The Masters at Augusta National is the first Major of the year and is highly anticipated by golf fans around the world. The build-up to the tournament is unparalleled, with the smallest field of the four Majors creating huge intrigue around who has qualified for Augusta National and who has missed out. The 2025 Masters will take place from 10-13 April and players start to look forward to the event as soon as they receive their invitations around Christmas time.
Qualifying for The Masters is a prestigious achievement and there are several ways players can secure their spot in the field. Past champions receive a lifetime invite, as do the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking at the end of the previous year. Winners of full-point PGA Tour events and amateur championship winners also receive invitations, along with the top college golfer from the previous year. In addition, the top 12 finishers from the previous year’s Masters and the top four finishers from the other Majors are also invited.
Two amateurs who qualified for The Masters, Wenyi Ding and Jacob Skov Olesen, have turned down their invitations in hopes of qualifying for the tournament by right in the future. For players who are not otherwise qualified, there are two late ways to secure a spot in the field: winning a PGA Tour event before the tournament or being in the top 50 of the OWGR the week before The Masters. Special invites are also occasionally given by Augusta National, as was the case for Joaquin Niemann and Nicolai Hojgaard in 2025.
The qualifying criteria for The Masters include various categories, such as past Major champions, winners of prestigious events, and top finishers from previous tournaments. There are also invitations for winners of specific amateur championships and college tournaments. The field for the 2025 Masters includes a mix of established professionals and rising stars in the world of golf, all vying for the coveted Green Jacket.
Some past champions of The Masters are not expected to play in the 2025 tournament, including legends like Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. While these players may no longer compete in the event, their legacy at Augusta National lives on through their past victories. As the tournament approaches, anticipation builds for who will emerge as the champion and add their name to the list of illustrious Masters winners. 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 the experienced experts.
