Augusta National Golf Club announces updated qualification criteria for the Masters

On Tuesday, Aug. 26, the Augusta National Golf Club and The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (The R&A) announced plans to align aspects of qualification criteria for the Masters Tournament and The Open.

Invitations will be awarded to winners/top finishers of select national opens starting immediately, according to a press release from the Augusta National Golf Club. This approach will build on The R&A’s Open Qualifying Series and will help ensure international pathways into both major championships from multiple professional tours.

“The Masters Tournament has long recognized the significance of having international representation among its invitees,” said Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament. “We, along with The R&A, have a shared commitment to the global game and are proud to work together. Today’s announcement strengthens our organizations’ collective vision of rewarding top talent around the world who rise to the top of historic national open championships. We hope this formal recognition shines a bright light on these players and the events they will represent at the Masters and The Open, beginning next year.”

The Open Qualifying Series has been around since 2013 and allows golfers a chance to receive entry into The Open through Tour events around the world. Later this year players can qualify for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale through 15 events in 13 countries.

“We take great pride in the range of qualification routes we offer to players around the world through The Open Qualifying Series. We share the same goal as Augusta National to offer places in both The Open and the Masters to players competing in national opens and by doing so to help to showcase and strengthen our sport in those regions. This creates an outstanding opportunity for players in all parts of the world to qualify and we firmly believe this will continue to enrich the quality of the fields in both major championships,” said Mark Darbon, chief executive of The R&A.

The qualification criteria for the 2026 Masters Tournament is as follows:

1. Masters Tournament Champions (Lifetime)
2. U.S. 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 U.S. Amateur Champion (7-A) (Honorary, non-competing after one year) and the Runner-up (7-B) to the current U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 applied to the season-ending Tour Championship
18. Those qualifying and eligible for the previous year’s season-ending Tour Championship
19. Current Scottish Open Champion (One year)
20.  Current Spanish Open Champion (One year)
21. Current Japan Open Champion (One year)
22. Current Hong Kong Open Champion (One year)
23. Current Australian Open Champion (One year)
24. Current South African Open Champion (One year)
25. The 50 leaders on the final Official World Golf Ranking for the previous calendar year
26. The 50 leaders on the final Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the current Masters Tournament

It is also noted that The Masters Committee, can at its discretion, invite international players not otherwise qualified.

The schedule for The Open Qualifying Series and the list of exemptions for The 154th Open will be announced in September.

The 2026 Masters will be the 90th playing of the Masters Tournament and is scheduled for April 6 – 12. The 154th Open is scheduled for July 12 – 19 at Royal Birkdale.