay Bhatia Wowed By McIlroy's Masters Display
Akshay Bhatia lavished praise on Rory McIlroy's game at the Masters after playing the opening two rounds alongside the eventual champion at Augusta
-
Rory McIlroy Career Grand Slam Celebrated With Royal Mail Postmark
Rory McIlroy's Masters win, which made him the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam, was celebrated with a special postmark by the Royal Mail
-
The Most Wanted Item From The Masters Shop Is Being Listed On Ebay At Almost 4,000% Higher Than Its Original Price
The 2025 Masters Gnome is called 'Peaches' and has been commanding an extremely sour price after being put up for sale online this week....
-
Rory McIlroy's Sports Psychologist Explains Why He 'Didn't Talk' To Bryson DeChambeau In Masters Final Round
DeChambeau raised eyebrows at Augusta National when claiming that McIlroy wouldn't engage in conversation during the final round of The Masters
-
'He Won't Stop Striving For Improvement' - Sports Psychologist Believes Rory McIlroy Has The 'Mindset, Focus And Drive' To Carry On Excellent Start To 2025 Season
We spoke to experienced Sports Psychologist, Gareth Shaw, about McIlroy's incredible Masters win and how the five-time Major can push on even further in 2025
-
Rory McIlroy's Masters Win More Popular Than Tiger Woods In 2019 As Incredible TV Ratings Released
McIlroy's role as golf's primary needle-mover continued on Sunday as the Northern Irishman's fifth Major attracted an awful lot of eyeballs in the USA...