The Masters Tournament is the most prestigious golf tournament held during the first week of April in Augusta, Georgia. The first tournament was held on March 22, 1934, but it wasn’t until 1940 that it began being held in April. Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts co-founded the Augusta National Golf Club and served as president and chairman of the club. The tournament is held over 4 days and contains 72 holes.
As for playing in the Masters, there are 21 ways to qualify: The current U.S. Amateur Champion and runner-up, the current U.S. Amateur champion, the current Asia-Pacific Amateur champion, the current Latin America Amateur champion, and the Current U.S. Mid-Amateur champion all get entry for 1 year. The current Olympic gold medalist, the Current U.S. Amateur champion and runner-up, the current The Amateur champion, the Current Asia-Pacific Amateur champion, the Current Latin America Amateur champion, the Current U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, and the current NCAA Division I men’s individual champion also receive 1 year of entry. The Winners of The Players get 3 years of entry. The U.S. Open champions, The Open champions, and the PGA champions receive honorary, non-competing admission after 5 years.
Including ties, the first 12 players in the previous year’s Masters Tournament, and the first 4 players in the previous year’s U.S. Open, The Open, and the PGA Championship receive entry. Individual winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation from previous Masters to current Masters, and those who are qualifying and eligible for the previous year’s season-ending Tour Championship, are also granted admission. The 50 leaders on the final Official World Golf Ranking for the previous calendar year and the ranking published during the week before the current Masters Tournament are granted entry as well. And of course, champions of the tournament have a lifetime of entry.
Winners of the tournament have a lifetime entry into the Masters Tournament and a 5-year entry into the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. They also receive a sterling silver replica of the Masters Trophy and a gold medal with an etched-in view of the Clubhouse. The champion will also be able to enter and own a locker in the Champions Locker Room, and their name will also be permanently engraved on the Masters Trophy, which remains at the Club. Winners also have the honor of hosting the following year’s Champions Dinner, including creating the menu. At the dinner, the host is presented with a gold locket as well. Saving the best for last, winners receive the most sought-after Green Jacket. (Repeat winners get their jacket tailored if needed.)
The tickets to the tournament operate on a lottery system and open June 1st-June 20th for the 2027 tournament, and you’re able to pay for them in late July. Since the tickets are pricey and in extreme demand, the price of food and souvenirs is pretty low; all the food is less than $3! The winner of this year’s tournament is Rory McIlroy, and he also won last year. What a feat!
