How do players qualify for The US Masters?

Qualifying for the Masters Tournament is achieved through specific performance-based categories. Which is why the Masters is considered the most exclusive golf tournament in the world.

There are 27 ways to qualify for The Masters, and we have listed them all here.

National Open Champions

As of 2026, winners of these National Opens earn a one-year invitation to the Masters.

• Genesis Scottish Open

• Spanish Open

• Japan Open

• Hong Kong Open

• Australian Open

• South African Open

Major Champions

• The Masters: Players who win the Masters earn a lifetime invitation.

• US Open: The Champion is exempt for five editions of The Masters tournament following their win.

• British Open: The Champion is exempt for five editions of The Masters tournament following their win.

• PGA Championship: The Champion is exempt for five editions of The Masters tournament following their win.

The Players Championship Winners

Golfers who win The Players Championship automatically qualify for the three editions of The Masters that follow the golfer's Players Championship win.

Olympic Gold Medal

A player who wins an Olympic Gold Medal automatically qualifies for the edition of The Masters that follows the golfer's Olympics win.

PGA Tour Winners & Tour Championship Qualifiers

• PGA Tour Winners: Winners of PGA Tour Signature Events with full-point allocation (500+ points) will receive a one-time invitation.

• Tour Championship Qualifiers: Players who qualify for the PGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship (top 30 in FedExCup Standings) are exempt into the following years Masters.

Amateur Champions

• US Amateur Champion and Runner-Up: Automatically qualify for the edition of The Masters that follows the players' first- or second-place finish in the US Amateur championship.

• British Amateur Champion: Automatically qualifies for the edition of The Masters that follows the player's first-placed finish in the British Amateur Championship.

• Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion: Automatically qualifies for the edition of The Masters that follows the player's first-placed finish in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.

• Latin America Amateur Champion: Automatically qualifies for the edition of The Masters that follows the player's first-placed finish in the Latin America Amateur Championship.

• US Mid-Amateur Championship: A tournament for amateur golfers older than 25 - automatically qualifies for the edition of The Masters that follows the player's US Mid-Amateur Championship win.

• NCAA Division I Champion: The current Men's Individual Champion in the NCAA earns a one-year exemption into the Masters tournament.

Top Finishers

• Top-12 & Ties Masters Finishers: The top-12 finishers in the previous Masters automatically qualify for next year's edition of the tournament.

• Top-4 & Ties US Open Finishers: The top four players in the last US Open Championship automatically qualify for the next edition of The Masters.

• Top-4 & Ties British Open Finishers: The top four players in the last British Open Championship automatically qualify for the next edition of The Masters.

• Top-4 & Ties PGA Championship Finishers: The top four players in the last PGA Championship automatically qualify for the next edition of The Masters.

Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR)

• Top 50 in the OWGR at the end of the previous year are eligible for the next Masters.

• The top 50 in the OWGR released one week before the tournament are eligible to play in the Masters.

Special Invitation

A "Special Invitation" to the Masters allows the Augusta National Golf Club committee to invite international players who do not otherwise qualify through standard PGA Tour or ranking-based criteria.