The Masters Field And Aging Champions At Augusta: Is It Time To Abandon This Divisive Tradition?

The Masters field is a regularly debated topic, especially around this time of year as players scramble to earn one of the precious few invites to the most exclusive tournament in the four men's majors.

The Masters is one of the most iconic sporting events in the world, driving a global audience and plenty of attention in the weeks leading to that first tee shot at Augusta National.

History and tradition are a huge part of what makes The Masters so special, with the iconic Green Jacket acting as a symbol for elite achievement - elevating the careers of anyone who has the honour of wearing it.

But, as the game of golf naturally evolves over time, is there a call for balancing tradition with competitiveness, and is it time to start questioning the automatic participation of past champions? I would argue that a policy change for The Masters field is long overdue...

It's Time To Modernize The Masters Field

Barry Plummer

Barry joined Golf Monthly in January 2024, leading the instruction section across all platforms as well as writing features on the most discussed and debated topics in golf. Working closely with Golf Monthly's Top 50 Coaches, Barry aims to curate and share useful tips on every aspect of the game - helping amateurs of all abilities to play better golf. A member at Sand Moor Golf Club in Leeds, he looks forward to getting out on the course at least once a week in the pursuit of a respectable handicap.

I am going to be blunt here, and it's nothing against any one player personally, but I don't want to watch the likes of Angel Cabrera, Jose Maria Olazabal, Vijay Singh, Bernhard Langer and Fred Couples knock it round Augusta National anymore. The Masters is supposed to be the pinnacle of our sport, where the best players compete to earn the most coveted prize in the game, so why on earth are we still allowing all past champions an open-ended invite to play?

Don't get me wrong, I love the idea that winning The Masters comes with the privilege of returning every year, but once a past champions hits 55 years of age I would suggest a more honorary role would be the right move.

In 2024, legends of the game Jose Maria Olazabal and Vijay Singh made the cut and created a nice storyline... but ultimately they still finished nine-over and 14-over respectively. It was a similar story for Couples in 2023, but on the whole the participation of the more senior champions typically ends on Friday.

This opinion isn't aimed to be disrespectful in any way, or to undervalue their immense achievement, but we must protect the competitiveness of Major Championships. This is a policy that has recently been implemented at the Open Championship, with new winners being exempt until the age of 55. Champions who won the Claret Jug prior to the rule change in 2024 have until the age of 60, which I also believe would be a fair way to transition into this new way of operating at The Masters.

The field at an event of this magnitude should reward the current performance of players on the top professional tours around the world, drawing in players who are playing at the top of their game. The Masters is a tournament that should be reserved for the best players in the world at that time, with invites awarded by ranking or due to outstanding performance and victories at the highest level.

With additional spaces available in the field, a conversation can be had around the invitation of top talent from tours like LIV Golf - who may currently be missing out due to their world ranking position after a period of limited opportunities to earn points. A great example is Adrian Meronk, one the big names to be missing the Masters, who won the season opening LIV Riyadh event in February 2025 but misses out due to his ranking of 187th in the world.

You could also argue that Si Woo Kim, who is currently ranked 67th in the Official World Golf Rankings, would strengthen the field after a solid President's Cup display and an Augusta record that has seen him make the cut in each of the last six years - including five top-30 finishes.

Golf has changed drastically since some of the returning past champions were playing their best golf, so the field needs to reflect and meet the modern challenges of a developing game. If the past champion is good enough to qualify on merit then fantastic, but an open-ended automatic invite is something that doesn't help the event to grow.

With the top players in the world now able to hit the ball further than ever before, and demonstrate an off-the-scale athleticism that has transformed the sport, it's important that all participants can realistically reach that standard in order to protect the integrity of the field.

For future generations of golfers, who might be watching The Masters for the first time, they want to be entertained - and this big-hitting, shot-making style of golf is now the barometer for what captivates them.

What About Tradition?

Look, I completely understand that this is a long-standing Masters tradition and part of the very fabric of the tournament. I am the first person to get very giddy as soon as the first Major of the season appears on the horizon, and I also love the majesty of the Butler Cabin, the azaleas and other elements of the event's storied history.

Winning The Masters, as I mentioned previously, is a career-defining achievement that warrants the utmost respect. Seeing past champions on the ground in their Green Jackets, attending the Champions Dinner and representing the illustrious achievements of all Masters winners is something I would never want to lose from the event, but in my opinion their inclusion in the field beyond a certain age is holding the tournament back.

I would certainly tune in for an 18-hole past champions shootout on the Monday of tournament week to kick everything off, as it would add a welcome dose of nostalgia by allowing us to see legends of the game battle it out on arguably the most famous track in golf.

Why not also invite past champions over the age of 55 to attend the event in an honorary role, where they can offer their experience and expertise to amateurs and debutants in the field by accompanying them in practice rounds.

Maintain fan engagement in The Masters is crucial as we journey through the ever-changing landscape of golf. While I too worry about excessively tampering with tradition for fear of negatively impacting the aura surrounding the competition, I honestly believe that now is the time to make some alterations to our norm in a bid to protect the strength of the field and the legitimacy of the event.