2026 Masters: New Players Secured Invites Following PNC Championship
As the 2025 PNC Championship draws to a close, the professional golf offseason officially ends, ushering in discussions about one of the sport’s most prestigious events—the Masters Tournament. With New Year’s Day approaching, many golf enthusiasts are already looking forward to the 2026 Masters, especially after a recent announcement about several golfers earning their invitations.
Noteworthy Invites Secured via Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR)
The Masters is known for having the smallest field among golf’s major championships, making invitations to Augusta National particularly coveted and difficult to obtain. A significant pathway to earning an invite is finishing the year within the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Following the conclusion of the DP World Tour’s Mauritius Open at Heritage Golf Club on Sunday, the year-end top 50 list is confirmed. From this list of elite golfers, 37 players had already secured their invitations for the 2026 Masters based on various criteria. However, 13 players now join the ranks of those qualified.
Surprising Names on the List
Some of the newly qualified players may come as a surprise:
Sami Valimaki (Ranked No. 38) and Michael Brennan (Ranked No. 34) both emerged as winners on the PGA Tour but did not qualify for the Masters through earlier victories. Their triumphs at the 2025 RSM Classic and the 2025 Bank of Utah Championship, respectively, did not grant them invites—until now.
Michael Kim, a popular figure in professional golf, finished the year ranked 36th. He may not have secured his second PGA Tour win in 2025, but a victory at the DP World Tour’s Open de France in September solidified his place at Augusta National for the third time.
Ryan Gerard made headlines by traveling across the globe to play in the Mauritius Open, landing a runner-up finish that propelled him into the top 50, ultimately securing his Masters invite.
- The most surprising name on the list is Alex Noren, ranked No. 11 in the OWGR. Despite his high ranking, he had not previously qualified for the 2026 Masters until Sunday’s announcement.
Additional Players Securing Masters Invites
The following players also earned their invites during the recent OWGR cutoff:
- Si Woo Kim (four-time Tour winner)
- Min Woo Lee (fellow Tour winner)
- Rasmus Hojgaard (2025 European Ryder Cup team member)
This expansion adds 13 new players to the 2026 Masters field, increasing the total number to approximately 86. Of course, this number may fluctuate depending on whether former champions, like Tiger Woods, choose to participate.
Remaining Opportunities for Aspiring Players
It’s important to note that there are still chances for other golfers to qualify for the 2026 Masters. Anyone who breaks into the top 50 by the end of March 2026—alongside winners of early PGA Tour events next season—will also earn a coveted invite.
Complete List of New 2026 Masters Invites
As a summary, here are the new additions to the 2026 Masters field:
- Ryan Gerard
- Max Greyserman
- Alex Noren
- Aaron Rai
- Kristoffer Reitan
- Michael Brennan
- Michael Kim
- Sami Valimaki
- Rasmus Hojgaard
- Min Woo Lee
- Si Woo Kim
- Johnny Keefer
- Sam Stevens
With anticipation growing for the 2026 Masters, it’s clear that this tournament will not just be an extension of the previous year’s performances but also a showcase of emerging talents in professional golf.
