Major season is fast approaching, with the first of the four big events coming in April with The Masters.
As ever, it will take place at the revered Augusta National, where once again the much-loved quirks and traditions associated with one of the most prestigious tournaments in the game will be in evidence, from referring to the lucky fans in attendance as patrons to the Green Jackets of the members and white boiler suits worn by the caddies.
Another element that makes The Masters unique among the other Majors is its small field. For example, the 2024 edition featured a field of just 89, far fewer than the 156 who teed it up in the PGA Championship the following month.
Despite the limited slots available, there are no fewer than 20 ways to qualify for the tournament without relying on a special invite.
Winning The Masters is by far the best way of booking a spot in the future. Any player who is handed the Green Jacket after winning the tournament is given a place in the field for life. That means that, as well as some of the best players in the current era, favorites from decades ago take part each year.
In 2025, for example, we'll see an emotional farewell to the tournament from two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer, who last won it in 1993, and is competing for the final time before voluntarily opting out of future editions.
Two-time winner Bernhard Langer will play in The Masters for the last time in 2025
Even for Major winners who have yet to do so at The Masters, there is a lifeline in the form of a five-year exemption. One player relying on that for his place in 2025 is LIV golfer Brooks Koepka. Were it not for his win in the 2023 PGA Championship, he'd be struggling to earn a place this year, but that Oak Hills triumph means he's safe in The Masters not jut for 2025, but the three editions that follow it.
Similarly, winners of the PGA Tour's flagship event, The Players Championship, are also guaranteed a spot, albeit for only the next three years rather than the next five.
There's also a place for the top 12 and ties in the previous year's Masters as well as the top four and ties of the previous year's other three Majors.
The current Olympic gold medallist also books a place. This year that's Scottie Scheffler, although he already had his place sewn up thanks to several other exemptions, but mainly as a two-time winner of the Major, including in 2024.
The Masters is also a brilliant showcase for some of the best emerging talent in the men's game. That's thanks to exemption categories for the most recent winners of some of the biggest amateur events in the game, namely the US Amateur (with a place also handed to the runner-up), The Amateur, Asia-Pacific Amateur, Latin America Amateur and US Mid-Amateur.
In 2024, Augusta National also introduced another way for a top amateur to qualify - the NCAA Division I Champion. That means we'll see Hiroshi Tai in the field this year after the Georgia Tech star won the 2024 edition of the biggest college golf tournament.
Horishi Tai booked his spot after winning the NCAA Division I Championship
Winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation from the previous Masters to the current edition also earn a place, along with any player who reached the previous year's Tour Championship.
The world ranking also plays a big part in who makes the field, with the top 50 in the final ranking of the previous calendar year and the top 50 the week before The Masters all guaranteeing their places too.
Even then, it's not necessarily all over for those who don't make it via any of the 20 guaranteed ways to book a place. Special invites can also be sent at the discretion of The Masters Committee. For the 2025 tournament, LIV Golf's Joaquin Niemann and Nicolai Hojgaard are the recipients.
Below is a list of the ways to qualify for The Masters, per the official website.
The Masters Qualifying Criteria 2025
1. Masters Tournament Champions (lifetime)
2. US Open Champions (honorary, non-competing after five years)
3. The Open Champions (honorary, non-competing after five years)
4. PGA Champions (honorary, non-competing after five years)
5. Winners of The Players Championship (three years)
6. Current Olympic Gold Medalist (one year)
7. Current US Amateur Champion (7-A) (honorary, non-competing after one year) and the runner-up (7-B) to the current US Amateur Champion
8. Current The Amateur Champion (honorary, non-competing after one year)
9. Current Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion (one year)
10. Current Latin America Amateur Champion (one year)
11. Current US Mid-Amateur Champion (one year)
12. Current NCAA Division I Men's Individual Champion (One year)
13. The first 12 players, including ties, in the previous year's Masters Tournament
14. The first 4 players, including ties, in the previous year's US Open
15. The first 4 players, including ties, in the previous year's The Open Championship
16. The first 4 players, including ties, in the previous year's PGA Championship
17. Individual winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the season-ending Tour Championship, from previous Masters to current Masters
18. Those qualifying for the previous year's season-ending Tour Championship
19. The 50 leaders on the Final Official World Golf Ranking for the previous calendar year
20. The 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the current Masters Tournament
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