With the calendar turning to March, that usually means one thing for golf fans: The Masters is almost here. Many of those same fans will probably be surprised to learn that several of the game’s most recognised names still have yet to earn an invite to golf’s biggest event.
Augusta National Golf Club changed its qualification criteria this past year. The club cut out PGA Tour fall events and added the winners of a slew of national opens. That presented plenty of new opportunities for fresh faces to earn a Masters invite, including Casey Jarvis, who won the Investec South African Open on Sunday to earn his first trip to Augusta.
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For every Casey Jarvis, there’s a more household name that, at least for now, will be watching the year’s first men’s major from his own home. Here’s a rundown of seven of the most well-known players who are currently on the outside looking in.
Joaquin Niemann
The 27-year-old Chilean and LIV Golf star has played in five consecutive Masters. The last two came via special invites from Augusta National. LIV events are now being awarded Official World Golf Ranking points. At No. 176 as of 1 March, Niemann has a lot of work to do on that front if he doesn’t receive another exemption from the club.
Rickie Fowler
Photo: Orlando Ramirez
After missing the Masters from 2021-2023, a resurgent Rickie earned a spot back in 2024 with his win at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic. The 2018 runner-up failed to qualify for Augusta National in 2025 and is currently outside the top 50 in the OWGR.
Will Zalatoris
The oft-injured star finished in the top 10 in his first three Masters appearances, including a runner-up in his 2022 debut. He missed the cut last year and has a lot of work to earn a spot this year after withdrawing from the Cognizant Classic with a left ankle injury.
Billy Horschel
Another player derailed by injuries, Horschel looks recovered from hip surgery in 2025. He needs to make a major push in the next month to return to the Masters.
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Photo: Orlando Ramirez
Tony Finau
The man who played in the final group alongside Tiger Woods in 2019 is in danger of missing the Masters for the first time since making his debut at Augusta in 2018. Finau has fallen outside the top 100 in the World Ranking.
Sahith Theegala
This birdie machine has made the cut in all three Masters appearances, including a ninth-place finish in 2023. He only finished 147th in the FedEx Cup standings last year. A strong start to 2026 has him back on the right track. He’ll probably need a win to get into the Masters.
Tom Kim
Same for Kim, who looked like he’d be a Masters mainstay after becoming the first player since Tiger Woods to win two PGA Tour titles before turning 21. A surprisingly rough 2025 has the 23-year-old in danger of missing his first major since he was a teen.
The good news for all these guys and anyone else not in the field yet is that there are still two ways to get into the field at Augusta National (outside a special invitation): Either win a PGA Tour event between now and the tournament, or move into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking at the conclusion of the Valero Texas Open, the week before the Masters (April 9-12).
So, good luck to all. But time is ticking.
