Q&A → 2026 Masters Field
2026 Masters Field | Complete List of Players at Augusta National
The Masters uses an invitation-only format — Augusta National Golf Club issues invitations based on a set of qualification criteria they define and can modify each year. Unlike the US Open (which uses qualifying tournaments open to any professional), the Masters field is curated to reflect major championship pedigree, world ranking, and recent performance.
Masters Qualification Categories
Augusta National's official criteria for the 2026 Masters field include the following categories (subject to Augusta National's final discretion):
| Category | Criteria | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Past Masters Champions | Lifetime invitation — all former winners | Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Nicklaus (honorary) |
| Recent Major Champions | Winners of US Open, The Open, PGA Champ. — last 5 years | Schauffele, Morikawa, Brooks Koepka |
| World Ranking (Year-End) | Top 50 OWGR at end of prior calendar year | Majority of the field qualifies via this route |
| World Ranking (Pre-Event) | Top 50 OWGR in the final ranking before Masters week | Late-breaking qualifiers who climb the rankings in Q1 |
| Top 12 at Prior Masters | Players finishing T12 or better at the 2025 Masters | McIlroy, Scheffler, top 2025 finishers |
| PGA Tour Winners | Winners of select PGA Tour events in the prior season | Tour winners from 2025 PGA Tour season |
| Olympic Gold Medalist | Most recent Olympic golf gold medalist | 2024 Paris Olympics men's golf champion |
| Amateur Champions | US Amateur and British Amateur titleholders | 2025 US Amateur and 2025 Amateur champions |
| Augusta National Invitations | Discretionary invitations from Augusta National members | Notable players who narrowly miss other criteria |
Expected 2026 Masters Field: Key Players
While the official 2026 Masters field is not finalized until Augusta National sends formal invitations, the following players are virtual certainties based on current qualification status:
✅ Certain Qualifiers
- Scottie Scheffler — World No. 1, two-time Masters champion (2022, 2024)
- Rory McIlroy — Defending champion (2025)
- Jon Rahm — 2023 Masters champion, past champion lifetime invite
- Xander Schauffele — Multiple major wins (2024 PGA Champ., The Open); top world ranking
- Collin Morikawa — Multiple major wins; top world ranking
- Jordan Spieth — 2015 Masters champion, lifetime invite
- Hideki Matsuyama — 2021 Masters champion, lifetime invite
- Tiger Woods — 5-time Masters champion, lifetime invite (subject to health)
- Phil Mickelson — 3-time Masters champion, lifetime invite
- Brooks Koepka — Multiple PGA Championship titles; world ranking qualifies
- Viktor Hovland — Top world ranking; Augusta consistent performer
- Patrick Reed — 2018 Masters champion, lifetime invite
- Adam Scott — 2013 Masters champion, lifetime invite
- Angel Cabrera — 2009 Masters champion (may not participate given legal circumstances)
🔄 Likely Qualifiers (World Ranking/Tour Performance)
- Wyndham Clark — 2023 US Open champion
- Brian Harman — 2023 The Open champion
- Sahith Theegala — Rising world ranking
- Min Woo Lee — Consistent top-50 performer
- Akshay Bhatia — Recent PGA Tour wins
- Tom Kim — Top-ranked Korean player, consistent world top-30
⚠️ Notable Exemption Questions
- LIV Golf players: Past champions (Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia) retain lifetime invites. LIV-only players without recent major wins may need world ranking qualification.
- Amateur qualifiers: The two amateur spots (US Am and British Am champions) are determined by tournaments in summer/fall 2025.
Field Size: Why the Masters Is Smaller
The Masters is unique in fielding the fewest players of any major:
| Major | Typical Field Size | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| The Masters | 88–95 players | Invitation only (Augusta National criteria) |
| PGA Championship | ~156 players | PGA of America criteria + world ranking |
| US Open | ~156 players | USGA sectional qualifying + exemptions |
| The Open Championship | ~156 players | R&A criteria + regional qualifying |
The Masters' smaller field is intentional — Augusta National prioritizes quality over quantity, ensuring virtually every player in the field has a legitimate major championship pedigree or top-50 world ranking. This makes the Masters the most exclusive regular-season event in professional golf.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do players qualify for the Masters?
Players earn Masters invitations through multiple pathways: lifetime exemptions for past Masters champions, recent major championship wins (last 5 years), top-50 world rankings (at year-end and the week before the Masters), top-12 at the previous Masters, select PGA Tour event wins, the Olympic gold medal, and amateur titles (US Amateur, British Amateur). Augusta National retains full discretion to issue additional invitations.
How many players are in the Masters field?
The Masters typically fields 88 to 95 players — significantly smaller than the other three majors (which each field ~156). The smaller, invitation-only format is a deliberate Augusta National choice that makes the Masters the most exclusive event in golf. The exact field size varies yearly based on how many players satisfy qualification criteria.
Are LIV Golf players eligible for the Masters?
Yes. Augusta National has consistently included LIV Golf players who meet qualification criteria. All former Masters champions (including LIV members Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, and Sergio Garcia) retain their lifetime exemptions. LIV players can also qualify via the Official World Golf Ranking if they maintain sufficient ranking points.