You’d think a tournament as old and prestigious as the Masters would have a set number of players. You know, like a bracket of 64 or a standard field of 156. But Augusta National doesn't do "standard."
Honestly, the question of how many golfers in the Masters is a moving target every single year. It’s an invitational, not an open. That distinction is everything. While most PGA Tour events are trying to figure out how to squeeze more guys in before the sun goes down, the Masters is the opposite. They like it small. They like it exclusive.
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For the upcoming 2026 Masters, the field is currently sitting at roughly 86 players, though that number is basically guaranteed to fluctuate before the first ball is struck on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
The Magic Number is Usually Under 100
If you look at the history books, Augusta National has a weirdly specific obsession with keeping the field under 100 golfers. They haven’t gone over 100 since 1966. Why? Because they want everyone to start from the first tee. No split tees. No "wave" starts. Just one continuous stream of the best players in the world walking through the pines.
Last year, in 2025, we saw 95 players tee it up. That was on the higher side. In 2024, it was 89. If you're betting on a number for 2026, it's likely going to land in that 85 to 95 range again.
But here’s where it gets interesting: the 2026 tournament is introducing some of the biggest qualifying changes we’ve seen in a generation.
How the 2026 Field is Being Built
Starting this year, the green jackets at Augusta decided to shake things up. They’ve essentially closed one door and opened a bunch of windows.
For years, if you won a "fall" event on the PGA Tour—those tournaments after the Tour Championship—you got a golden ticket to Georgia. Not anymore. The Masters committee decided those wins didn't carry enough weight. So, if you win the RSM Classic or the Butterfield Bermuda Championship now, you get a nice trophy and some cash, but you aren't guaranteed a spot in the Masters.
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Instead, they’ve gone global.
The 2026 field will now include winners from six specific national opens:
- The Scottish Open
- The Spanish Open
- The Japan Open
- The Hong Kong Open
- The Australian Open
- The South African Open
This is a massive deal. It’s a clear nod to the fact that golf is bigger than just the American tour. It also happens to be a potential backdoor for LIV golfers who are currently struggling to get World Ranking points but can still play in these international events.
The "Ironclad" Invitees
Despite the changes, the core of the field remains the same. You’ve got the lifetime invites for past champions. That includes the legends like Tiger Woods and Fred Couples, though whether they actually tee it up is a different story every year. Then you have the winners of the other three majors from the last five years.
If you won the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, or the PGA Championship between 2021 and 2025, you're in.
The Amateur Factor
One of the coolest things about how many golfers in the Masters is that a handful of them aren't even pros. Augusta National was co-founded by Bobby Jones, the greatest amateur to ever play, so they always save room for the kids (and the mid-ams).
Usually, about 6 to 9 amateurs make the cut for an invite. We're talking about:
- The U.S. Amateur Champion and runner-up.
- The British Amateur Champion.
- The Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion.
- The Latin America Amateur Champion.
- The U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion.
- The NCAA Division I individual champion.
These guys are usually the ones staying in the Crow’s Nest—that tiny room at the top of the clubhouse. It's a tradition that feels sort of out of place in 2026, but that’s exactly why people love it.
The Top 50 Safety Net
For the guys who didn't win a major or a qualifying tournament, there's the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
By the end of 2025, thirteen players earned their way into the 2026 field just by being in the top 50. We saw names like Alex Noren, Min Woo Lee, and Si Woo Kim clinch their spots this way.
There is one last "panic" window, though. If a player isn't in yet, they can still get in by climbing into the top 50 of the OWGR the week before the tournament starts in April. Or, they can just win a "full-point" PGA Tour event in the early months of 2026.
Why the Field Size Actually Matters for Your Saturday
You might think, "Who cares if there are 88 golfers or 98?" Well, the size of the field dictates the "cut."
At the Masters, only the top 50 players (plus ties) make it to the weekend. When the field is smaller, your odds of making the weekend are significantly better than at a 156-player U.S. Open. It changes the strategy. Some guys play more conservatively on Friday because they know the "math" of the cut is in their favor.
Surprising Facts about the Field
- The 1966 Outlier: That was the last time the field hit 103 players. Since then, the club has been very strict about keeping it lean.
- The LIV Gap: Because the Masters is an invitational, they can technically invite whoever they want. We've seen them give "special invitations" to international players like Joaquin Niemann in the past to ensure the field stays world-class.
- Withdrawals: Every year, the number changes at the last minute. Injuries happen. In 2025, we had three players withdraw before the first round, which changed the groups and the pace of play.
What to Watch For in 2026
As we get closer to April, keep an eye on the winners of those international opens. Seeing a winner from the South African Open or the Japan Open walk down Magnolia Lane is going to be the "new normal" for this tournament.
It’s a shift toward a more global game, and honestly, it’s about time.
If you're trying to track the final count, remember that the field isn't "set" until the Monday of Masters week. Between now and then, injuries, late-season wins, and world ranking jumps will keep that number moving.
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Next Steps for Golf Fans:
- Check the OWGR in March: The "Top 50" cutoff a week before the Masters is the final way for non-qualified pros to get in.
- Watch the Latin America Amateur Championship: The winner gets an automatic invite, often providing one of the best "underdog" stories of the week.
- Monitor the Injury List: Keep an eye on past champions like Tiger Woods; their decision to play or not can shift the field size by 1-2 players right up until the Champions Dinner.