Augusta, Ga., August 28, 2025
News Summary
Augusta National Golf Club has made significant changes to the Masters qualification process. Starting in 2026, winners of select international national open championships will receive direct invitations to the prestigious tournament, replacing automatic invites for certain PGA Tour fall series winners. This move aims to enhance global representation at the Masters, ensuring that top talents worldwide have a pathway to compete. The changes reflect a commitment to maintaining a smaller field while recognizing the historical significance of these selected events.
Augusta, Ga.
Big changes at the Masters — and they shake up who gets the golden ticket
In a move that tweaks the Masters field and spotlights golf beyond the United States, Augusta National has changed how winners earn invitations. The tournament is dropping the automatic invites that used to go to winners of the PGA Tour’s seven fall series events. Instead, starting with the 2026 Masters, direct spots will be handed to champions of six long-standing national open championships around the world.
This isn’t a minor housekeeping note. It’s a shift aimed at boosting international representation and making sure the world’s best, wherever they win, get a real chance to tee it up at Augusta. The announcement was released jointly by the club and the global governing body that runs the Open Championship.
Which events now earn a Masters invite?
Winners of the following national opens will receive direct invitations to the Masters beginning in 2026:
- Australian Open
- South African Open
- Scottish Open
- Spanish Open
- Japan Open
- Hong Kong Open
Many of these events have deep roots — several date back to the first half of the 20th century — and they carry real prestige in their regions. The pick of these opens reflects a desire to reward top talent globally, not just via the U.S. tour calendar.
What’s changing on the PGA Tour side?
The Masters tweaked its qualification list item that dealt with PGA Tour winners. Qualification criteria No. 17 will now be limited to winners of PGA Tour events that award full FedEx Cup points. That means champions of fall series events that don’t carry full points — think tournaments like the Procore Championship and the RSM Classic — will no longer be guaranteed a ticket to Augusta.
To be clear, all eight winners of the PGA Tour fall events in 2024 were invited to the 2025 Masters. That crop included several players making their first appearance at Augusta. Under the new rules, that pathway is narrowed.
Why now? Numbers, history and a smaller field
One big factor is the Masters’ long-standing preference to keep the field under 100 players. That tiny field size is part of the tournament’s identity, but it means the selection process gets tight as tours and events evolve. At the same time the PGA Tour has been trimming some opportunities — tour cards have been reduced from 125 to 100 players and new signature events have appeared on the calendar — and there are signs the schedule could be tightened further.
The chosen national opens give Augusta a way to honor history and global reach while keeping the overall field manageable. Picking established, high-profile opens was a clear strategy to connect Masters invitations to recognized global events rather than some of the smaller fall stops.
Where does that leave LIV Golf players?
The change creates fresh pathways for players who haven’t been getting in through traditional PGA Tour channels. Several recent winners of the selected national opens are part of the rival circuit, which means those players could now find a clearer route to the Masters. The club hasn’t added separate qualifying criteria specifically naming that circuit, but the opens do create new entry points for winners regardless of recent tour affiliation.
How this ties into the Open Championship qualifying
The global governing body has long used an Open Qualifying Series to get players from major tours around the world into the Open Championship, and that program continues. Players will be able to qualify for the 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale through a set of 15 events across 13 countries, keeping that international funnel open and active. The two organizations framed their moves as part of a shared goal to grow the global game.
Quick historical touch
The national opens selected for Masters invitations aren’t new kids on the block. The South African Open goes back to 1903, the Australian Open to 1904, the Spanish Open to 1912, the Japan Open to 1927, and the Hong Kong Open to 1959. The Scottish Open also carries long tradition as well.
Who gets affected most?
If the new rules had been in place last year, four of the first-time participants who played the Masters would have been impacted — meaning they might not have earned invitations through the fall series route. The change is small in number but significant in principle: it redirects one pathway and opens another.
Bottom line: this is a nudge toward a more global field — a way for the Masters to reward winners from historic national opens while keeping the famous small field that makes the event what it is.
FAQ
What exactly changed in Masters qualifying?
The Masters removed automatic invites for winners of the PGA Tour fall series events that do not offer full FedEx Cup points, and added direct invites for winners of six select national open championships starting with the 2026 tournament.
Which national opens now earn an invite?
Winners of the Australian Open, South African Open, Scottish Open, Spanish Open, Japan Open, and Hong Kong Open will receive direct invitations.
When do the new rules take effect?
The change takes effect for invitations to the 2026 Masters.
Do winners of PGA Tour fall events still get invited?
Only winners of PGA Tour events that award full FedEx Cup points remain eligible under that specific qualification item. Winners of certain fall events that don’t carry full points will no longer get automatic Masters invitations.
Will this help players from rival tours?
Yes. Because several recent national open champions belong to other circuits, these openings could serve as new routes for those players to qualify for the Masters.
Does this affect the Open Championship qualifying?
Not directly. The Open’s qualifying system continues to use a set of international events to award spots, with 15 events across 13 countries offering places for the 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale.
Quick reference table
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| New Masters invites | Winners of six national opens (Australian, South African, Scottish, Spanish, Japan, Hong Kong) — effective for 2026. |
| PGA Tour fall winners | Only winners of events with full FedEx Cup points keep Masters eligibility under that item. Some fall-event winners lose automatic invites. |
| Field size | Masters preference to keep the field under 100 players remains a key factor. |
| Open Championship link | Open qualifying continues via 15 events in 13 countries for the 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale. |
| Impact on rival tours | Creates new entry pathways for winners from other circuits who capture the selected national opens. |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Robert MacIntyre Joins Team Europe for the Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup Drama Unfolds as Team Selections Loom
Faldo Critiques U.S.-Centric Golf Calendar Amidst Ryder Cup Anniversary
PGA Tour 2026 Schedule Unveiled with Miami Championship Return
DeChambeau, Henley, and English Join U.S. Ryder Cup Team
Trump Nominates Joshua Dunlap to U.S. Court of Appeals
Additional Resources
- Global Golf Post: No Masters Invites for PGA Tour’s Fall Series Winners
- AP News: Masters Changes Exemption Criteria
- Newsweek: Masters Change Exemption Criteria Affect PGA Tour Winners
- MSN: Masters Will Take Winners of Six National Opens
- Golf.com: Significant Invite Change for 2026 Masters
- Wikipedia: Masters Tournament
- Google Search: Masters Tournament
- Google Scholar: Masters Tournament
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Masters Tournament
- Google News: Masters Tournament
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
